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Neagle anchors Sounders’ win over Impact

Neagle

Photo by Jane Gershovich/JaneG. Photography

By JASON MITCHELL

Apparently you can go home, even if you show up a day late.

Lamar Neagle, whose promising career with the Seattle Sounders has bookended a mostly forgettable 2012 season with the Montreal Impact, keyed the Sounders’ 2-0 road win over his former team. The match, at Montreal’s Olympic Stadium, was delayed a day due to inclement weather.

In just the seventh minute, Neagle flicked a header off the left post. Goalkeeper Troy Perkins gloved the rebound back into his own net for an own goal and a 1-0 Seattle lead.

In the 58th minute, Neagle rolled a pass into the penalty area that found Kenny Cooper, who sent a far-post cross to Obafemi Martins for the Designated Player’s first goal of the season. The 2-0 advantage more than held up against an Impact team that didn’t show much urgency until late.

“Every game you want to score and get some points, especially for an attacker,” Neagle said after the match. “To do it against your old team and your old friends, it’s always good for talking up later. It was a nice way to start off, especially when you’re away.”

Montreal’s best chance came on an 84th minute Blake Smith volley that beat goalkeeper Stefan Frei, but defender Djimi Traore preserved the clean sheet with an acrobatic clearance at the line. Less than a minute later rookie right back Eric Miller sailed a close-range shot into the stands.

That was as close as Montreal (0-3-0) would come to scoring. While the Impact are winless in three matches, Marco Di Vaio will return from suspension next week.

The Sounders (2-1-0) picked up the road win despite missing Clint Dempsey to suspension and Brad Evans to a calf bruise.

In addition to being involved in both goals, Neagle threatened throughout the match, sending in a 17th-minute cross to Obafemi Martins for a one-touch shot that Perkins barely gloved away. Fifteen minutes later the Federal Way, Wash., native hit the post from 20 yards out, ripping a shot that would have easily beaten Perkins.

Montreal’s chances were few and far between. In the 29th minute Andrew Wenger volleyed a shot to the near post, but Stefan Frei dove for the reaction save. The Impact wouldn’t threaten again until the game’s waning moments.

“It was a brutal and harsh game,” said Montreal veteran Justin Mapp, “two untimely goals against us and they didn’t have too many other chances to score. We really pushed the play and we just didn’t have that killer instinct to find that first goal and push it from there.”

Both teams are back in action Saturday. The Sounders host the Columbus Crew (2-0-0), while Montreal travels to Philadelphia to face the Union (1-1-1).

Check out the video highlights below:

Comments

  1. The other main thing to come out of this game for Seattle is how much better Neagle looks up top than out wide, I know it is going to be hard to start him up there over Cooper but he creates a lot up top. In addition to his goal (I know it was an own goal) and the set up of the second goal he sent Martins a perfect cross earlier that Perkins made a really nice save on. He is extremely dangerous up top and Seattle plays better with him up there.

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  2. Have to say there’s probably something to that.

    The Sounders looked like a different team without Dempsey. People were making more runs off the ball, the ball moved better through the space where Dempsey generally is.

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    • Don’t forget that, in their first game, Sounders played the reigning MLS champions, and the second, a very impressive TFC team.

      Saying they looked better without him (which I’d argue is questionable) against one of the worst teams in the league in Montreal is pretty much useless.

      I say it all the time, but its these kind of comments, with absolutely zero critical thinking, which proves certain people are just looking for reasons to hate on Dempsey.

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      • Dempsey provides enough reason to hate Dempsey. Even MLS Soccer has an article up about how good they looked with Dempsey in that role.

  3. This was Martins best game of the year, was a lot more involved and could have easily had a second if not for a really good save from Perkins. Seattle needs him to get going and score goals, he is critical to them this year

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  4. Neagle played exceptionally well last year when the Sounders were without EJ/Evans (later Deuce) during WCQ. I hope he does the same this year.

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  5. ““two untimely goals against us and they didn’t have too many other chances to score”.J. Mapp

    Except for that save of the week from Perkins on the Oba header and the Neagle shot off the post.. Coulda been worse

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    • Ya not sure if he was paying attention to what was going on, Seattle had numerous good chances, especially in the first half.

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    • Don’t forget that bicycle kick attempt by Djimmi had that been kicked a little left or right of Perkins that would been in.

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