Last Friday the Seattle Sounders picked up a much needed win in Colorado. The pre-game lead up was average with Twitter ablaze about the line up and hopes for the game. The Sounders dropped a late line up with 3 really big changes which shocked a few, myself included. My prediction was Fredy Montero back up top playing off O’Brian White and new comer Mauro Rosales stepping in as a controlling mid pushing forward. I was not expecting Sigi to Pull Leo Gonzalez, Jeff Parke and Eric Friberg to make way for Rosales, Patrick Ianni and Tyson Wahl. I figure that after the Philly game Sigi really wanted to change things up and see if some what happened.
Three minutes into the game at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park the Sounders (and Colorado’s) season changed. Brian Mullan made a challenge on Steve Zakuani that stunned all of those who were watching live. I was watching live and was in shock as I saw the leg flop to the right when it should have been pointing straight up. My Twitter feed went nuts, Sounders fans in horror of what had happened. Fox of course showed the challenge a few times and I knew Steve was out. Mullan was shown a straight red and sent off.
Hats off to the medical staff of the Rapids and Sounders trainers getting Steve air splinted and off the field in 3 or so minutes. Watching a grown man fight tears of pain and the fear of not knowing if your will be able to continue in your chosen profession was heart breaking as both Sounders and several Rapids players came over to wish him well off the field. Former Seattle player Tyrone Marshall walked half the field with Steve and the medical crew giving condolences and prayers I am sure.
While Steve was being wheeled off Alvaro Fernandez (El Flaco) subbed on to fill the left wing. El Flaco opened his scoring with a late point stealing goal vs. Philly the week before. Back to play and you could tell that someone had been yelling to settle down and control the ball. Moving the ball pretty effective for about 15 minutes Fredy Montero scored from just inside the 18 at the 19th minute. From this point Colorado picked up their pace and played a lot harder 10 man soccer. Pushing the Sounders pace and forcing them to put 9 or 10 behind the ball regularly. O’Brian White was looking rather rock like not moving fast or hard up top which left Rosales, El Flaco and Brad Evans doing a lot of running, Montero was also pushing back on many plays. The first half ended with Colorado’s Caleb Folan making a lot of “fun to watch” runs from mid field. Possession ended with a bit over 50% for Seattle for the first half.
Coming out of the locker room Seattle seemed to be a bit weighted down. The run of play over all was going the Rapids way but they were not able to get deep into the Sounders back third of the field. Folan again was getting pretty fun to watch and ended up picking up a yellow right after Rosales was replaced by Friberg. Montero picked up a yellow in the 80th for what seemed coming in a bit late on a tackle. El Flaco was subed out in the 80th.
Colorado did sub out former Sounder Tyrone Marshall in the 65th Minute as well as the not heard much from returning Pablo Mastroeni and former Sounder Sanna Nyassi popped in at the 72nd minute to provide Rapids fans with a few nice runs.
The Sounders 80th minute sub was to bring in a defensive minded player allowing for a 5 man back line to hold the one goal lead with the onslaught that the Rapids were bringing. The Sounders held their own walking away with 3 points after a few shots and corners for Colorado at the end.
The Sounders left Colorado Saturday one player short as Zakuani remained in the hospital over night. He did return to Seattle on Wednesday.
Writers Note: Please watch out for my coming piece on the red card, the controversy and suspension.
(image courtesy of soundersfc.com)
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