Seattle Pitch - El Paso

August 22, 1997

El Paso Patriots 2 - 3 Seattle Sounders (after extra time)

Delgado (EP) 12 and 43
Hoggan (S) 50
Gutierrez (S) 54
Gailey (S) 96

El Paso: Estrada; Cervantes, McFarlane, H. Guardado, S. Guardado; Enriquez (56' M. Stewart), Sengelmann, Arrieta (88' Buseck), Gomez; Greenwood (70' D. Stewart), Delgado.

Seattle: Hudock; James, Jenkins, McNiel (46' Gutierrez), Barton (46' Kinoshita); Megson, Aunger, Hoggan, Hattrup; Figueroa (75' Gelvezon), Gailey.

Shots: EP 18, Sea 10
Saves: Estrada 3, Hudock 9
Corners: EP 7, Sea 7
Fouls: EP 14, Sea 18
Offsides: EP 3, Sea 3

Cautions:
S. Guardado (EP), James (S), Delgado (EP), M. Stewart (EP), Gelvezon (S).

Referee: Tsupos
Attendance: 1,120

This was a great game to hear on the radio (1090 AM). In nearly 100 degrees and rain, the visiting Seattle Sounders fell behind the El Paso Patriots 2-0 in the first half, then rallied to even the score in regulation and tally the golden goal in overtime for a 2-3 win. Rico Delgado scored both of El Paso's goals. Radio listeners in Seattle were thrilled by Chris Hester's goal calls as David Hoggan scored first from a free kick, then Henry Gutierrez scored unassisted, and in the 96th minute Mike Gailey finished the winning goal after a cross from Paul Gelvezon. Gutierrez and Gelvezon were both playing despite suffering from apparently the flu.

First Half

12' Delgado (Arrieta). El Paso struck early with their first good chance, ending Dusty Hudock's 4-game shutout streak. Martin Arrieta, at the near post, received a cross and headed to the middle of the area for an unmarked Delgado, who aimed for the far post and made no mistake.

Three minutes later Steve Sengelmann went in alone against Hudock, but Dusty saved the shot and Bernie James cleared the rebound from danger.

Sounder player/coach Neil Megson sent a 30-yard shot on goal, but Alfredo Estrada was there for the save.

43' Delgado (S. Guardado). Steve Guardado hit Delgado with a first-touch pass. Delgado's first shot was blocked by Hudock, but the rebound gave Delgado an easy second chance and he finished far post. El Paso took the 2-0 lead to the locker room at halftime.

Second Half

Not happy with Seattle's defense in the first half nor with their lackluster offense, Megson started the half with outside fullbacks Bryan McNiel and Kieran Barton sent to the bench, replaced by midfielders Henry Gutierrez and Kei Kinoshita. The move seemed to jump-start the attack.

50' Hoggan (unassisted). Geoff Aunger was taken down as he dribbled into El Paso's penalty area. Hoggan took the free kick from the arc and it deflected off the El Paso wall and went in, the deflection giving Estrada no chance.

54' Gutierrez (unassisted). Gutierrez evened the score at 2-2 when he sent in a 35-yard low screamer that went under Estrada and inside the far post. This was Gutierrez' first goal in a Sounders kit.

Seattle kept up the pressure. Aunger's 30-yard chip shot just missed. Gutierrez fed Gailey with a through ball, but Estrada got there in time to deflect Gailey's shot out for a corner. Vicente Figueroa fed Megson for a header that was just over the bar. Kinoshita shot on goal but saw it saved by Estrada.

Eleven minutes from time, El Paso finally recovered their offense. One of the Stewart brothers, who both came on in the second half, forced a diving save by Hudock. Sengelmann had a chance, but Hudock made the save at the near post. Steve Guardado had an open shot, but Hudock tipped the ball over the crossbar, then saved the shot from the resulting corner kick. An El Paso free kick forced yet another save by Hudock.

Overtime

The momentum shifted back to Seattle in the sudden death overtime period. Gutierrez tried a shot that was deflected out for a corner kick.

96' Gailey (Gelvezon). A Seattle attack saw Gelvezon cross nicely to Gailey in the middle of the penalty area. Gailey one-timed a left-footed shot into the upper corner for the golden goal and it was celebration time for Seattle with a 2-3 overtime win, good for the full three points in the standings.