Sounders Header June 1, 1997

Seattle Sounders 0 - 0 El Paso Patriots (Seattle wins Crapshootout)
Seattle:  Hudock; James, McNiel, Jenkins; Stoddard, Galvezon (Amusu 85), Hoggan, Aunger; Enneking, Gailey, Adair.

El Paso:  Buseek; Rivoiro, McFarlane, Nunez, Pali; Stewart, Sengelmann (Bazea 94), Arrieta, Guevara (Guardado 69); Greenwood, Dalombo (Amparan 81).

Cautions: Aunger (S), Stoddard (S)

Shots: Seattle 15, El Paso 12
Saves: Hudock 3, Buseek 4
Corners: Seattle 8, El Paso 2
Fouls: Seattle 20, El Paso 14
Offside: Seattle 1, El Paso 7

Referee: Mohammed Zharrabi-Kashani



The defenses ruled for the host Seattle Sounders and the El Paso Patriots as the teams battled to a scoreless draw.  In the end, Seattle defenders converted their attempts to give Seattle the point for the CrapShootout win in the seventh round.

With Mark Watson gone helping Canada shut out Costa Rica in a World Cup qualifier, Sounder coach Neil Megson used a 3-4-3 lineup.

El Paso got the early chance when an attacker was taken down just outside the area at the one minute mark for a 20 yard free kick, but the shot was high and wide.  For Seattle, Mike Gailey ran onto a through ball and was free outside the right corner of the goal area, but his attempted cross was plucked out of the air by El Paso 'keeper Nathan Buseek.

Seattle native Ricci Greenwood, who attended Seattle Pacific University two years ago, won a long forward pass and took a shot that missed the far post.  Maruicio Guevara was served a ball in the air close in on the right, but headed into the side netting.

Seattle's first shot was a free kick by Geoff Aunger at 14', shot wide right.

El Paso's Pedro Pali sent a 30 yard free kick to the upper right corner with velocity, but Seattle 'keeper Dusty Hudock leaped to grab the ball,  then bumped into the post as the ball got its nose into the goal but no more.

From a throw-in at 22', 6-5 Sounder forward Chugger Adair headed a looper over Buseek toward the far post, but the defender manning the post managed to leap and head the ball clear.  Adair soon got another chance, trying to redirect a shot by Gailey that Buseek would have caught, but the ball flew just over the bar.

El Paso got the best chances in the closing minutes of the first half.  Omar Dalombo headed just wide from a free kick.  David Stewart's header went just wide of the near post.

At halftime, your reporter got to shoot for a pair of tickets anywhere United Airlines flies in the US.  From the spot, I had to hit a small hole in the upper corner.  I told my fellow prize shooters that the fans came to see goals, and by golly it was up to us.  My shot had the right bearing but went over the crossbar.  The other shooters missed as well, forecasting the remainder of the match.

Seattle had the better chances in the second half, outshooting El Paso 8-3.  At 58' Adair beat the keeper to a 25 yard free kick by David Hoggan to keep the ball alive in the area.  El Paso's clearance was headed by Bryan McNiel back towards an empty goal, but a defender ran in just in time to head the ball away for a corner.  On the corner kick play, the ball fell for Paul Galvezon, who shot just wide left.

At 66' Aunger's weak backpass was taken by El Paso's Greenwood, who earned a shot, while pressured by McNiel, and hit the scoreboard, which stayed stuck on zero.

A minute later Hoggan's 30 yard free kick for Seattle was saved by Buseek at his feet.  A few minutes later Hoggan's corner kick was right on target man Adair's head and was struck sharply on goal, but Buseek made the save of the match, pushing the ball over the bar with one hand. On the next corner kick, Hoggan again found Adair's head, but the shot
was a bit high.

With 5 minutes left in regulation and El Paso packing the area in front of their goal, Megson switched Seattle to a bold 3-3-4 lineup, bringing in forward Pedro Amusu for midfielder Galvezon.  In the sudden death overtime period, the move almost paid off as Seattle got better chances with more numbers forward.  Adair flicked on Justin Stoddard's throw-in
and Amusu won the battle for the ball in front of the goal, getting off a pressured shot that was just over.  A minute later Amusu was sprung free on the right and his hard, low shot went just past the far post.

El Paso took the last shot as Greenwood got his head on a long forward pass, but Hudock was there to catch the ball.

Seattle won the CrapShootout on the strength of shots by their defenders:

El Paso                         Seattle
------------                    ------------
Stewart    1                    Hoggan     0 (out of time)
Pali       0 (hit right post)   Adair      1
Greenwood  0 (hand save)        Gailey     0 (hand save)
Guardado   1                    Aunger     0 (wide left)
Bazea      0 (caught)           Stoddard   1
Arrieta    1                    James      1
Amparan    0 (hit top of bar)   Jenkins    1

Seattle's next match is on Wednesday, June 4 when the MLS San Jose Clash, featuring ex-Sounders Shawn Medved and Dominic Kinnear, visit for an exhibition match.
 

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