2004 Aug 1

Calgary Mustangs 3 - 0 Seattle Sounders
McMahon Stadium, Calgary, AB

Goals:
11' CAL - Jesic
32' CAL - Mert
90' CAL - Jesic (Smith)

Calgary: Lutz Pfannenstiel; Aaron Richer, Mike Pavicic, CJ Peszneker; Damir Jesic, Jamie Auvigne, Mesut Mert, Steffen Holdt, Sergei Kolomiets-Raad; Walter Otta (Nic Reyes 71'), Conrad Smith. Substitutes not used: Jordan Robinson, Angelo Sestito, John Junior Castrillon, Conrad Chala, Jordan Gillespie.

Seattle: Preston Burpo; Danny Jackson, Zach Scott, Scott Jenkins; Kevin Sakuda, Kei Kinoshita (Craig Tomlinson 46'), Sean-Michael Callahan (Viet Nguyen 46', Shawn Percell 82'), Ben Somoza (Kyle Smith 74'), Jonathan Bolaños; Roger Levesque, Darren Sawatzky (Welton 46'). Substitutes not used: Danny Waltman.

Additional match reports: Mustangs fan Jason Kmet, Sounders.

Match report by Ron Stickney:

The host Calgary Mustangs outplayed the Seattle Sounders at both ends of the pitch, winning 3-0. Damir Jesic scored first and last, and Mesut Mert notched the second goal. It was probably Calgary's best match of the year and certainly one of Seattle's worst.

First Half

11' Jesic. Jesic scored on the first shot of the match. A ball popped high into the penalty area ought to have been cleared by Seattle's defense, but it wasn't and the double-teamed Jesic controlled the loose ball and shot it in, deflecting it off Zach Scott's leg. 1-0 Calgary.

The Sounders appeared to level the score 3 minutes later when Kei Kinoshita's far-post shot/cross was finished by Sean-Michael Callahan racing in from the right, but Callahan was judged offside. Jonathan Bolaños had Seattle's next chance with a 30-yard free kick up the middle, sent belly-high to goalkeeper Lutz Pfannenstiel.

32' Mert. The next goal was one for the highlight films. Mert carried the ball towards goal and fired a rocket from 40 yards out that went right over Preston Burpo's head and just under the crossbar. Burpo apparently couldn't get a good read on the shot and couldn't react in time. 2-0 Calgary.

Calgary controlled the rest of the half. Mert missed a chance with a 25-yard shot from the right. Conrad Smith shot a 20-yard bender up the middle, forcing Burpo into a diving parry to keep the ball out of the net.

Halftime: Calgary 2 - 0 Seattle

Seattle had chances to start the second half. A poorly cleared ball gave Bolaños a 20-yard shot, but he missed by yards. A Bolaños free kick to Levesque 10 yards from goal allowed a quick turn-and-shoot that just missed the top near corner.

For Calgary in the 57th, Mert carried up the middle for a 20-yarder, and Burpo dove to the corner for a save. Jamie Auvigne got in close and dropped pass that set Walter Otta up nicely in front of the penalty spot, but Otta missed by a yard. In the 74th Auvigne's cross to the spot was volleyed just wide of the far post by Steffen Holdt.

With time running out, the Sounders created chances in the final 10 minutes. After Viet Nguyen was chopped down from behind at the edge of the penalty area by Auvigne, Bolaños' free kick settled on the roof. Scott headed a half yard over the bar on a corner kick play. Craig Tomlinson's long cross to the far post was headed into the side netting by Roger Levesque.

Jesic (Smith). With Seattle pushing forward, a Calgary counterattack put the final nail in the coffin. Sergei Kolomiets-Raad started the counter on the right and fed Conrad Smith on the break. Smith held until support arrived, then crossed for Jesic out in front of his marker and Jesic finished from 10 yards putting it low past Burpo.

Final: Calgary 3 - 0 Seattle

Statistics:
         Calgary  Seattle
Shots:       9       13
Saves:       4        3
Corners:     1        4
Fouls:      20       15
Offsides:    3        1

Misconduct:
71' CAL - C Smith cautioned.
80' CAL - Auvigne cautioned for chopping Nguyen down from behind at the edge of the Calgary penalty area.
85' SEA - Percell cautioned for getting Auvigne in the ankle.

Referees: Scali; Chalmers, De La Cruz; Primeau.
Attendance: 1,043 (looked like about 300, actually)