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Sounders win while RSL, RBNY tie in opening Desert Diamond Cup games

Photo by ISIphotos.com

The opening round of the 2013 Desert Diamond Cup took place on Wednesday night, and the Seattle Sounders got off to a flying start.

The Sounders defeated the New England Revolution, 2-0, to jump into first place in the tournament’s four-team table. Both goals came in the first half, with U.S. Men’s National Team players Eddie Johnson and Brad Evans each finding the back of the net against a mostly first-team Revolution side. Evans scored the winner on a penalty kick and Johnson added the insurance goal just before the break.

In the day’s other match, the New York Red Bulls rallied against Real Salt Lake to secure a 2-2 tie. Former RSL defender Jamison Olave started the two-goal comeback before Supplemental Draft pick Michael Bustamante found the equalizer on a well-worked sequence by the Red Bulls.

While the Red Bulls finished the game strongly, they started very poorly. Recent RSL acquisition Joao Plata scored 18 seconds into the match after a poor headed backpass by Connor Lade, and Jason Kreis’ men doubled their advantage when Cole Grossman buried a rebound following a shot from Plata.

What do you think of the first round of games at the Desert Diamond Cup? Liking what you’re seeing from the Sounders? Expecting Plata to have a big year with RSL?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. I’m just glad NYRB kept their stellar plan from last year of not playing defense the first 15 minutes to make things interesting down the stretch. 😉

    Reply
  2. Not bad for the RSL second team against a full strength RBNY squad. I like the promising young talent but the mid-field really struggled to keep possession. Stertzer, Grossman and Vianna all show promise but need to play next to Beckerman, Morales and Gil for structure and experience in moving the ball.

    Reply
  3. I thought plata was very sharp. Great acceleration in tight spaces. Stertzer also impressed me, it was hard for me to believe he was just drafted when I watched him play. And saborio is absolutely brimming with confidence, can’t wait to see him tear up the stat sheet this season

    Reply
  4. Petke is building a quality MLS squad there. But I worry that Juninho & Cahill will not complement one another though in something of a Lampard-Gerrard way. Perhaps better to rest one while the other is on the pitch to ensure less chance of injury.

    Would rather see something like this:

    —————–Henry———————-

    Espindola——Cahill—————-Sam

    ————Dax—-Alexander———–

    Pearce—-Holgersson-Olave–Barklage

    —————-Meara———————–

    subs:

    Robles

    Digao

    Miller*

    Kimura

    Christianson

    Juninho

    Lade

    *Miller looked very threatening going forward yesterday, and he has a good assist record, I wonder if you could play him wide left, and then bring Espindola on as a substitue in the 60th minute after he’s worn down the ride-sided players.

    Reply
    • Junior and Cahill will be fine,its pre-season. Pearce doesn’t offer anything in the attack,light Lade. I’ starting Lade, even after last night. Also Michael Bustamante, has been playing better then Christianson.

      Reply
      • Really as Christianson played two ( one really good , and one decent ) halfs, where Bustamante played good last night but was turnover prone in first two games .

      • what?Bustamante played great against a RSL starting line up. Bustamante had also two very good games, you could tell this player has talent. While Christianson disappears from the field.

    • Juninho will complement Cahill by placing the ball squarely on Cahill’s head often. If Cahill is getting in Juninho’s way in the midfield, Petke needs to remind Cahill to move up as much as he can. There is no way Juninho is not a starter.

      Reply

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