2005 Jul 10

Minnesota Thunder  2 - 2  Seattle Sounders
James Griffin Stadium, St. Paul, MN

Minnesota: Joe Warren; Nathan Knox, Chris Brunt, Michael Wilson, Chris Vorenkamp (Chad Dombrowski 80'); Jeff Matteo (Godfrey Tenoff 65'), Matt Schmidt, Kiki Lara (Jonathan Hargis 65'), Jay Alberts (James Prosser 86'); Melvin Tarley, Aaron Paye (Johnny Menyongar 72'). Substitutes not used: Nicolas Platter, CJ Peszneker.

Seattle: Preston Burpo; Taylor Graham, Ryan Edwards, Billy Sleeth, Zach Scott; Kevin Sakuda, CJ Klaas, Ben Somoza (Andrew Gregor 46'), Gabe Sturm (Brent Whitfield 46'); Welton (Franklin Chacon 74'), Roger Levesque.

Goals:
6' MIN - Paye (Matteo)
7' MIN - Tarley (Matteo)
27' SEA - Scott (Somoza)
52' SEA -Gregor

Additional match report: Thunder.

Match report from the Sounders:

Zach Scott and Andrew Gregor each tallied once and the Seattle Sounders rallied from an early two goal deficit to earn a 2-2 tie with the Minnesota Thunder Sunday at James Griffin Stadium. The Sounders have now earned points in five of six road matches.

For the second straight match in Minnesota the Sounders got off to a poor start and the Thunder took advantage.

In the sixth minute Thunder forward Aaron Paye chased a ball down the left side and slipped past Sounder defender Ryan Edwards. As Seattle goalkeeper Preston Burpo came off his line to challenge, Paye shoved the ball off the outside of his right foot past Burpo and into the net at the back post.

While Seattle was trying to recover from that goal Minnesota wasted little timing in adding to their lead. Melvin Tarley raced down the right side but was chased down from behind by Seattle defender Billy Sleeth. As Sleeth challenged Tarley for the ball at the top right corner of the penalty box, Burpo came out to challenge for the ball. As he did Tarley was able to get a bouncing shot off. The ball kissed off the left post and caromed in for a 2-0 Thunder lead in the 7th minute.

The Sounders finally regrouped and were able to get one of the goals back in the 27th minute. On a throw-in off the right touch line from 15 yards up, midfielder Ben Somoza arched a perfect ball to the top of the six-yard box. Seattle defender Zach Scott rose to meet the ball and with his back to the goal headed the ball under the crossbar for his first goal of the season.

As he did a week ago against Minnesota, Sounders head coach Brian Schmetzer made key substitutions at halftime by inserting Andrew Gregor in for Gabe Sturm and Brent Whitfield in for Somoza.

Whitfield, who came on in the second half in the last meeting of the two teams to score a goal and earn an assist, immediately drew the attention of at least two Thunder defenders every time the ball came his way on the right side. This opened space for the Sounders in the middle and left side of the pitch.

In the 52nd minute Minnesota was assessed a foul as Seattle tried to push the ball wide left. The Sounders set up for the free kick 35 yards from the Thunder goal. C.J. Klaas faked the free kick and sprinted by, allowing Gregor to run in behind him and let fly with a left-footer that curled and dipped under the bar at the right post. Gregor, who missed the first 12 matches with a broken foot, has now collected an assist and a goal in the first two league matches he has played in.

The Seattle Sounders' next match is on the road in Portland as they take on the Timbers in the third round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup on Tuesday, July 12. Kick off at PGE Park is set for 7pm. The Sounders next USL match is also on the road as they travel to Rochester to take on the Raging Rhinos July 15th at 4:35pm (PT). Listen live on KKNW 1150-AM for the pre-game show beginning at 4:05pm (PT).

The Sounders are now at 14 matches, half way through the 2005 season. They begin the second half of the USL season on Friday. Rochester is currently in 2nd place in the USL standings with 28 points and the Sounders are tied in 4th place with the Whitecaps with 26 points.

Match Notes:

Zach Scott- Netted first goal of 2005 season.

Ben Somoza- Recorded first assist of season.

Andrew Gregor- Two USL matches played with one assist and one goal.

Statistics:
         Minnesota  Seattle
Shots:      12         3
Saves:       1         5
Corners:     7         7
Fouls:       9         7
Offsides:    2         2

Misconduct:
78' SEA - Levesque cautioned
78' MIN - Brunt cautioned
82' SEA - Edwards sent off
87' MIN - Hargis cautioned

Referees:

Attendance: 2,621