2007 May 26

California Victory 1 - 2 Seattle Sounders
Kezar Stadium, San Francisco, CA

California: Dominik Jakubek; Chris Schwarze, Ryan Suarez, Daniel Smith (Luis Mira 80'); Hugo Casillas, Kiel McClung, Raul Palomares (sent off 48'), José Retiz, Ricardo Sanchez (Chuck Kim 45'); Josh Hansen, Yuri Morales. Substitutes not used: Eric Reed, Luis Aguilar.

Seattle: Ben Dragavon; Danny Jackson, Noah Merl, Zach Scott, Jake Besagno; Kevin Sakuda, Leighton O’Brien (sent off 54'), Josh Gardner (Kenji Treschuk 82'), Roger Levesque (Santa Maria Rivera 88'); Sebastien Le Toux, Greg Howes (Nathan Knox 84'). Substitutes not used: James Ward, Nate Boyden, Andre Schmid.

Goals:
1' SEA: Howes (Besagno)

51' CAL: Hansen (PK)
70' SEA: Levesque (Le Toux)


Additional match reports: Victory.


Match report from the Sounders:

The Seattle Sounders battled to a 2-1 win over the California Victory in the first ever meeting between the clubs on Saturday night at Kezar Stadium in San Franciso.

Nine seconds into the match, the Sounders drew first blood on a goal from Greg Howes assisted by Jake Besagno - the goal was Howes' second of the year. He tallied his first strike last Friday evening against the Rochester Raging Rhinos, his former club.

California settled the match and saw Ricardo Sanchez sky a ball over the open net just after the tenth minute of the match. Shortly after, Sounders keeper Ben Dragavon, getting his first start due to a Chris Eylander suspension, made an aggressive play 23 yards in front of his goal to deny a clear scoring chance for the Victory forward who had gotten behind the Sounders defense.

The Victory nearly scrambled the ball into the net and had a hand ball appeal denied after Zach Scott fell at the top of the six yard box. California continued on in search of an equalizer but saw numerous shots sent over the bar.

The team traded blows through the rest of the first half. Sounders midfielder Leighton O'Brien limped off in obvious pain in the 45th minute.

Shortly after the half tempers flared and Raul Palomares of the Victory was shown a yellow/red for a late challenge, reducing the Victory to 10 men.

A few minutes later the Victory were awarded a penalty kick when Zach Scott pulled down an attacker at the spot. Ex-Sounder Josh Hansen converted the penalty to level the score.

The official struggled to regain control of the match as the tough play continued. O'Brien was soon sent off after receiving two yellow cards in the same minute, the second one for dissent.

Roger Levesque put the Sounders ahead just after the 70th minute with his third goal of the year. Josh Gardner played the ball forward for Sebastien Le Toux, who played it on for Levesque. The last defender missed the ball and Levesque got his shot off just before the keeper could get the ball.

Seattle continued on in search of a third as California pressed forward trying to find the equalizer.

Dragavon and the Sounders backline with stood everything the California offense could muster and left with the 2-1 score line. The win is the second consecutive for the Sounders and takes them to twelve points on the season.

Statistics:
        California   Seattle
Shots:       25         8
Saves:        4         2
Corners:      6         6
Fouls:        8        16
Offsides:     3         3

Misconduct:
19' CAL: Palomares cautioned
48' CAL: Palomares cautioned and sent off for his second caution
54' CAL: Hansen cautioned
54' SEA: O'Brien cautioned
54' SEA: O'Brien cautioned for dissent and sent off for his second caution
72' SEA: Levesque cautioned

Referees: Oscar Ortiz; Greg Hill, Joel Linn; Mike Donovan

Attendance: 1,217