Sounders and Chicago play to a scoreless draw; Ljungberg ejected

Chicago's John Thorrington chases Nate Jaqua. (Rick Morrison)

ESPN video highlights here.

Sounders FC match report follows.

SEATTLE- Two red cards issued early in the second half contributed to the 0-0 draw between Eastern Conference leading Chicago Fire and the Seattle Sounders FC at Xbox Pitch at Qwest Field Saturday afternoon.
 
Seattle’s unbeaten streak was extended to six games (3-0-3) while Chicago has not lost in four games (2-0-2). Sounders FC had won its last two MLS games and had won five in a row in both league and cup play.
 
The Sounders FC played a man-up for the first time as Fire midfielder John Thorrington was sent off with a red card in the 54th minute after accumulating two cautions.  The advantage didn’t last long when Seattle’s Freddie Ljungberg was issued two cautions that resulted in an ejection in the 59th minute. 
 
It was the first scoreless draw for the Sounders FC (7-3-8) but the second tie against the Chicago Fire (7-3-8). Seattle had won three in a row
 
Seattle and Chicago drew in their first meeting 1-1 on May 2nd at Toyota Park. 
 
Nate Jaqua finished with three shots on goal to lead the Sounders FC in a 15-11 advantage in shots, including a shot from a Freddie Ljungberg corner kick that hit the post and a header from a Fredy Montero cross in the first half.  Jaqua forced two saves from Jon Busch. He and Montero each hit the post in the run of play. 

Busch finished with five saves and Seattle’s Kasey Keller made two stops to earn his sixth shutout.     
 
Each club boasts two players on the MLS All-Stars First XI including goalkeeper Kasey Keller and midfielder Freddie Ljungberg for the Sounders FC and defender Wilman Conde and forward Cuahtemoc Blanco for Chicago Fire.  The MLS All-Star team will take on Everton FC of the English Premier League on Wednesday in Sandy, Utah.
 
Sounders FC will play its next three MLS games on the road, beginning August 2 at San Jose. 

Jhon Kennedy Hurtado gives Blanco a hand up. The aging Mexican fell many times. (Rick Morrison)
 
Chicago Fire (7-3-8) vs. Seattle Sounders FC (7-3-8)
July 25, 2009 -- Qwest Field

 
Goals by Period 1 2 Tot
Chicago Fire 0 0 0
Seattle Sounders FC 0 0 0

 
Scoring Summary:
     

 
Chicago Fire -- Jon Busch, Tim Ward, Wilman Conde, Gonzalo Segares, C.J. Brown, Marco Pappa (Justin Mapp 77), Baggio Husidic (Brandon Prideaux 65), John Thorrington, Chris Rolfe, Cuauhtemoc Blanco (Calen Carr 86), Patrick Nyarko.

Substitutes Not Used: Mike Banner, Andrew Dykstra, Peter Lowry, Dasan Robinson.

TOTAL SHOTS: 11 (Chris Rolfe 5); SHOTS ON GOAL: 2 (Chris Rolfe 2); FOULS: 15 (Gonzalo Segares 3, John Thorrington 3); OFFSIDES: 0; CORNER KICKS: 5 (Cuauhtemoc Blanco 3); SAVES: 5 (Jon Busch 5)

Seattle Sounders FC -- Kasey Keller, James Riley, Jhon Kennedy Hurtado, Patrick Ianni, Tyson Wahl, Freddie Ljungberg, Osvaldo Alonso, Nathan Sturgis (Peter Vagenas 68), Steve Zakuani (Sebastien Le Toux 75), Nate Jaqua (Roger Levesque 89), Fredy Montero.

Substitutes Not Used: Terry Boss, Stephen King, Tyrone Marshall, Zach Scott.

TOTAL SHOTS: 15 (Nate Jaqua 4); SHOTS ON GOAL: 5 (Nate Jaqua 3); FOULS: 17 (4 tied with 3); OFFSIDES: 3 (Fredy Montero 2); CORNER KICKS: 8 (Freddie Ljungberg 4); SAVES: 2 (Kasey Keller 2)

 
Misconduct Summary:
SEA -- Jhon Kennedy Hurtado (caution; Delaying a Restart) 28
CHI -- Gonzalo Segares (caution; Persistent Infringement) 39
CHI -- John Thorrington (caution; Dissent) 40
CHI -- John Thorrington (caution; Reckless Tackle) 54
CHI -- John Thorrington (ejection; Second Caution) 54
SEA -- Patrick Ianni (caution; Reckless Tackle) 57
SEA -- Freddie Ljungberg (caution; Simulation) 59
SEA -- Freddie Ljungberg (caution; Dissent) 59
SEA -- Freddie Ljungberg (ejection; Second Caution) 59

 
Referee: Baldomero Toledo
Referee's Assistants: -David Bragg; Jeff Hosking
4th Official: Alejandro Mariscal
Attendance: 32,405
Time of Game: 1:54
Weather: Sunny-and-75-degrees

All Statistics contained in this boxscore are unofficial

Fire defender CJ Brown jumps with Jaqua. (Rick Morrison)
 
Post-Game Quotes - July 25, 2009
Seattle Sounders FC vs. Chicago Fire
 
Seattle Sounders FC Head Coach Sigi Schmid
 
Opening statement:
“I thought we had enough chances to win the game. We went at them early on. I thought we created a lot of things. Overall I wasn’t displeased. At halftime I told the guys just continue to play the way we’d been playing, we’d been creating chances and to make sure we didn’t get caught on the counter. They had one good chance at the end where they hit the post, I’m not sure if it came of our head or theirs. But outside of that I thought we had more of the game for sure. We were a little surprised to see (Jon) Busch in goal because I thought he was with the national team. I thought (Brad) Evans was with the national team too; I didn’t see him out there today. We’re a little bit surprised at that, how that works. Obviously they got the red card on the foul from behind and I just had the feeling, I told our coaches on the bench, that somewhere, somehow today we’re going to get a red card. It was going to happen.”
 
On what happened on the Ljungberg red card:
“I’m not going to go into it because I’m going to get into trouble if I go into it. It was a decision by the referee. I noticed he had a nice chat at halftime with Blanco. He was walking away and (Cuauhtemoc) Blanco called him back and he turned around. It was tough for me to get a word in but he found time for Blanco at halftime.”
 
On team’s performance against Blanco:
“I thought we did a pretty good job on him today. I thought in Chicago he really had an outstanding game against us and was really dominant. I thought today we really didn’t give him that many good looks. He’s an outstanding player so he’s always going to find two or three or four passes that he can make but I think we really limited him. I didn’t think we gave him a lot of looks forward and a lot of chances to play people in.”
 
On assessing the team going into the All-Star break:
“I think right now the key for us is we’ve got to do a better job of finishing opportunities. I think we’ve created opportunities when we played Chelsea a week ago, but that clinical finishing still has to happen for us. There’s times when we over hold it, over pass and we need to finish better. There’s been very few games, especially recently, where I felt that we haven’t created enough chances or that the opponent has created more than us. So finishing is definitely the key. Defensively our ability to hold the ball, our ability to balance people off offensively, we do a pretty good job of that. I’m pretty pleased with most of what we’ve done.  It’s just a matter of when we dominant games, the key to the sport is when you dominate games you’ve got to score goals and when you get dominated not to give any goals up. We’re doing a good job of not giving the goals up in the periods of time when we dominate, but we’re not turning our domination into the goals that we need and that’s what happened today. If we get better at that, then we’ll have even more success.”
 
On the team’s finishers,  (Nate) Jaqua and (Fredy) Montero:
“The combination there is as good a combination as there is in the league. We had three solid opportunities in the first half. (Freddie) Ljungberg’s that he put over the top, there was the ball played inside to Montero that Busch came off his line, Montero hit it over him but put it wide, and there was the header by Jaqua. And that’s not to count the other one that’s right by the post as well, so that’s four. Then in the second-half there were some equal opportunities as well. It’s there some days it doesn’t go in for you. As a coach you become concerned if your team’s not creating chances, but we’re creating chances so that’s the good news.”
 
On rules on (Freddie) Ljungberg:
“I know with the red he misses a game for sure.”
 
On whether a player of Ljungberg’s experience should be able to argue a call:
“I think when you look at the NBA and some other sports that are around, there’s a certain respect factor that’s given to an established player. And when you look at the game internationally I think the same thing happens. Obviously there was respect given to some of the experienced players on the field, unfortunately they weren’t in a green uniform. I don’t know what he said. I asked the referee what he said and would not go into it. He just said it was too much, and I said well, what was it, and he said, it was too much.”
 
On the call that led to the second yellow:
“I thought there were a number of fouls, they committed tactical fouls. When you look at a play where (Peter) Vagenas steals the ball right in front of our box and is starting to break out, and (Chris) Rolfe pulls him back by the shirt. That’s a tactical foul, stopping a counter attack and there’s no yellow card given. That to me makes no sense. It’s obvious to see he realizes his team is going to be short-handed so he’s going to give a foul away, a foul I thought was a card in that particular case. That’s why I get confused sometimes. I thought our guys - (Fredy) Montero and (Freddie) Ljungberg - continued to get fouled, all defenders are the same it’s not going to be any different.”
 
 
Freddie Ljungberg, Seattle midfielder
 
On actions that led to second yellow card:
“There was nothing after the first yellow. You could see that I go down on the side, away from him. I got suspended because of that. It was my fifth yellow so I got pissed off about that. I knew what he is like. He’s been fretting me the whole game. I hit my chest and made conscious to not scream anything abusive at him. And then I hear some whistles behind me. But, I have got to just rise above it. I can’t control him. Like I said, that’s the way it is.”
 
On whether he should have walked away after first yellow card:
“It’s an important game and there were a lot of things wrong in that game, things that players from the other team were laughing behind his back sometimes. It’s not the way a game should be. If I would not have cared, if I would have just walked away and didn’t care, I wouldn’t care to win the game. And that’s not me. I always want to win.”

Fredy Montero whinces after his late strike hit the corner of the goal post. (Rick Morrison)
 
 
Nate Jaqua, Seattle forward
 
On Sounders FC effort against Chicago fire:
“They are a good team as well. But I think we played some good soccer and created good chances. From that side of things, I am definitely happy about it. We needed to just be a little sharper in the final third.”
 
On play of Sounders FC before MLS All-Star break:
“We are a team that got thrown together. Many of these guys have never played together before. From that side of things, I think every game, up to this point, I feel like we have improved. We are understanding each other better. I think we are playing offensively a lot better. I think defensively we have been real good. But, now, we are getting the offensive side of things.”
 
 
Steve Zakuani, Seattle midfielder
 
On match against Chicago Fire:
“We had a chance, several chances. In the second half, Fredy (Montero) hit one off the crossbar. I hit one just over the bar. Nate had a good shot. We had chances after chances. We wanted to win the game but we will take the point. We are still at the top of the west. They are a very good team and we are happy we played well against them.”
 
On Sounders FC fatigue:
“I think we just did a bad job of finishing. That’s what Sigi says and I agree. We got chances. I don’t think they had many good chances. I think Kasey made a good save. Overall, we had a lot of chances. Fredy came close when he hit the crossbar. There were a few of those and we only needed one to go in. When we keep missing and missing, it becomes more difficult. We will take the point. But, probably should have won this one.”
 
 
 
DENIS HAMLETT- Chicago Head Coach
 
(On his thoughts following the game today….) “It was about as exciting as a zero-zero game as you will find in our league. I thought it was a great atmosphere and both teams came on here to attack. I think both teams had chances to win the game, in the end a fair result.”
 
(On John Thorrington receiving a red card…) “He made stupid mistake. What else are you going to say.”
 
(On Freddie Ljungberg receiving a red card…) “Once I saw he red, that playing a man down in the heat would have been real difficult. When he got the red I thought we had a chance.  Guys lose their head’s sometimes in this game, and you have to remind your players to stay focused, especially my guys, with the emotions being so high. Sometimes people overact and you try to find the right balance.”
 
(On the play of Jon Busch…) “I thought he did great today. He made a lot of great saves and was able to keep the game at zero-zero. We have a chance to leave here with points and today we did. We need some big plays today.”
 
(On there being two red cards in the game…) “I’m disappointed with my guy picking up the red card. The first he picked up was more stupid, you just have to let it go and get along with the game. You can’t argue with the second one because he committed a foul from behind. Sitting on a yellow you can’t do that. With Freddie, I thought the first call was right with him diving, I don’t know what he said to him as far as getting the second one.”
 
(On the atmosphere here at Qwest Field…) “It is a great environment to play; there is a lot of pressure from the crowd. You see certain calls and I think that is because of the pressure. The guys looked forward to this environment; we could have done without the heat today. You have to tip your hat to Seattle as far as doing everything right. Every team that comes here wants to bring their best game because it such a great atmosphere.”
 
 
JON BUSCH - Chicago Goalkeeper
 
(On handling the pressure of Seattle’s offense…) “We knew it is was going to be battle today, they are very good team. They play very well at home, this is a big advantage with the crowd and everything. Honestly, I did my job is to make saves and catch crosses. Some games you have a lot to do and other games not a lot of action. Today I was fortunate enough to make a few saves. Nate [Jaqua] hit the ball at me while I was still down, otherwise it would have been goal. Luck was on my side on that.”
 
(On coming into the game with more of a defensive approach…) “No, we still wanted to play and try to win games on the road. We have a really good record on the road. At the same we just can’t go crazy, because they are a good team. Sigi [Schmid] put them together well and they play well. We didn’t want to expose ourselves more than we had to. We are obviously missing a few players. As the game wore on you say if we can sneak one on in that is great, but let’s not lose the one point we have right now.”
 
(On relying on having a quick reaction…) “I use my attributes for what they are, I just to organize well, read plays and cut things out before they happen. I have decent reactions I would say and play to my strengths. Each goalkeeper is a little bit different.”
 
(On facing a lot of pressure today…) “Yeah, especially in the first half, we did a little but better in the second half. Fredy had a fantastic strike off the near post. I thought maybe the heat both teams got tired later on the second half. Tremendous effort from our team, from top to bottom we have a group of tireless workers.”
 
(On defensive tactics to neutralize Seattle’s offense…) “We just wanted to stay organized. If we keep our shape and blocks we are very hard to breakdown. It is when guys move forward and lose their space do we make mistakes. We don’t want an open run game, which Seattle likes.”