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Red hot Sounders easily dispatch Chivas USA, 2-1

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BY ADAM SERRANO

The Seattle Sounders have finally shaken their Chivas USA jinx in regular season play.

Goals by Steve Zakuani and Osvaldo Alonso were all the Sounders needed to defeat Chivas USA, 2-1 in front of 36,356 at Qwest Field. The victory was the Sounders' first over Chivas USA in league play. Seattle has now defeated each MLS team during their two-year existence. 

Zakuani scored the first of the night inside the opening ten minutes after a thrilling rush around Chivas goalkeeper Zach Thornton for his tenth goal of the year. The winger's goal was the first goal that Chivas USA had ever conceded against the Sounders in league play. Seattle doubled its lead in the 25th minute when Alonso fired a shot past Zach Thornton. The Cuban midfielder was directly responsible for the goal after winning the ball in midfield and setting up a pass combination that led to him scoring the goal. 

Seattle dominated throughout the match against a poor Rojiblancos side. Seattle was unlucky not to get their third goal in the 61st minute when a diving Thornton stopped a shot by Fredy Montero. Thornton was the hero again only a minute later making a reaction save on a shot by Zakuani. The ball fell to Nathan Sturgis, who pushed the shot wide of net.  Seattle will be without Montero in their final match after the forward picked up his fifth yellow card and will serve a one game suspension. 

The Rojiblancos got a consolation goal just a minute before time when Jesus Padilla beat Keller after a scrum in front of goal. Chivas USA finishes their season next week with two matches, first on Wednesday on the road against the San Jose Earthquakes and then closing the season on Saturday at home against the Chicago Fire.

With the victory, it is likely that the next time the Sounders take the field at Qwest Field, they will host the Los Angeles Galaxy, FC Dallas or Real Salt Lake in their first playoff match. The San Jose Earthquakes have a game in hand on Seattle, but need to win their last two games and have the Sounders lose next week at the Houston Dynamo to jump ahead of the Sounders in the standings.

Here are the highlights:

What did you think of Seattle's victory? See the Sounders being a real threat to win MLS Cup? Think Chivas USA needs to consider a coaching change after one season with Martin Vasquez in charge?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. Come on … Sturgis doesn’t add anything to the offense. For all the defensive work and ball winning Alonso does, Seattle needs an offensive-minded central midfielder who can help orchestrate the attack. Nate Sturgis will never be that player. Fernandez can be the player. Sigi just needs to come to his senses.

    Here’s hoping Seattle leaves Sturgis unprotected during the expansion draft.

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  2. Jaqua would be an asset to Portland or Vancouver, but I doubt either team will take him. He’ll be 29 and he makes too much money.

    More likely they jack Fucito or Brad Evans.

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  3. I wouldn’t want to play the Sounders in the playoffs right now.

    but come to think of it I wouldn’t want to play LA, SLC or Dallas right now either.

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  4. Sounders have the most potent offense in the entire league right now. Montero, Nkufo, Zakuani, and Nyassi, all play like forwards, and are capable of scoring in every game. Also, the style in which the Sounders are playing right now is beautiful, keeping possession and building out of the backfield. Agreed that Fernandez should be starting over Sturgis, and I also think Jaqua is gone, ending up in Portland or Vancouver.

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  5. that late goal by chivas came in the 93rd minute off simple coverage mistake in the back.
    if you watch the game, they eaisily dispatched them.

    i disagree about sturgis. he is exactly what we need in the defensive mid. he is always there causing a nuisance for the other strikers and mids. alone he is good, but with with osvaldo, he is great.
    rewatch the games and see how much he does to close down the midfield. sounders are basically playing 4-2-4 right now. and sturgis is doing a great job in there.
    if he is our weakest link, then we are in pretty good shape. i love alvaro coming off the bench. he brings fresh legs and skill that you usually dont see form bench players in this league. the depth of the sounders is becoming awesome.

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  6. Something i’ve noticed over the last half of this season; Seattle is burying the shots that they used to send over the crossbar or outside the post.

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  7. Awesome game tonight, but Nate Sturgis should have buried his chance. He missed a sitter that would have given Seattle a 3-0 lead. He’s our only liability heading into the playoffs. He just offers nothing in the midfield. Too passive and prone to mistakes. I wish Sigi would start Alvaro Fernandez and bench Sturgis.

    Seattle is red-hot though. Who knew getting rid of Ljungberg would spark such a turn around? So many on this blog love to trash the Sounders, but you gotta give the respect for this season. They’ve been awesome.

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