2005 Aug 6

Seattle Sounders  0 - 0  Minnesota Thunder
Qwest Field, Seattle, WA

Seattle: Preston Burpo; Taylor Graham, Billy Sleeth, Ryan Edwards, Zach Scott (Gabe Sturm 56'); Kevin Sakuda (Chad Brown 78'), Leighton O'Brien, CJ Klaas (Brent Whitfield 57'), Andrew Gregor (Jake Sagare 78'); Roger Levesque, Welton (Ben Somoza 63'). Substitutes not used: James Ward, Brett Wiesner.

Minnesota: Joe Warren; Nathan Knox, Chad Dombrowski, Chris Brunt; Kevin Friedland, Jay Alberts (Kiki Lara 63'), Matt Schmidt (Tighe Dombrowski 88'), Godfrey Tenoff, Jeff Matteo; Melvin Tarley (Johnny Menyongar 65'), Aaron Paye (Mike Wilson 80'). Substitute not used: Nick Platter.

Goals:
none

Additional match reports: Seattle Times, King County Journal, Sounders, Thunder.

Match report by Ron Stickney:

Against a Minnesota Thunder team that was playing on the road in their third match in four days, the Seattle Sounders could only manage a nil-nil draw. You would think the Sounders could have found a way to win, but no. They never came close to scoring. Minnesota had the best chances. Credit goalkeepers Preston Burpo (Seattle) and Joe Warren (Minnesota) with shutouts.

First Half

First chance was for Minnesota in the 11th when Jay Alberts tried from 30 yards, missing the top far corner by a yard.

In the 13th a quick Seattle free kick led to a shot/cross from Billy Sleeth from the right, a yard wide of the near post for a goal kick. Then Welton worked the ball past his marker in the penalty area to set himself up for a promising bicycle kick, but it went well wide and was cleared for a corner kick that came to naught.

In the 24th Minnesota defender Chris Brunt made space for a 25-yard shot right to Burpo for the first save of the match.

Warren's only save of the first half came when Seattle sweeper Taylor Graham headed CJ Klaas' cross on goal, but right to Warren in the 41st.

At the halftime whistle, neither team had seriously threatened.

Halftime: Seattle 0-0 Minnesota

The second half saw more and better shots, but nothing really came close. Minnesota's Jeff Matteo was first in the 51st minute when he tried a 23-yard shot from a cleared ball and sent it a yard over the bar.

For Seattle in the next minute, Welton saw a path to goal from 25 yards and sent in a low shot that was well covered by Warren.

Another minute later Minnesota had a chance when Seattle defender Zach Scott's attempted clearance was blocked by Aaron Paye, the rebound going at the near post with speed, but Burpo was comfortably there for the save.

In the 56th Burpo made a nice block-save from Alberts' shot from the right, then Burpo went out 8 yards to collect the rebound before Minnesota could pounce on it.

Minnesota came closest in the 58th minute when Seattle defender Ryan Edwards tried to head an over ball to Burpo but didn't get enough on it. Melvin Tarley got to the ball before Burpo could and chipped it over Burpo toward goal. Fortunately for Seattle, Edwards had continued his run at his goal and got there in time to clear the ball sideways a yard before it turned into a goal.

In the 60th Leighton O'Brien's 40-yard free kick went over the crowd and was headed by Graham, but two yards wide of the far post.

Welton's last chance came in the 63rd when Sleeth worked a wall pass with Brent Whitfield and then dished a short square pass to Welton, whose 20-yard shot missed the top far corner by a yard. Then Welton was replaced by Ben Somoza, who soon had a shot from a diagonal drop from Whitfield, but skied it.

The 72nd saw Minnesota's Brunt fire from 30 yards, curling the ball away from the top far corner.

For Seattle in the 79th, O'Brien's long free kick was on goal, but not high enough to get over Warren, who had come off his line and was beatable.

The final couple of minutes saw a chance each way from free kick plays, Minnesota's Matteo firing just off the outside end of the bar in the 89th and Seattle's Edwards poking a ball at goal for an easy save by Warren in added time.

Final: Seattle 0-0 Minnesota

Statistics:
          Seattle  Minnesota
Shots:      12        14
Saves:       6         5
Corners:     5         1
Fouls:      12        17
Offsides:    2         5

Misconduct:
20' SEA - Sleeth cautioned, a delayed caution after play-on at the time of the infraction
31' MIN - Paye cautioned for holding Graham's jersey
32' SEA - O'Brien cautioned for chopping down Friedland
46' MIN - Friedland cautioned for a tactical foul
62' MIN - Brunt cautioned for knocking O'Brien down in Seattle's end
81' SEA - Edwards cautioned
89' SEA - Brown cautioned for a foul on the attack

Referees: Ricardo Valenzuela; Ty Barbery, Garth Trimble; Brian Armes

Attendance: 2,672