PLAYOFFS! Sounders rally to beat KC 3-2, clinch a spot in MLS postseason

From left to right, Seattle Sounders FC's Peter Vagenas, Freddie Ljungberg and Roger Levesque celebrate a goal by teammate Nate Jaqua in the second half of an MLS soccer game against the Kansas City Wizards, Saturday, Oct. 17, 2009, in Kansas City, Kan. The Sounders won 3-2. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)
 

It took twenty nine matches of a thirty match season for them to do it, but Seattle Sounders FC are in the 2009 Major League Soccer playoffs after rallying for a 3:2 win over the Kansas City Wizards Saturday night in the heartland. (Video Highlights)

EXTRA: Ljungberg comes through when Sounders need him most

The initial season of Sounders soccer in MLS continues to write new and exciting chapters for the history books. There were many doubters around America Soccer circles that thought an expansion side had little hope of making the playoffs. Now it has happened.

The club put together by Adrian Hanauer and Chris Henderson and coached by Sigi Schmid and his assistants are in the postseason and awaiting the final placing to see who comes first. (MLS scoreboard. MLS playoff standings.) The most-likely scenario seems to be Seattle finishing 4th in the Western Conference and playing Chivas USA in the first round. The Sounders are winless on the season against the Goats with two losses and a draw.

Seattle took a 1:0 lead in the 27th minute when central defender Tyrone Marshall shot a loose ball into the back of the Wizards net. Seattle had numerous other chances to add to the lead, including several clear pathways on goal, but their scoring touch continued to be off.

Tyrone Marshall celebrates his first half goal. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)

The Wizards made the Sounders pay with two quick goals only two minutes apart early in the secod half. Zoltan drew the Wizards level in the 51st minute on a play that was very close to being offisdes, perhaps was. He got the ball in the box off of a deep pass and easily beat Keller. It was 2:1 Wizards in the 53rd minute when Marshall completely whiffed on a KC cross and Josh Wolff took advantage to power one home.

The Sounders rallied for the win after Roger Levesque was subbed in for Fredy Montero in the 63rd minute. Levesque was instantly active and delivered the match-leveling score in the 69th minute on a header off of a flick from Marshall, who had slighlty redirected a Freddie Ljungberg corner kick. Seven minutes later Nate Jaqua netted the winner after a hustle play by Freddie Ljungberg allowed the Swede to serve Jaqua a ball that he sharply struck to Kevin Hartman's left and into goal.

Kasey Keller celebrates with fans after the match. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)

The clubs exhanged possession over the remaining minutes with a few chances on both sides before the final whistle blew signaling the Sounders' entry into the playoffs.

Man of the Match would seem to be Freddie Ljungberg, who assisted on the final two goals and ran circles around the Wizards defense. After the match Sounders players celebrated with a large group of Seattle fans, enjoying the moment as Seattle became the first expansion side to make the MLS postseason since the 1998 Chicago Fire.

It has been a very good first season for Sounders FC in Seattle. A US Open Cup trophy and now the chance to try for the bigger prize: MLS Cup 2009.

The match was frustrating to watch at times. It was played on a ridiculously small pitch inside a baseball stadium, and literally you could go from a corner kick at the attacking end to surrendering a corner on the defensive end in a matter of four seconds (it happened once). With the tight spaces I was unsure about whether or not the Sounders could rally once they fell behind. Seattle is not good on set plays and slow build up. Or headers. So it was a pleasant surprise that a corner kick from Ljungberg eventually headed in by Roger Levesque improved those stats and got the match even.

Solid on the night was Kasey Keller, who kept the Sounders in it with several clutch saves. Tyrone Marshall was give and take. Give up a goal on a missed cross and take the first Sounders score on a 'bonus strike' from the defender. It was also nice to see a corner kick come to something (Marshall put in his goal when a corner kick from Ljungberg was directed on goal and deflected out by Hartman right to Marshall.) Gee, two goals off of corners, and one a header! Good times.

Big Misses: Yikes, Steve Zakuani missed a lofted effort over Kevin Hartman in the first half when his chip skipped off the top of the crossbar. In the second half Zakuani tried to nutmeg Hartman and missed a one-on-one from the left. Fredy Montero had a wide open goal mouth in the second half and completely missed wide to the far post.

The win showed character and effort, but certainly there will have to be some tightening in the back before FC Dallas next week, and before the playoffs, which will begin for the league on October 29th.

LINKS:

MLSnet.com: Seattle tops Wizards, clinches playoff spot

Seattle Times: Sounders FC's comeback secures postseason berth

Prost Amerika: Match Report

P-I Sports Blog: It wasn't easy, but...

Seattle Times: Post-match with Sigi and Freddie

SoundersFC.com: Sounders clinch playoff berth with 3:2 win

ESPN: Expansion Sounders headed to playoffs

GOAL.com: Seattle Clinches Playoff Berth

Hillcrest Road: Wizards lose to Sounders 3:2

Flickr.com: Match photos from deathbymower

Freddie Ljungberg deserved "Man of the Match" for the Sounders. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)

Tyrone Marshall watches Kai Kamara of KC. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)

Some how ball stays out. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)