2000 Jul 1
Seattle Sounders 2 - 2 Montreal Impact
Memorial Stadium, Seattle
44 MON - Biello
56 MON - Ngon (Bernier)
61 SEA - Tomlinson (Nguyen)
84 SEA - Howes (Jenkins)
Seattle: Bill May; Bernie James (Craig Tomlinson 46), Scott Jenkins, Kieran Barton, Craig Waibel; Dick McCormick, Andrew Gregor, Greg Howes, Viet Nguyen; Rashid Utush, Darren Sawatzky.
Montreal: Jim Larkin; Patrice Bernier, Patrick Diotte, Nevio Pizzolitto, John Limniatis; Nick DeSantis, Patric Leduc, Mauro Biello, Giuliano Oliviero; Darko Kolic (Nicola Corneli 58), Ali Ngon.
The visiting Montreal Impact grabbed a 2-0 lead but the Seattle Sounders came back to settle for a 2-2 draw. Montreal had never before scored in Seattle in six matches since 1994. In 14 matches since 1994, Montreal have never beaten the Sounders in regulation or extra time.
Montreal's goals came from a Mauro Biello free kick near the end of the first half and an Ali Ngon breakaway goal. Seattle came back with a goal by Craig Tomlinson from a free kick play and a header by rookie Greg Howes. 20 minutes of extra time were played with neither team able to finish a goal.
First Half
The teams would alternate opportunities for the whole first half. In the opening minute Montreal's Ngon beat Craig Waibel for possesion of an air ball inside the left corner of the penalty area and Ngon rolled a cross down the seam between goalkeeper Bill May and the Montreal attackers, but nobody could reach the cross.
For Seattle, Rashid Utush sent an aerial cross to the far post for Darren Sawatzky, but he was covered and couldn't create a chance.
At 8' May had to "save" an own goal when Dick McCormick's attempted clearance was glanced towards the far post.
Montreal's Giuliano Oliviero fed Darko Kolic in the penalty area for a chance with just May to beat, but May dove to make the save and the defense cleared the ball that May had pushed sideways.
For Seattle, Sawatzky chipped a shot on goal, but goalkeeper Jim Larkin retreated to make the save.
Ngon won a long ball and shot from 20 yards on the right, missing the far post.
Sawatzky chased down a ball in the right corner and crossed, but a Montreal defender was a half step ahead of Howes and put the ball out for a corner kick.
For Montreal, Patrice Bernier drilled a shot just over the top near corner from 15 yards on a corner kick play. Ngon was open on the right after a series of passes, but May came out to cut down the angle and he blocked Ngon's shot.
After Patrick Diotte was cautioned for knocking Rashid Utush down near the right touch line, Andrew Gregor's free kick driven at goal was flicked on by Waibel and the shot went just wide of the far post.
Biello recieved a cross 8 yards from the near post for a good chance, but he sent the shot well wide of the near post.
Howes put a 30-yard Seattle free kick over the top far corner.
44' Biello. Biello put a 30-yard free kick neatly into the top near corner. 1-0 Montreal at the break.
Halftime: Seattle 0 - 1 Montreal
Craig Tomlinson came on for sweeper Bernie James at the half to give Seattle a more offensive lineup.
For Montreal, Ngon won a ball right in front of goal with May right on him, but Ngon couldn't get the ball past May. In the same minute Ngon had a shot from the left side that missed the top far corner.
56' Ngon (Bernier). A through ball by Patrice Bernier sprung Ngon from the halfway line with no defender close. Ngon advanced towards the right post and beat May with a low shot just inside the far post. 2-0 Montreal.
Howes came back with a hard shot from 20 yards, but Larkin caught the ball above his head.
61' Tomlinson (Nguyen). Rashid Utush was held as he tried to enter the left side of the penalty area. The ball was spotted just outside the area and 6 yards from the goal line. Viet Ngyuyen whipped a ball squarely across the goal mouth and the Sounders crashed the goal, Tomlinson getting the touch on the cross with his shin guard and volleying the ball sharply into the back of the net. 2-1, still Montreal.
In the 75th, from a Sounders corner kick play, Howes fired a screamer on goal that Larkin managed to parry while falling backwards.
A minute later a Montreal corner kick was dropped for Oliviero, whose shot from the left side hit the base of the far post and came right back.
A Scott Jenkins throw-in to Kieran Barton was sent at goal and flicked just wide of the far post by Waibel. Tomlinson had half a chance from the left but was wide of the near post.
A long shot by Ngon was just over May and hit the crossbar, then May caught the rebound near the penalty spot.
84' Howes (Jenkins). After a string of passes around the Montreal penalty area, Gregor dropped the ball up the left touch line for Jenkins, who bent in a cross that came down about 10 yards out from the far post. Howes rose above the defenders and headed the ball home with authority for an awesome goal. Score 2-2 now.
In the final minutes of regulation Ngon was a yard over from 25, and for Seattle Sawatzky had a half chance from a Jenkins throw-in but was wide of goal.
Regulation: Seattle 2 - 2 Montreal
Seattle had nearly all of the chances in extra time, but couldn't find a winning goal. Sawatzky crossed from the right touch line to Howes' head, but his shot was pressured wide. Howes beat his marker in the corner and crossed into the goal area, where Tomlinson and goalkeeper Larkin got to the ball at the same time and Larkin stuffed Tomlinson's shot. Howes fought through to the arc and dished left to an open Gregor, who just missed the lower far corner with a shot. Gregor put a long, diagonal ball through for Howes, who was nearly 1v1 against the 'keeper, but a defender recovered to clear the ball before Howes could set up a shot.
The teams traded ends and Ngon soon had a shot, but sent it way over.
For Seattle, Barton fed ahead for McCormick, who had a good look from the arc but just missed the lower left corner. Nguyen dropped for Gregor on a throw-in play and Gregor missed the top left corner from 20 yards.
Two minutes from time on a Montreal counterattack, Ngon served the ball to his right to a wide open Bernier who went in alone against May in nearly a repeat of the Ngon goal, but this time May blocked the attempt at the lower far corner to deny Montreal the win.
Final: Seattle 2 - 2 Montreal
Statistics:
| Seattle | Montreal | |
| Shots: | 19 | 17 |
| Saves: | 6 | 4 |
| Corners: | 7 | 5 |
| Fouls: | 22 | 24 |
| Offsides: | 0 | 5 |
Referee: Kari Seitz; Asst Refs: Kevin O'Brien, Jeff Hosking; 4th Official: Sandra Serafini.
Attendance: 1,551
