Away Goals Sink the Sounders
By Christopher Frost
2 goals a amazing performance from goalkeeper Stephan Frei weren't enough to keep the Seattle Sounders in the playoffs. A lone goal from Glaxaxy midfielder Juninho was enough to secure a berth in the finals for the Galaxy. The way the playoffs work is each team gets a game at home. They combine the scores of the two games, which is called aggregate. If the score is tied after the second leg, the series is decided on away goals. This is what doomed the Sounders. They held the Galaxy to 1 goal in LA, but weren't able to score themselves. This wasn't a bad result, but they had to score 2 goals at Home.
In front of 45,000 fans in Century Link Field, the Sounders came out attacking. Early on neither team could break the tie, and neither team could gain an advantage. Around the 30th minute Clint Dempsey chased a ball to the sideline. And played a slow bouncing ball across the middle. The keeper and defenders had chased Demsey, and the slow rolling ball across the middle fell right to Brad Evans feet. Evans tapped it in to tie the series 1-1.
Just a few minutes later right back DeAndre Yedlin played a low cross across the middle. The Galaxy defenders cleared it, but it fell right to Clint Dempsey. His shot took a little deflection and trickled past the Galaxy keeper, giving the Sounders a lead on aggregate. Unfortunately the Sounders couldn't hang on to the 2 goal lead and Galaxy midfielder Juninho's shot glanced off the post and went in. On aggregate the score was tied, but on away goals the Galaxy were ahead.
The Sounders needed one goal to win, but they just couldn't get it. The game ended 2-1, but the Sounders lost on away goals. It was a depressing end to amazing season. Obafemi Martins and Clint Dempsey led an attack that led the MLS in goals, while Chad Marshall won defender of the year while improving a defense that struggled greatly last year.
6 years and no MLS Cup. The Sounder have won every of trophy in MLS. The Open Cup 4 times, and the Supporters Shield. Every year the Sounders have had a winning record and made the playoffs, but every year they fall short. They have the talent, they just haven't been able to put it all together. They has never been a shortage of talented players in Seattle, with Freddy Montero, Eddie Johnson, Blaise Nkufo and Mauro Rosales to name a few. They certainly have the stars now, with Obafemi Martins, Clint Dempsey and Osvaldo Alonso. They finally seemed to have the chemistry and supporting players needed this year, but they fell short once again. Maybe next year will be the year, maybe the year after, nobody knows.
