June 22, 1996

Seattle Sounders 0 - 1 Colorado Foxes
      (halftime  0 - 0)

Wolde Harris  (C)  63'

Colorado: Trey Harrington, Bill Sedgewick, Robert Lipp (78' Dave Adams), Scott Patterson, Chris Martinez, Stoner Tadlock, Anthony McCreath, Chris Sarver, Jeff Hooker, Jerome Watson, Wolde Harris (63' Noah Epstein).

Cautions: Seattle - 13' Leonetti, 86' Megson; Colorado - 74' Epstein.
Offside: Seattle 1, Colorado 2.
Other Fouls: Seattle 16, Colorado 11.
Corner Kicks: Seattle 10, Colorado 1.
Shots: Seattle 16, Colorado 7.
Saves: Hahnemann 3, Harrington 5.
Referee: Oscar Myer.
Attendance: approx. 3,400.

Two reviews for this match, first a brief word from Mark Coker:
Sounders were unfortunate to lose--they hit the woodwork a couple of times, and outshot Colorado. The goal came over our right side, Crook had pushed up and when we lost the ball, the counterattack was swift and decisive, with Harris getting a pretty easy goal after Chewy had to commit. Colorado lost Robert Lipp for the season with a broken leg. The PI said it was a collision with Jason Farrell, but it looked more like he got tangled up with his GK.

This team needs a finisher. Can we coax VanBasten out of retirement? Also, the passing is not up to snuff. I believe a lot of it has to do with the fakegrass, but a lot of the attack is "chip and hope" to Leonetti.

Next match is Saturday at home to Rochester. Hizzoner Mayor Rice will be in the house as it has been declared "Chance Fry Day" by the city.

Match report courtesy of Ron Stickney:
With first place going to the winner, the Colorado Foxes moved into the league lead for the day, at least, with a 0-1 win away vs. the Seattle Sounders. The game was dominated by the two teams' defenses, as Seattle was without leading scorer Chance Fry (out for the season with a broken leg) and Colorado was without striker Walter Boyd (out for duty with the Jamaican national team for World Cup qualifying). The game's only goal was created by Colorado defender Robert Lipp, who beat a couple of defenders in a run up the left touch line, drew Seattle keeper Marcus Hahnemann out, then crossed to Wolde Harris for the tap in at the far post. Unfortunately, Lipp broke his leg 15 minutes later when he collided with his keeper, Trey Harrington, going after a Seattle through ball.

Seattle defender James Dunn, apparently following the lead of senior defender Wade Webber, showed up for the game with his hair dyed blond! Maybe he got tired of people confusing him with his twin brother, forward Jason Dunn?

The game almost got off to a good start for Seattle when just a minute after kickoff Jason Farrell intercepted an errant Colorado pass inside the penalty area and shot, but his volley hit the far post. Colorado's weak shot at 40' forced the game's first save, an easy one for Hahnemann.

Seattle's Joey Leonetti was yellow-carded at 13' for clipping Harrington in the head as Leonetti hurdled over Harrington. Harrington had beat Leonetti to a Seattle pass in the area. The game was stopped for 3 minutes while Harrington waited for the stars to go away.

Seattle pressured the goal near the middle of the first half. Jason Dunn's 25-yard shot forced Harrington's first save. Later Harrington came out of the penalty area after a high bouncer. He leaped, but couldn't get his head on the ball. Rather than handle it outside the area, he let it go by. Leonetti tried to chip the ball into the goal, but a Colorado defender recovered to block the shot. Jason Dunn collected the rebound in the right corner and crossed. Leonetti's flying header rang the left post for the second time this game.

The pressure on Colorado's goal continued as rookie Nate Daligcon sent a nice through pass behind the defense, but Jason Dunn's shot was deflected wide by Harrington for a corner kick. Later Farrell made a nice feint to send him free up the right touch line for a cross. Leonetti's shot off the cross was deflected up by Harrington, then grabbed near the crossbar for a save.

Colorado's second of only two shots in the first half came from a long free kick, sent over the bar. At halftime, 0-0.

Colorado's first good opportunity came at 58' when Harris' cross from the left side rolled all the way across the goal mouth, but no teammate could get to it.

At 63' Colorado struck what would prove to be the game's only goal. Defender Robert Lipp stole the ball near the left touch line, beat Wade Webber with a move, and headed off toward Seattle's goal. Neil Megson slid in trying for a tackle, but missed the ball and Lipp. With only the goalkeeper left to beat, Lipp dribbled at the left post, drew Hahnemann out, then passed for an unmarked Wolde Harris to tap in at the right post. Noah Epstein immediately came on for Harris, presumable to rest Harris for the next night's match against Montreal.

At 70', Brazilian Sidney Zanin came on for Seattle defender Doug Morrill to give Seattle more offense.

At 72' Epstein used his fresh legs to dribble most of the length of the field, juking a few Sounders on the way, and earn a shot, saved by Hahnemann who came out. Two minutes later Epstein got his name in the book the alternative way with a yellow card.

Seattle put together a nice series of passes to give Jason Dunn a shot inside the area, but his shot under pressure was wide left.

Then at 78' the unfortunate happened. Jason Dunn was bearing down on a promising through ball as Lipp came in from the side and Harrington came out from his goal. Harrington got there first with a sliding grab. He slid into Lipp's legs as Lipp tried too late to hurdle over Harrington. Lipp rolled around in agony with a broken leg until play was stopped. The game was delayed 10 minutes while an ambulance carried Lipp off to the hospital. This was the second time in three games that a broken leg occurred in a Seattle game - the previous victim was Seattle's Chance Fry. Dave Adams replaced Lipp for the rest of the match.

Seattle turned up the intensity for the duration of the game, but Colorado's defense gave up only one good opportunity as Farrell was put through one on one versus the keeper, but shot poorly, sending the ball way over. Stoner Tadlock overlapped on the right to earn an open shot at an insurance goal, but just missed the far post.

At 85' Harrington punched Jason Dunn's head going for a ball. Seattle fans wanted a penalty kick, but no foul was called. A minute later, Megson earned a yellow card for dissent when he vented his frustration after Seattle was called for a foul.

With the 0-1 victory, Colorado moved into first place, with the league lead again on the line with their next match at home versus Montreal.