2011 Feb 4 2011 Feb 4
Preseason training match:
Seattle Sounders FC 1 - 0 Vancouver Whitecaps
Grande Sports World, Casa Grande, AZ
Goals:
63' SEA: Brad Evans (David Estrada, O'Brian White)
Seattle: Kasey Keller (Bryan Meredith 35', Josh Ford 70'); Danny Earls (Leo Gonzalez 35', Leone Cruz 70'), Patrick Ianni (Tyson Wahl 50'), Jeff Parke (Jhon Kennedy Hurtado 35', Zach Scott 70'), James Riley (Corey Attaway 35', Roger Levesque 70'); Steve Zakuani (Trialist 35', Michael Tetteh 70'), Osvaldo Alonso (Brad Evans 35', Servando Carrasco 64'), Mike Seamon (Erik Friberg 35', Trialist 70'), Miguel Montaño (Alvaro Fernandez 35', Trialist 70'); Fredy Montero (David Estrada 35', Trialist 70'), Mike Fucito (O'Brian White 35', Trialist 70'). (Undrafted trialists not named, but Jonathan Prieto was mentioned by the coach afterwards and other likely suspects are Lamar Neagle, Seedy Bah, Kerry Baptiste, and Sean Okoli.)
Vancouver: Jay Nolly (Brian Sylvestre 70'); Blake Wagner (Santiago Bedoya 70'), Bilal Duckett (Greg Janicki 82'), Greg Janicki (Michael Boxall 59'), Jonathan Leathers (Wes Knight 70'); Russell Teibert (Nizar Khalfan 59'), Gershon Koffie (Kyle Porter 35'), Terry Dunfield (Lennart Hartmann 54', Terry Dunfield 99'), Shea Salinas (Phillipe Davies 35'); Davide Chiumiento (Omar Salgado 70'), Atiba Harris (Long Tan 70', Joe Anderson 82').
Match report from the Sounders:
The Sounders FC got their first crack at an opponent in 2011 training camp on Friday evening at Grande Sports World when they faced the Vancouver Whitecaps in a training game.
After a outscoring Vancouver 1-0, there was a lot to be happy about as the Sounders held the expansion Whitecaps FC scoreless over three 35-minute periods. Brad Evans scored the only goal of the evening on a great run-up, hammering in a shot from a David Estrada back-heel pass to cap a fine performance on both sides of the ball.
"My expectations were not too high today from a standpoint of we worked very hard yesterday - we trained twice yesterday. We even trained this morning, 30 minutes of soccer tennis. If you take it seriously, like the guys did, it can take something out of you," Sounders FC head coach Sigi Schmid said. "But overall I was pleased. I thought we created some chances. We were close. We were around the goal at times. We were a bit fortunate they hit the post but overall considering the work we have done it's sort of a fitting end to the first week."
The Whitecaps put pressure on Seattle early, but the first-period center back pairing of Jeff Parke and Pat Ianni held strong in front of goalkeeper Kasey Keller. In the second period, Ianni stayed in with Jhon Kennedy Hurtado, who made his first appearance since tearing his ACL last season in impressive fashion, in front of rookie netminder Bryan Meredith and still held their Cascadia rivals at bay.
"I think they put some pressure on us in the first 35 minutes and especially at the start of the second 35 when our guys were trying to get the rhythm of the game and their guys were (still) out there," Schmid said. "I thought a lot of guys basically stepped up to those challenges. I think them being able to win those duels, win those battles, recover when a guy slips in behind, all those things are important."
Vancouver wasn't without goal-scoring threats, but Seattle was able to deter each of their chances. Davide Chiumiento forced Keller into three first-period saves, most notably in the 14th minute when Keller dove to make a save at the near post when Chiumiento shot from the right side.
In the sixth minute of the third game, Long Tan hit the crossbar after working into some space on the right side. After that wake-up call, Josh Ford smothered every ball that came his way and kept a lineup that featured No. 1 overall MLS SuperDraft pick Omar Salgado out of the net.
On the offensive side, the first period saw Fredy Montero working in tandem with Mike Fucito and even working right wing Miguel Montano into the play. The best opportunity came when Montero fed Montano up the right side and Montano fired a shot at the near post, but it was saved by Vancouver keeper Jay Nolly.
In the second period, the midfield duo of Erik Friberg and Evans caused havoc after they gained their footing. Combine that with the outside play of Alvaro Fernandez and Estrada and O'Brian White manning the top and it's no wonder that the second period saw a goal for the Sounders.
"O'Brian showed his strength in the box and whips a good cross there. David gets the ball caught underneath his feet but then makes a good decision and this is what Brad Evans gives us," Schmid said, describing the build-up for the goal. "He's that midfielder who joins into the box and that was something that was missing a little bit at the end of last year. I think Brad has that capability."
White nearly scored earlier in the period when Friberg played a nifty ball to him in the box, but the ball was covered up by Nolly before he could put it away.
The third period also saw some flashes from the young trialists in camp, highlighted by a few shots from Seattle’s top draft pick, Michael Tetteh, who moved up to play left mid and got some shots away.
The Sounders will hold a light training session Saturday morning, then take Super Bowl Sunday off before returning to the training field on Monday. They face Real Salt Lake at Grande Sports World on Tuesday.
Misconduct:
22' SEA: Alonso cautioned
32' VAN: Koffie cautioned
Postmatch Quotes
Seattle Sounders FC
Sigi Schmid - Head Coach
On the training game: "Always if you win you're always a little bit happier than when you don't win. For us, my expectations were not too high today from a standpoint of we worked very hard yesterday. So we trained twice yesterday, we even trained this morning - 30 minutes of soccer tennis. If you take it seriously like the guys did it can take something out of you. And they have been resting for a couple of days so I thought they were a little sharper than us at times, a little bit quicker. But overall I was pleased. I thought we created some chances. We were close. We were around the goal at times. We were a bit fortunate they hit the post but overall considering the work we have done it's sort of a fitting end to the first week."
On Sounders FC defense: "I think they put some pressure on us in the first 35 minutes and especially at the start of the second 35 when our guys were trying to get the rhythm of the game and their guys were out there. But I thought a lot of guys basically stepped up to those challenges. I thought Jeff Parke did well. I thought Jhon Kennedy did well in terms of their defending. It was very, very good. I thought Roger did well as a right back in the last period of time. I think them being able to win those duals, win those battles, recover when a guy slips in behind, all those things are important."
On the goal: "Build-up was good. O'Brian showed his strength in the box and whips a good cross there. David gets the ball caught underneath his feet but then makes a good decision and this is what Brad Evans gives us. He's that midfielder who joins into the box and that was something that was missing a little bit at the end of last year. I think Brad has that capability. Then he felt a little bit of discomfort so we didn't want to push it or take any chances. But it was a good goal, well played. And O'Brian should have had one after that except he kept it on his right foot. He should have taken that to his left and hit it as well."
On the rookies: "It was good. I thought Meredith and Ford in goal played well. Carrasco had to play a little bit more than 35 minutes, which he is pretty beat right now so that was pretty tough for him but I thought he did well out there. I thought Jonathan Prieto grew up a little bit today. I think people forget how young he is. He's 19. He could still play for our Under-20 National Team and he is a guy who today I think grew up a little bit, matured a little bit. He stepped into the fray and accepted the challenge so I was really pleased with him but all of the guys came in and did well."
Match report from the Whitecaps:
In their second extended training match at Grande Sports World, Vancouver Whitecaps FC suffered a 1-0 defeat to Pacific Northwest rivals Seattle Sounders FC in Casa Grande, Arizona, on Friday afternoon.
Playing 105 minutes in three 35-minute periods, a goal in the second period by Brad Evans proved the difference between these Cascadia rivals, though Teitur Thordarson's side had their chances to find the back of the net during this latest preseason contest. Though it was a disappointing result, Friday's game was another good test versus MLS opposition for the Blue and White.
"All in all, it was a very good game from our side," Thordarson told whitecapsfc.com after the match. "We were competitive in the first two periods, but when we put some of the trialists on in the final 35-minute period, we lost our shape a little bit and weren't as competitive. Though we are only 10 days into our preseason, it's nice to see our side pressuring the opponent high up the pitch. For me, Seattle didn't really have any big chances, so it was unfortunate for us to lose the game like we did. However, results do not matter at this time, as we wanted to look at players today."
Full of confidence after Tuesday's friendly win over Real Salt Lake, Whitecaps FC made a bright start to the game, with Davide Chiumiento forcing Sounders FC's veteran goalkeeper Kasey Keller into three saves during the first period of play. Seattle's only notable chance in the first period came on 16 minutes, but Miguel Montaño could not make the most of fellow Colombian Fredy Montero's pass, as Whitecaps FC goalkeeper Jay Nolly stopped the South American's shot at the near post.
Vancouver's pressure continued in the second 35-minute period. On 42 minutes, Chinese striker Long Tan missed an open header from fellow substitute Philippe Davies' cross. Three minutes later, fine work by Chiumiento and youngster Russell Teibert on the left resulted in Terry Dunfield striking Teibert's cross wide of the target.
Chances were exchanged by both clubs before the game's decisive moment came on 63 minutes. A Vancouver turnover saw former Toronto FC striker O'Brian White find David Estrada at the far post with his cross from the left. Estrada then back-heeled a pass to Evans, who then struck his shot home for a 1-0 Seattle lead.
Though disappointed to be trailing, Whitecaps FC were unlucky not to level matters in the third and final period. On 76 minutes, Tan took a fine ball from Kyle Porter before hitting the Seattle crossbar with a close-range shot.
It was also in the final period of action that youngster Omar Salgado came into the match, with the top MLS SuperDraft pick missing the target from the edge of the Seattle box on 83 minutes. Then two minutes later, the United States U-20 international made a fine run from the halfway line before striking another shot wide of goal from the edge of the Sounders area.
In the end, it was Sigi Schmid's side that claimed the result, but Vancouver will be pleased to have had another good test at this early stage of preseason.
Both Vancouver and Seattle will meet again this preseason. On Sunday, March 6, both clubs will clash at the Cascadia Summit in Tukwila, Washington. Kickoff at Starfire Sports Stadium is set for 3 p.m. PT.
Running blog from Sounders FC (with minor editing):
We are at the field at Grande Sports World and the two teams are warming up. Kickoff is set for 3 Pacific and we will have all the live updates right here.
Sounders FC Starting Lineup: Kasey Keller, James Riley, Patrick Ianni, Jeff Parke, Danny Earls, Miguel Montaño, Osvaldo Alonso, Mike Seamon, Steve Zakuani, Fredy Montero, Mike Fucito.
Vancouver Whitecaps FC Starting Lineup: Jay Nolly, Blake Wagner, Bilal Duckett, Greg Janicki, Jonathan Leathers, Russell Teibert, Gershon Koffie, Terry Dunfield, Shea Salinas, Davide Chiumiento, Atiba Harris.
2011 starts here for the Sounders FC!
Sounders are wearing green shirts and socks with shale shorts. Vancouver is in all white.
We are under way with some good play from both sides working the sidelines.
I've got about 30 people on the opposite sideline.
We'll be playing three 35-minute periods.
4: Seattle gets some pressure on the right side, but are turned away by the Vancouver defense.
5: Mike Fucito forces the Vancouver defense into a turnover, but his pass outside goes away for a Vancouver throw-in.
6: Mike Seamon sends a long ball to Miguel Montaño on the right side and Montaño plays the ball off his defender for a corner kick. Montaño takes the corner and plays it short to Osvaldo Alonso at the top of the box for a shot, but his misses wide left for a goal kick.
8: Vancouver plays a ball into the box from the left side, but Patrick Ianni heads it away.
8: Fredy Montero plays the ball across the field to Steve Zakuani at the top of the box, but Seattle has to reset and Vancouver's defense turns it the other way.
9: Vancouver earns a corner kick and Seattle defends it with a long pass, but nobody is there on the other side of it.
The match has been pretty evenly split for possession so far, but Seattle has had a bit more on the attack than Vancouver.
11: A Seattle foul gives Vancouver a free kick on th right side. Patrick Ianni wins the header to knock it clear.
12: Shea Salinas plays a ball into the box from the left side, but it goes through for a Seattle throw at the far side.
13: Steve Zakuani gets some space on the left side, but Mike Seamon's pass comes up behind him and Vancouver takes possession.
14: Davide Chiumiento gets a shot away from the right side, but Kasey Keller dives to make the stop at the near post.
16: Fredy Montero picks the ball off from the Vancouver defense and plays it wide to Miguel Montaño for a shot, but Jay Nolly makes the stop at the near post.
16: Mike Fucito gets clear of the defense, but is flagged offside.
19: Shea Salinas crosses it into the box, but it is played over the line without a serious threat and Kasey Keller takes the goal kick.
20: Patrick Ianni muscles his man off the ball and takes it away just outside the box for a nice stop.
22: Osvaldo Alonso picks up a yellow card for a tackle on Gershon Koffie up the left side.
Davide Chiumiento gets a shot away after weaving through the defense, but Kasey Keller makes the stop.
25: Miguel Montaño gets some space on the left side and drops the ball back to Fredy Montero. His ball into the box is picked off by Vancouver though.
29: James Riley makes an overlapping run on the right side and plays a low ball into the box that just misses both Mike Fucito and Fredy Montero and Vancouver clears it.
30: Steve Zakuani gets away on a run up the left side on a ball from Miguel Montaño after Montaño made a quick steal of an errant throw-in. Zakuani overruns though and the ball goes away for a goal kick.
32: Rough tackle by Gershon Koffie takes out James Riley against the sideline, earning Koffie a yellow card.
33: Miguel Montaño with another run up the left side earns a Seattle corner kick.
Osvaldo Alonso takes the corner kick and it is played away by Vancouver with a high header. Mike Seamon and Shea Salinas collide in the air and Salinas is left on the ground. Seatmon is whistled for the foul and Salinas leaves the field under his own strength.
35: Fredy Montero plays a ball over the top for Mike Seamon on a run. He gets his head on it, but it has too much pace and goes away for a goal kick right before the referee blows his whistle for the end of the first period.
We've got a 10-minute break here.
Seattle's lineup for the 2nd period: Bryan Meredith. Corey Attaway, Jhon Kennedy Hurtado, Patrcik Ianni, Leo Gonzalez, Alvaro Fernandez, Brad Evans, Erik Friberg, Trialist, David Estrada, O'Brian White. We won't be naming trialists and undrafted players not under contract for this game.
The second period is now under way.
Vancouver has subbed in Phillipe Davies and Long Tan.
7: Phillipe Davies sends a ball in from the right side, but Long Tan's header goes wide for a goal kick.
10 Jonathan Leathers sends a ball into the box from the right side, but Jhon Kennedy Hurtado is there to head it away. Great to see him fighting off opponents and winning balls again.
11: Erik Friberg takes a quick restart and sends a ball long for Alvaro Fernandez up the left side, but he loses possession and Vancouver takes it the other way.
12: Leo Gonzalez is called for a foul on the sideline. On the free kick the ball goes through for a goal kick.
15: Tyson Wahl subs on for Patrick Ianni. Wahl has been playing some center back of late and will be in that role now.
Still no score for either side.
17: Seattle gets the ball into the box and Erik Friberg plays it to O'Brian White, but the ball is smothered by the keeper before he can get a shot away. Great sequence for the two Sounders newbies.
19: Lennart Hartmann subs on for Terry Dunfield for Vancouver.
22: Leo Gonzalez picks up a foul against hte sideline. The free kick is headed high by Bilal Duckett.
24: Nizar Khalfan and Michael Boxall sub on for Russell Teibert and Greg Janicki.
28: O'Brian White crosses the ball into the box from the left side. David Estrada collects the ball at the far post and back-heels it to Brad Evans who blasts it in for the goal. Sounders FC 1, Whitecaps FC 0.
29: After scoring Brad Evans is subbed out for Servando Carrasco.
34: O'Brian White gets into the box, but his shot goes high for a goal kick.
That ends the second period. Sounders outscore Whitecaps 1-0.
The 3rd period is underway.
Third Period lineup for Sounders FC: Josh Ford, Roger Levesque, Leone Cruz, Zach Scott, Tyson Wahl, Trialist, Servando Carrasco, Trialist, Michael Tetteh, Trialist, Trialist.
Levesque is playing right back and Tetteh is playing left mid in this one.
2: Roger Levesque overlaps on the right side and earns a throw-in, but the ball is turned right back over to Vancouver.
6: Vancouver gets free up the middle, but Long Tan's shot hits off the crossbar and is cleared by Seattle.
Vancouver's XI for the final period: Brian Sylvestre, Santiago Bedova, Bilal Duckett, Michael Boxall, Wes Knight, Nizar Khalfan, Phillipe Davies, Lennart Hartmann, Kyle Porter, Long Tan, Omar Salgado.
8: Roger Levesque takes a quick throw on the right side and it is played away for a corner kick. Seattle gets the ball into a dangerous spot, but it's headed high for a goal kick.
I just asked Leo Gonzalez if there was anything he wanted me to tell the fans. He said, "Leo Gonzalez scored a goal." Do you see now why Ezra Hendrickson had to watch each of their games in soccer tennis today?
14: Servando Carrasco plays a ball forward but Brian Sylvestre comes off his line to kick it away.
15: Omar Salgado gets a shot away from the left side, but it goes just outside the near post for a goal kick.
18: Joe Anderson is doing a good job of holding the ball up for Vancouver, then Roger Levesque picks him off, but is forced back into the corner and Seattle is pressured into playing the ball away for a throw.
20: One of the forward trialists chases a ball down just outside the Vancouver box, but his shot misses wide for a goal kick.
Danny Earls just showed me his shinguards ... they are just cardboard with tape wrapped around them. "My shins aren't the best for it, but I've done it ever since I was a kid," he said.
27: Seattle got the ball into the box for one of their trialist forwards, but three defenders converge on him and the keeper knocks it away.
31: Michael Tetteh takes a pass in the middle and fires away from 25 yards out, but it is saved by the keeper.
34: Another offside call on Seattle. They are stringing some decent passes together, but getting a little antsy up front.
There's the final whistle.
