Seattle Sounders 4 - Colorado Rapids 3: Highlights, Statistics, Quotes

When there are seven goals scored the highlight reel is packed with action ending in results. A save or two may sneak in there, but the goal fest is easy to see again and quickly. About the 6th minute you'll get to see how awful the surface was for everyone during an Erik Friberg breakaway. Even the center referee falls on that play. The multiple angles and close-ups of Friberg's nuts getting busted are unnecessary, but thanks Pablo Maestroni for behaving like an NFL lineman and retaliating - real class there. Fribergs foul was clear and justly called. For all the hub-bub about Larentowicz goal celebration caused among fans, it was quick, tiny and truly harmless.

The scoreline was not an indicator of how good the Sounders played. Seattle dominated possession, winning of duels, total passes, and open play crosses. This was a case of one team getting a result that was deserved. Probably missed by most is that Osvaldo Alonso earned not one but two assists Saturday afternoon. His secondary assist was the proper use of that scoring technique. Fredy Montero continued his points run with a goal and an assist, with Thierry Henry being the only layer with more points (2*G+A).

Within the quotes you will not find the Colorado team blaming the surface for the result. They were outplayed, and similar to Kasey Keller upset at a defense that couldn't prevent goals on a day that the offense was clicking. Coach Sigi Schmid credits Alvaro Fernandez and Fredy Montero for the solid technical play, and with the way he speaks of Roger Levesque's streak (sorry form) it should be expected that Roger will be starting for some time.

All Statistics contained in this boxscore are unofficial

POSTGAME QUOTES: Sounders FC vs. Colorado Rapids

Sigi Schmid - Sounders FC Head Coach

(General Comments...) "Who says soccer's not exciting? Obviously the character we showed again coming back after being down twice was superb. My hat's off to the team in that regard. I didn't like the fact that we gave up three goals but I'm the coach and I'm paid to worry so I worry about those sorts of things. Our effort was magnificent. We controlled the majority of the match. We created chances. The first goal was a mistake. The second goal was because we were too eager going forward and left ourselves open in the back and the last one was a lack of concentration. Overall, I was very pleased with our passing and our play. I thought guys stepped up and did very well. If you came to today's game and you didn't enjoy it then you don't enjoy sports."

(On physicality of game...) "I think the game got a little chippy at times but that's part of it. Everybody kept their emotions in check. There wasn't anyone looking to retaliate or get even or anything like that."

(On grass surface...) "The rain made it a little tougher so the field was a little heavier than it would have been without the rain. The ball was pretty dead when you hit long balls so balls would stay in play, which created opportunities for them because of their speed up front and also created opportunities for us on the flanks where those switching balls would sit. Don't take offense to this but if it was the turf some of those switching balls to Mauro [Rosales] and Alvaro [Fernandez] are going to run out of bounds. So as a result you saw more of a free flowing game."

(On Fredy Montero...) "His work rate was good. There was only the one ball that he forgot to chase that stayed inbounds. He's stepped up and accepted the challenge. He's been getting goals and he set up a great goal to Mauro [Rosales]. I was very pleased with our front four - [Roger] Levesque, Montero, [Alvaro] Fernandez and Mauro Rosales. I think they were creative and they put a lot of things together and a lot of combinations."

(On four goals by four players...) "You can't concentrate on one player. You look at the first goal that Alvaro [Fernandez] scored, it was great. A great run, great individual effort. It showed great balance. Roger Levesque, I didn't see him through all his USL days but I have to believe he's playing as well as he's ever played. If you focus on one guy hopefully another guy is going to come along and hurt you. That's what's important about our team. Today we got four goals from the run of play, which was also good. We've got some goals from set pieces so if we can get goals from set pieces and the run of play and goals from different players that makes us a more difficult team."

(On enjoying playing from behind...) "Trust me, trust me, no. I would rather get on top and stay on top and finish on top in the game. That's something that's there. We're not pleased with the three goals we gave up and that's something we want to take care of but I think it speaks more to our character but it's not a habit we want to remain in."

(On front four players...) "Mauro Rosales and Fredy Montero bring an awful lot of creativity into the game. They're good individual one v one players. Mauro is probably off the run of play as good of a crosser as there is in this league. He finds people and picks them out on crosses. Roger Levesque brings that work ethic. He's a guy who seams things together by working and he's done a great job of holding up the ball for us and connecting and finding that pass. When he can do that and get the ball to Mauro or Fredy and then run, we become more effective. Flaco [Alvaro Fernandez] brings some physical qualities as well. He was unlucky on that header. I thought he had a goal there. He's able to get in the air and he's able to get up and down the line. He has more speed than people think he has and he brings creativity. With Ozzie [Osvaldo Alonso] and [Erik] Friberg behind them, knocking the ball around and finding openings and winning the ball back, it makes us a good team. Right now we're 22 games in and we have some more games to go and we want to maintain this. The guys have gone through a good run and now it's time to relax a little bit, take a deep breath and prepare for the next stage."

(On Wednesday's Manchester United game...) "We're looking forward to playing Man United on Wednesday. That's going to be a tremendous soccer exhibition and a tremendous day for soccer aficionado fans out there. I know our team is looking forward to it. From a standpoint of where we go from there, there's a CONCACAF play-in game in Panama. That's something we take very seriously. Any competition we enter we want to try and win. And then we have to go into Houston, which is a very tough place to play. We're going into two places that are going to be very hot and very humid so we have to make sure that we're ready."

(On women's World Cup Final...) "We'll watch the women tomorrow. I might lay in bed and watch that one. I'll definitely enjoy it. I told the guys to enjoy a nice day off tomorrow."

(On anticipated Manchester United game atmosphere...) "I think it'll be a tremendous experience. A unique experience for Manchester United from the standpoint that they've been to America before to play games but it'll be one of the few times where they walk into a stadium with 60,000 plus in the stadium and they're going to find that the majority of the fans are actually behind the Sounders. I'm sure there's going to be some red in there and some Man U fans in there but our fans are going to come out in droves as well. It's a soccer celebration for our fans. It's a soccer celebration for them to be able to see the quality of players that Man United has and the international stars that they have. For us, it's a privilege, but on the same token the team wants to play well."

Fredy Montero - Sounders FC Forward

(On scoring four goals in all competitions this week...) "Not to say that it was a perfect week but I definitely feel very good, especially because the team accomplished the objectives set before going into this MLS break."

(On his diving header goal...) "Yes, in the first game and in another game last time I scored a similar goal. This time I was a little bit afraid that the ball seemed a little bit too low."

(On the success of the offense...) "We have to maintain and keep doing that, reinforce what we are doing and motivate our entire team."

(On the comeback victories the last two matches...) "The team has been maturing over the course of three seasons. We find that kind of energy when we are down. I'm very proud of what the team has done today and we managed to get the three points."

Mauro Rosales - Sounders FC Midfielder

(On the match...) "We never give up. They scored against us and we always work out to come back in the game. We score important goals in that game and I'm very happy about that."

(On the importance of his goal...) "We played very nice football today. I don't think we deserved to lose the game. They were playing very good in the first half and they were winning the game - they deserved to. The second half we worked for everything, for the game, and this is the prize. We won."

Kasey Keller - Sounders FC Goalkeeper

(On needing four goals to win...) "That was shocking. Our discipline and defending was just not their today. Any time the positives you have to take out of that is that when you have a day like that defensively and you're able to win the game, that's tremendous. It shows a lot of spirit. We keep giving teams goals. We keep having to come from behind. At some stage we have to start to clean that up. We just can't let that happen. But today it was a huge team effort. We were able to come back multiple times, twice again, take the lead. I'm a little disappointed, but also extremely happy."

(On giving up the first goal...) "Mistakes happen. We know that. The nice part of what we're doing right now is that we're able to pick our guys up. When somebody makes a mistake, there's no heads down. It's just a case of, 'Let's get on with it.' We know we can do better and we know we can score goals. It's a great feeling when you know you can score goals. When you do that, granted it was a little loose and undisciplined, we have to clean that up. But at the same time it was great being able to get a win out of a game like this."

(On the physicality of the game...) "We knew they were a physical team and this is the way they play. I have no problem with that. I don't think there was anything nasty out there today. I think there was some physical play and we traded a ton of chances. You look at what Mauro [Rosales] did, you look at what Flaco [Alvaro Fernandez] did, you look at what Fredy [Montero] did. It's great to see him pop up with another goal and obviously a tremendous effort from Roger [Levesque]. You know he's going to work tremendously hard. So it was just a good, team effort today and we got the goals when we needed them."

Brad Evans - Sounders FC Midfielder

(On the come-from-behind win...) "We're scoring goals right now and that's the most important thing. No matter if they come in the first minute, seventh minute or whatever it was today. We get two late past the 80th minute mark so we're putting the ball into the back of the net. We're finding good ways to score."

(On how it feels to get back out on the field...) "It's just anticipation. The ball bounces the right way, we hit a cross, Fredy [Montero] heads it home to take the lead. We get the buffer goal and luckily we got that one because they got one back."

(On the unbeaten streak...) "It's a good run. Last year at the end of the year we went on a really good run as well so it's just coming at a different time. We're going to carry this as long as it'll go. We're at 10 wins so we'll ride the wave."

Gary Smith - Colorado Rapids Head Coach

(On his general impressions of the match...) "When you score three goals you expect to get something coming out after the game. The second half performance started in a poor fashion. I thought we managed to stabilize the middle part during the second half. After feeling pretty good about ourselves going into halftime up 2-1. The second goal we gave up was a big dent to us, and a big boost of confidence for Seattle. The third goal, I felt was coming, the pressure started to mount and Seattle was playing very confident. They have been playing that way for a long period of time."

(On the change in momentum during the second half...) "The initial goals were a big blow. You try to get yourself a nice footing and hold in the second half, away from home. To concede quickly, with the crowd, and the team we are playing against was just tough. I have to be honest there were good periods of the game were we look unsettled in the back. I don't know if it was the pitch or just some good movements from Seattle but we looked vulnerable. There were other opportunities where Seattle breached our backline and increased their lead at certain points."

(On the new surface at CenturyLink Field...) "It looked difficult for all, including Seattle. They are not used to that surface; it was boggy and heavy along with being difficult to turn on. All in all there are no complaints about the pitch. It is a temporary surface and it was good enough to make a competitive game."

(On the positives the team takes away from today's match...) "To be able to go up 2-1 on the road in a difficult place. Scoring the three goals itself is a positive. Unfortunately, giving up four goals which the group doesn't do too often. There are one are two sore bodies in there. I don't know what is going on with Conor Casey achilles; it will be a matter of patching the group back on up to get a strong lineup for Wednesday to play against a difficult New York side."

(On the physical nature of the match...) "I thought the game was called really well, giving the circumstance surrounding the fixture. The fans were great and got behind the team as usual and supported them ever so well. There were some challenges there maybe a bit late but nothing out of the ordinary."

Pablo Mastroeni - Colorado Rapids Midfielder

(On his general thoughts on the match...) "It is unfortunate to be up twice in this game and not walk away with anything. It was a hard fought game and Seattle got on the right side of a few bounces."

(On the temporary surface affecting their style of play...) "No, both teams have to play on it whether it is turf or grass. We had two leads in this game, if anything it helped us out. Some weird plays and a few strange bounces, we were just on the wrong end of the score."

(On the changes Seattle made during halftime...) "They came out and put some pressure on us early. They created their own type of positive momentum. Anytime you can score coming out of halftime puts the other team on their heels. We found ourselves in the game and didn't capitalize."