Seattle Sounders End Real Salt Lake Undefeated Streak 2-1

by Dave Clark on May 28, 2011 8:13 PM PDT in Sounders: MLS Regular Season

Lamar Neagle was an active early substitute, but his late goal made the difference.

For a team that hasn't had many breaks go their way the Seattle Sounders got a few tonight, but at first it didn't seem like that. Prior to the match starting Alvaro Fernandez had a tweaked hamstring, but insisted that he could play effectively. He could not and Sigi Schmid had to use a sub prior to the 20th minute, and then the weather got worse. Any fan would think that Real Salt Lake was going to continue its impressive home undefeated streak as the breaks were not going to go the Rave Green's way.

Instead things opened up for Seattle. Lamar Neagle had a few early opportunities. Kasey Keller and the defense got a lucky break on a series of corners and rebounds. Later, Mike Fucito out-bodied Jamison Olave often enough that on a break away Olave's only option was to pull him down. That red card changed everything.

Ten Man Salt Lake couldn't defend a corner when Tyson Wahl lofted a solid ball to the far post. Nate Jaqua won the duel knocked it low to Fredy Montero (on for Fucito) who gave a slight redirect and Patrick Ianni put the easy ball into the net. Seattle did not stop attacking though. At times this would prove frustrating as RSL had a possession advantage despite the man advantage.

Federal Way/Tacoma/Auburn's Neagle struck a goal to the upper right corner that would prove the attack to be one of worth as he put Seattle up two-nil. The Utah based side would attempt a come back and earned a goal late in the match, but it would not be enough for them to make their unbeaten streak hit 30. They were stopped.

The Sounders had long stretches where a loss would have been accepted. A certain amount of luck was needed. A fair, but unexpected refereeing decision went their way. Some times the breaks go your way. For a fan-base that hasn't felt like it has gotten one in some time this victory doesn't just feel good.

It feels like history.

Tweet Comment 55 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Worst...

go on the road to an absolute fortress against a team that has forgotten how to give up goals while your side can’t score and pick up 3 unexpect points win… ever.

The status quo on the this team is in trouble. Neagle maybe the man we are looking for on the left and Fucito played well. A changing of the guard may be in the offings.

I wish we could find our passing game again. We seem so disjointed and are not creating any space.

by blakec on May 28, 2011 8:26 PM PDT reply actions

I don't think we should be talking about "a changing of the guard"...

…until we see a game where we aren’t gifted with a half-hour-plus of a man advantage against a team that is already missing several key players due to both injury and national-team use.

by regnaD kciN on May 28, 2011 8:31 PM PDT up reply actions

Their defense was intact

including Beckerman. That’s the same defense that’s only given up 2 goals this season previously. And the mad advantage was ‘gifted’ because Fucito got pulled down to avoid a clear breakaway and a great chance at a goal. So if we hadn’t received that gift we likely would have had a goal anyway.

Nos Audietis

by sidereal on May 28, 2011 9:20 PM PDT up reply actions

Not to mention..

..dude was frustrated Fucito was all over him all night to the point not only to stop the break away but out of pure frustration.

by Timm Higgins on May 29, 2011 8:09 AM PDT up reply actions

If you want to caveat the win

I wouldn’t go with RSL playing some subs or the man advantage. I’d go with the fact that we were pretty lucky not to give up at least 2 more goals with some bouncing around the box and a fingertip deflection by Keller to get one onto the bar. Our defense was not good enough, but that’s definitely not the fault of Fucito and not very much the fault of Neagle, although he did leave Wahl stranded with Espindola too often.

Nos Audietis

by sidereal on May 28, 2011 9:24 PM PDT up reply actions

I guess it depends on what you call "luck"

Much like Neagle’s wonder strike, we got a superhuman performance from Keller tonight. It might be a fluke in the sense that you can’t expect Neagle to score from 30 yards out every game, and you can’t expect Keller to bail out the team every game, but it’s deserved in the sense that one of our players played out of their minds.

by Tohoya on May 28, 2011 9:27 PM PDT up reply actions

With

that much space i would be disappointed if Neagle didn’t take that shot.

by gstommylee on May 28, 2011 9:33 PM PDT up reply actions

Actually Keller has bailed out the team often enough that I kinda expect it now

by Philip Mueller on May 28, 2011 9:42 PM PDT up reply actions

No we can't always rely on Keller to bail us out

But how many times has he done that so far? Quite a few by my count.

by Derek R on May 28, 2011 9:44 PM PDT up reply actions

Not sure this clarifies anything

Fucito continues to look good and Neagle had some very good moments, but I’m not willing to say either one of them have “proven” anything. Nate Jaqua had easily his best game of the year and Fredy Montero played well, as both a creator and a shooter.

Editor/writer at Sounder at Heart, MLS editor SB Nation. Follow me on Twitter

by Jeremiah Oshan on May 28, 2011 8:31 PM PDT reply actions

that said...

I think they have shown they deserve to continue to see the field

Editor/writer at Sounder at Heart, MLS editor SB Nation. Follow me on Twitter

by Jeremiah Oshan on May 28, 2011 8:35 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs

he did?

Jaqua won the header which started the first goal…

He applied some decent hassling pressure early in the game…

but his passing was pretty off, and his size/heading was only intermittently effective.

by nimajneb on May 28, 2011 8:36 PM PDT up reply actions

Well, more effective than the alternative

Editor/writer at Sounder at Heart, MLS editor SB Nation. Follow me on Twitter

by Jeremiah Oshan on May 28, 2011 8:43 PM PDT up reply actions

that, granted.

by nimajneb on May 28, 2011 8:44 PM PDT up reply actions

and...

Fucito and Neagle haven’t proven any “less” than what some have been pointing out to push their case.

by nimajneb on May 28, 2011 8:37 PM PDT up reply actions

Except what they've proven is still a very small sample

I’m more convinced of Fucito. Like I said, I’d like to see more of Neagle. But let’s hold off on the told-you-sos.

Editor/writer at Sounder at Heart, MLS editor SB Nation. Follow me on Twitter

by Jeremiah Oshan on May 28, 2011 8:44 PM PDT up reply actions

i wan't saying that...

;)

…as much as I was saying that the reasons for giving them opportunities to prove those skills were self-evident in their play. Even were they to prove one/two dimensional and limited on extended play… they have not been asked by anyone to be the offensive linchpin.

by nimajneb on May 28, 2011 8:48 PM PDT up reply actions

they both (fucito and neagle) earned more playing time with the performances tonight/this week

if anything it might give sigi the idea to sub earlier in the game.

by Sandra_R on May 28, 2011 10:57 PM PDT up reply actions

The best word I can come up with for Fucito is...

..pest. He was on his mark (the guy’s name escapes me) all night like white on rice. While he did get warned for some of it, he didn’t pick up a card. You could tell the guy was frustrated beyond belief and I think that in part led to the red card. I’m all for him doing things like that, as long as he doesn’t get carded. Forcing opposing players into fouling him, and getting cards works in my book.

by Timm Higgins on May 29, 2011 8:16 AM PDT up reply actions

!

by Robert on May 28, 2011 8:35 PM PDT reply actions 6 recs

This is so bad, it's unbelieveable!

Love it.

by magistermilitum on May 28, 2011 8:57 PM PDT up reply actions

ri-DQ-lous

by Philip Mueller on May 28, 2011 9:21 PM PDT up reply actions 2 recs

Very glad to see Neagle go in

instead of Levesque.

by Cornchops on May 28, 2011 8:36 PM PDT reply actions

I don't

think sigi would have brought Levesque in to be LW. RW yes but LW no.

by gstommylee on May 28, 2011 8:50 PM PDT up reply actions

it wouldn't have been the first time

not even the second.

by nimajneb on May 28, 2011 9:00 PM PDT up reply actions

The early sub of Evans vs. Portland

was Levesque. Sigi has certainly gone with Roger in those situations in the past.

I don’t see why Roger can’t do what he does just as well on the left. It’s not really side specific. Or Friberg could have moved there and Evans to the middle.

Regardless, I was happy with the choice of Neagle.

by Cornchops on May 28, 2011 10:06 PM PDT up reply actions

me 2!

and it payed off!

by Sandra_R on May 28, 2011 10:57 PM PDT up reply actions

This needs to be

on a two pole. “We break streaks”

by gstommylee on May 28, 2011 8:51 PM PDT reply actions

or

tifo it.

by gstommylee on May 28, 2011 8:53 PM PDT reply actions

Away at Portland perhaps?

by magistermilitum on May 28, 2011 8:57 PM PDT up reply actions

Perhaps

at Portland.

by gstommylee on May 28, 2011 9:00 PM PDT up reply actions

If they've still got the streak going by the time we play them

by Tohoya on May 28, 2011 9:35 PM PDT up reply actions

Yeah, that's what I was thinking.

Here’s hoping they don’t, but it sure would be nice to be the ones to end it.

by magistermilitum on May 28, 2011 9:37 PM PDT up reply actions

Well

DC just ended Portland’s 5 game win streak at home.

by gstommylee on May 29, 2011 4:06 PM PDT up reply actions

hmm

any chance Montano would be on the 18 if Alvaro were to miss a game? Or would sigi shift evans to LW and play Rosales RW?

by gstommylee on May 28, 2011 9:01 PM PDT reply actions

We'll get into the what to do without Alvaro later

right now we just beat the best team in the league in a place where they never lose

THREE POINTS

I am not a Supporter | I am not a Fan | I am a Sounder
Sounder At Heart

by Dave Clark on May 28, 2011 9:04 PM PDT up reply actions 5 recs

Yep

like i said not what i expecting but i’ll take it.

by gstommylee on May 28, 2011 9:05 PM PDT up reply actions

the reserves have a game monday.. he may be motivated to play really well if he feels like he has the chance make the 18.

by Sandra_R on May 28, 2011 10:59 PM PDT up reply actions

shouldn't he be motivated anyway?

Editor/writer at Sounder at Heart, MLS editor SB Nation. Follow me on Twitter

by Jeremiah Oshan on May 28, 2011 11:10 PM PDT up reply actions 2 recs

everytime i see montano on the green

i get a little excited! we need more tougher players and the kid looks like he’s got it. Wish he would of caught shea a little harder on that elbow though, if you’re gonna get a red card anyway …;)

by seattle dude on May 28, 2011 11:35 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs

Is it a away reserve game?

by Timm Higgins on May 29, 2011 8:27 AM PDT up reply actions

It's at Portland

And just for future reference, we have an all-competitions schedule in the right rail. Includes CCL, Open Cup, reserves and academy.

Editor/writer at Sounder at Heart, MLS editor SB Nation. Follow me on Twitter

by Jeremiah Oshan on May 29, 2011 8:41 AM PDT up reply actions

Sweet, thanks.

by Timm Higgins on May 29, 2011 10:32 AM PDT up reply actions

Awesome picture choice!

by Sobchak on May 30, 2011 1:42 PM PDT up reply actions

Montano is not ready...

…for reserve matches, from what I read. Temper, temper.

by bmvaughn on May 28, 2011 9:06 PM PDT reply actions

Is he still bad that way?

I thought he was calming down/accepting the MLS thing since preseason-ish.. Haven’t caught a reserve match for a bit, though.

///and the hills the greenest green...

by meme on May 28, 2011 11:31 PM PDT up reply actions

He's still got a ways to go

Both games I’ve seen him he’s acted out at inappropriate times

Editor/writer at Sounder at Heart, MLS editor SB Nation. Follow me on Twitter

by Jeremiah Oshan on May 29, 2011 8:10 AM PDT up reply actions

Confused

I’ve read the comments and I’m confused. This game should go down in Sounder history as on of their top games, all time.
We roll into to Rio Tinto (29 no loss games) with 3 games played in 8 days, and take 3 points is outstanding. One may say incredible! I would have had a hard on if we left with a point. Don’t even ask ask what happened when the final whistle blew…
I have to say that I’ve had my doubts about this team, at times they dont seem to have the heart to win a home game to a team that shouldn’t be a problem.
I loved to see the heart tonight… from all the players who made the pitch, and know that the rest had their back. Starting, bench or reserve, This is the squad that makes me proud to be a SOUNDER!

by Cosman68 on May 28, 2011 11:32 PM PDT reply actions

In February...

…if you had told me that we would play most of a game in Salt Lake, without Nkfuo, Montero, Zakuani, Fernandez, O’Brian White, and Hurtado, and we had come out of it with three points, I probably would have said you were crazy. And that’s without mentioning Rosales, who snuck into the picture later, but wasn’t fully fit tonight.

I don’t know if it’s because I come from more of a baseball background, but I don’t get all the gnashing of teeth over the team lately. Yeah, we’re only a game over .500, but half the league is within two games of .500. Even the good teams in the league are going to spend most of the season playing about .500, except for 4-6 weeks when they go on a winning streak. We’ve hung around .500 while absorbing injuries to key players. All it would take for us to catch LA is for them to lose twice and for us to go on a little 3-game win streak. Sure, the season hasn’t been all rainbows and unicorns so far, but it’s not been bad, either. We can play with any team in the league and if we get a little healthier and step it up a bit, we could be in great shape in the playoffs.

by ubelmann on May 28, 2011 11:36 PM PDT reply actions 5 recs

You have perspective and a long term view of things

Clearly you’re not from Seattle! J/k, the posters on this site (usually) see the big picture…but reading the comments on Josh’s Seattle Times blog and different twitter feeds, you’d think the world was ending!

Ultimately, I doubt we seriously contend for the Supporters Shield, but like you said we’re not that far out of the picture and still have 20 games to go. But we sure look like a playoff team, and a dangerous one at that. Plus all this adversity is going to have unforseen benefits down the road. That which doesn’t kill you and such.

by wannascribble on May 28, 2011 11:54 PM PDT up reply actions

THIS

A thousand times, this.

by LordIceman on May 29, 2011 2:03 AM PDT up reply actions

This was an amazing game to attend, and I may have converted a friend.

From the constant shouts of “Seattle Sunshine” in the downpour to Fucito’s constant attack paying off with the red (I only now realized that was Olave) to Neagle’s simply wonderful goal, followed by RSL fans throwing streamers at the ECS after they scored, to the agonizing final minutes of breaking the fortress (Rio Tinto stopped the clock at 90:00, so it was painful to mentally count 3 minutes). Good work, Sounders. My voice is gone.

by yuniform on May 29, 2011 8:45 AM PDT reply actions