2008 Sep 28 2008 Sep 28
Playoffs, round 1, leg 2:
Montreal Impact 3 - 1 Seattle Sounders
Saputo Stadium, Montreal, QC
Montreal: Matt Jordan; Cedric Joqueviel (Simon Gatti 72'), Adam Braz (sent off 77'), Leonardo Di Lorenzo, Nevio Pizzolitto; David Testo (Rocco Placentino 68'), Sandro Grande, Tony Donatelli (Roberto Brown 51'), Felix Brillant (Mauro Biello 63'); Joey Gjertsen, Peter Byers (Antonio Ribeiro 88'). Substitutes not used: Andrew Weber, Severino Jefferson.
Seattle: Chris Eylander; Taylor Graham (Andre Schmid 90'), Danny Jackson (sent off 90'), Adam West, Zach Scott; Kenji Treschuk (Youssouf Kante 90'), Hugo Alcaraz-Cuellar, Josh Gardner (Noah Merl 61'), Leighton O'Brien (Sanna Nyassi 45'), Roger Levesque (sent off 74'); Sébastien Le Toux. Substitutes not used: Ben Dragavon, Jason Cascio, Kevin Forrest.
Goals:
56' MON: Testo (Byers)
59' SEA: Levesque (Nyassi)
75' MON: Placentino (Biello)
90' MON: Ribeiro (Gjertsen)
Additional match reports: Impact, Montreal Gazette.
Match report from the Sounders:
The Seattle Sounders' season came to an end Sunday afternoon as the Sounders fell to the Montreal Impact 3-1, 4-3 on aggregate, in the Quarterfinals of the USL-1 playoffs.
A goal from Roger Levesque in the 59th minute was offset by goals from David Testo, Rocco Placentino and an extra time winner from Antonio Ribeiro as the Impact move on to the USL-1 semifinals.
The winner came off a rebounded shot from Tacoma native Joey Gjertsen and straight to the feet of Ribeiro, who put it in the back of the net. The goal proved the difference in a game that was a tale of two polar opposite halfs; the first slow and closed, the second open and full of drama.
Seattle came into the game with a one goal lead after Friday night's 2-1 victory in the series' first leg played at Starfire. Needing a win or tie to advance to the semifinal round, Coach Schmetzer's team looked to protect their one goal advantage as they stepped into Saputo Stadium for only the second time this season.
The Sounders played defensively, packing five into the midfield and leaving Sebastien Le Toux as the lone striker up front. The tactic worked early as a scoreless first half left the Impact appearing frustrated and discouraged.
While the first half contained only four shots total, the second half had four goals total and one missed penalty.
David Testo equalized the series in the 56th minute with a strike from just inside the 18-yard box off the fingertips of Sounders keeper, Chris Eylander. The play was a give and go with forward Peter Byers and started with Testo passing to Byers on the left wing who played it back to Testo who scored the game's opening goal.
The scoreline didn't stay tied long, however, as the Sounders all-time leading goalscorer in the playoffs, Roger Levesque, scored three minutes later putting Seattle back up by one goal in the series. The goal was his seventh ever in the playoffs and came off an assist from recent substitute Sanna Nyassi. Nyassi came on at half for an injured Leighton O'Brien and played the ball to Levesque from the right after having received a terrific back heel pass from Le Toux.
Seattle subbed on defensive help after the goal to lock the game down but were dealt a serious blow in the 74th minute when they were reduced to 10 men after Roger Levesque was sent off for a violent tackle. On the ensuing free kick, the ball bounced around in the box, eventually coming to the feet of Rocco Placentino whose shot hit the post and deflected in.
Seattle responded quickly and soon set up what would be the defining play of the game in a bizarre penalty kick scenario in the 80th minute.
Seattle streamed forward after going behind and created a free kick in the 79th minute. Hugo Alcaraz-Cuellar took the kick and missed but on the rebound, Adam Braz pulled down Sebastien Le Toux in the box and a penalty was awarded. Braz was shown his second yellow card and the resulting red card and Hugo Alcaraz-Cuellar stepped up to the spot for Seattle.
Alcaraz-Cuellar buried the shot past Impact keeper Matt Jordan, but as he ran away in celebration, Cuellar was called back to the spot to re-take the kick as a Sounders player had stepped into the box as the kick was being taken. Cuellar stepped up again for Seattle and this time hit the post.
It was a cruel twist for the Sounders and it proved to be the difference as Ribeiro scored the winner in extra time; only Sanna Nyassi had an open chance to score late in the game but his effort was saved.
The loss brings to a close the USL era for the Sounders; next year the Sounders FC will be the 15th franchise in Major League Soccer. The Sounders won four Championships in fifteen seasons in Seattle.
Statistics:
Montreal Seattle
Shots: 11 6
Saves: 2 3
Corners: 5 3
Fouls: 13 12
Offsides: 3 3
Misconduct:
31' MON: Di Lorenzo cautioned
45' MON: Testo cautioned
62' SEA: Alcaraz-Cuellar cautioned
68' MON: Braz cautioned
74' SEA: Levesque sent off
77' MON: Braz cautioned and sent off for his second caution
90' SEA: Jackson sent off
90' SEA: O'Brien sent off
Referees: Mauricio Navarro; Pierre Cantave, Nicolas Dubuc; Mathieu Bourdeau
Attendance: 11,134
