The first three matches of the season spoiled us, and now Sounders FC are simply going to have to live with our high expectations.
Last night at Qwest Field Seattle played to their fifth straight draw. In and of themselves draws are just a natural part of the sport. Five 'on the trot' is getting tiresome, but the way the club is playing is actually getting worrisome.
The five draws can pretty much be charactarized like this. The draw at Chicago was a plus because Seattle were sorely outplayed. The draw at home to Los Angeles was a minus because Seattle lost form and didn't convert chances. The draw at Dallas was a minus because FCD are in even poorer form than Seattle. The draw in Colorado was a wash because while we fought back on the road we also had two clear chances at goal in the final minutes. Last night was a minus because we never seemed mentally focused on the match, and again, our form was poor.
(Oh, you wanted a detailed match report? Here's a good one.)
Most frustrating to fans last night was the Sounders' near complete lack of ability to formulate an attack or to even string a series of passes together. Columbus deserves credit for doing what Major League Soccer foes have been doing quite well since Kansas City beat the Sounders 1-0 at Qwest Field in April. They bumped Seattle off the ball, clogged up Fredy Montero's access to goal and took advantage when Seattle's defense gave them reason to.
Former Arsenal superstar Freddie Ljungberg chokes on a first-half penalty kick try for Seattle.
See more photos from Rick Morrison in his GOALSeattle.com match gallery.
Both sides were playing with make-shift line-ups, but certainly Columbus were the aggressors for much of the match, looking more focused, better prepared and at least occasionally like they had played the game before.
Sounders FC are a distant memory now from the club that started 3-0, playing such beautiful, flowing soccer. Now we have issues with our defensive corners, a muddle in the midfield, and a hope and a prayer up front. If it were just the Columbus match, we could give the Sounders a pass (though they themselves were rarely able to complete a 'pass' last night). However this match was pretty much a carbon copy of the last Qwest Field tilt against the LA Galaxy. Just take away the scoring chances Seattle had then and you've got the dud they delivered last night.
Lone highlight: Nate Jaqua stretches to launch a screamer into the Columbus net to level the match.
What troubles me most about Sounders FC right now is that there does not seem to be a way to 'fix it' other than to just play through and hope we suddenly rediscover the magic. Will Fredy Montero stop giving the ball away, running himself into tight corners and refusing to open up his play around Ljungberg? Will Seattle ever solve the issues at left back? Is Brad Evans an inside midfielder or a winger? How open does Steve Zakuani have to be before someone passes him the ball? Will he stop going directly at multiple defenders when he does get the ball? Can Freddie Ljungberg stop looking so 'soft' and overcome the MLS style of defense that has him chasing his own shadow? How long will it take Sigi Schmid to coach his way around the fact MLS clubs have 'solved' how to play the Sounders?
Sounders FC have won ONE match in their last EIGHT tries. We expect better. Can you blame fans who are beginning to wonder if the Sounders have the right mix of talent and character to deliver?
Club match report press release:
SEATTLE- Nate Jaqua scored the tying goal in the 58th minute to earn the Seattle Sounders FC a 1-1 draw with the Columbus Crew Saturday night at Xbox Pitch at Qwest Field.
Columbus opened the scoring in the 12th minute of the match on a lunging header by Alejandro Moreno. Jed Zayner slipped the ball up the right flank for Pat Noonan, whose cross found Moreno open at the far post for the finish past Sounders FC goalkeeper Kasey Keller.
Early in the second half, Freddie Ljungberg lobbed a ball behind the Columbus defense for Jaqua’s 10-yard volley to the upper left corner of the net.
It was the second equalizing goal for Jaqua in as many matches and the fifth consecutive tie for the Sounders FC (4-2-5). The Columbus Crew (2-2-7) remains winless on the road.
Ljungberg had missed a penalty kick in the 32nd minute, shooting wide left.
Seattle finished the match a man down for the fourth time this season as defender Tyrone Marshall was sent off the field in the 92nd minute of the match with a red card. He will miss next Saturday’s game against Western Conference leaders Chivas USA. Kickoff at the Home Depot Center will be at 7:30pm PT.
Scoring Summary:
CLB -- Alejandro Moreno 2 (Pat Noonan 1, Jed Zayner 1) 12
SEA -- Nate Jaqua 3 (Freddie Ljungberg 2) 58
Columbus Crew -- Andy Gruenebaum, Jed Zayner, Eric Brunner, Chad Marshall, Gino Padula, Emmanuel Ekpo (Steven Lenhart 80), Eddie Gaven, Danny O'Rourke (Duncan Oughton 89), Robbie Rogers, Pat Noonan (Guillermo Barros Schelotto 69), Alejandro Moreno.
Substitutes Not Used: Kevin Burns, Jason Garey, Alex Grendi, Alec Duffy.
TOTAL SHOTS: 10 (3 tied with 2); SHOTS ON GOAL: 5 (5 tied with 1); FOULS: 22 (Emmanuel Ekpo 4, Jed Zayner 4); OFFSIDES: 2 (Guillermo Barros Schelotto 1, Pat Noonan 1); CORNER KICKS: 3 (Eddie Gaven 2); SAVES: 1 (Andy Gruenebaum 1)
Seattle Sounders FC -- Kasey Keller, James Riley, Jhon Kennedy Hurtado, Tyrone Marshall, Tyson Wahl, Brad Evans, Freddie Ljungberg, Peter Vagenas (Patrick Ianni 64), Steve Zakuani, Fredy Montero (Nathan Sturgis 89), Nate Jaqua (Sebastien Le Toux 83).
Substitutes Not Used: Stephen King, Roger Levesque, Sanna Nyassi, Ben Dragovan.
TOTAL SHOTS: 10 (Fredy Montero 5); SHOTS ON GOAL: 2 (Nate Jaqua 1, Fredy Montero 1); FOULS: 14 (Jhon Kennedy Hurtado 3); OFFSIDES: 3 (Nate Jaqua 2); CORNER KICKS: 7 (Freddie Ljungberg 7); SAVES: 4 (Kasey Keller 4)
Misconduct Summary:
SEA -- Peter Vagenas (caution; Unsporting Behavior) 37
SEA -- Jhon Kennedy Hurtado (caution; Dissent) 68
CLB -- Guillermo Barros Schelotto (caution; Unsporting Behavior) 73
CLB – Emmanuel Ekpo (caution; Unsporting Behavior) 73
SEA -- Freddie Ljungberg (caution; Dissent) 89
SEA -- Tyrone Marshall (ejection; Serious Foul Play) 92+
Referee: Michael Kennedy
Referee's Assistants: -Emiliano Monje; David Bragg
4th Official: Alejandro Mariscal
Attendance: 29,126
Time of Game: 1:54
Weather: Sunny-and-72-degrees
Comments
Sigi Schmid was completely out-coached last night. Columbus fans must have loved that.
Another draw. Another red card. Another blown chance at victory. Who writes the scripts to these things, Mr. Roth?
Remember the 'good old days' of March and April when the Sounders knew what they were doing and love was in the air. Oh, that was just me? ;)
It's time for some top to bottom reevaluation
Sheesh, already frustrated with Sigi, huh?
We were last place in our conference his first year at Columbus. Then we were second to last his next year. Year three, we won the whole thing.
Learn patience here. The guy wins championships.
"Patience" always sounds so good in retrospect, Columbus.
Sounders didn't look good last night, no question. But no mention of the outright flopping from Columbus? It seemed to me that the Crew's strategy was to run into a man in green and then fall over. Yes, Mr. Ekpo, I'm looking at you.
I would have liked to have seen more chances turned into goals on the part of the Sounders. They'll have to do that for success next week!
Aside from the missed opportunities and defensive chaos I am super happy with Jaqua's goal. He has his detractors and I hope this gets them thinking...
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