MLS returns to the Northwest as the New England Revolution visit Qwest Field to face the Seattle Sounders tonight. The game will be carried live on ESPN2 at 10 p.m. EST, making it back-to-back nights that ESPN has carried an MLS match.
It's a vital matchup for both sides, as Seattle try to keep pace with the Galaxy side they soundly beat at the Home Depot Center last Saturday. The bad news for the Sounders is that according to the Seattle Times, Freddie Ljungberg looks like he'll miss both tonight's game and Sunday at Houston. Also missing will be central defender Tyrone Marshall, sent off against LA. A win for Seattle puts them back in second place and one step closer to a playoff spot.
For the Revolution, the game is all about climbing back into contention in the East. Though they remain six points off the playoff pace, they've only played 18 games, two or three less than most other clubs.
They'll be forced to survive without Steve Nicol on the sideline, who is serving the second game of a two game suspension earned in New England's league match against Toronto on August 1. While the injury bug continues to ail Taylor Twellman and Chris Albright, the Revolution are beginning to resemble a more cohesive squad, certainly capable of a late playoff run. They've managed a four-game unbeaten run prior to their 2-1 loss against Los Angeles on August 8.
Tonight's match could pit the two Gambian brothers against each other, as Sanna (Sounders) and Sainey (Revolution) square off.
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Are you going to watch tonight's game? Do the Revolution stand a chance against the Sounders? Will Fredy Montero seize the goal scoring lead in MLS? Share your thoughts below.
@aristotle – Thank you for the explanation.
The Revs started off strong, got their lead, and did an alright job throughout the rest of the game. There were some close chances, but give credit to the Revs for hanging on. Seattle should be pretty upset with themselves after this game. They got tons of breaks, and got a gift of a penalty. Ralston had full sight of the ball, not Montero, and he ran into Ralston’s foot. Shouldn’t have been a foul at all, and the fact that he couldn’t finish I’ll take as a sign of karma for getting a call he shouldn’t have. The ref of this game was absolutely terrible for both sides. Giving cards all game was pathetic. Ralston shouldn’t have gotten one, Reis looked like he was waiting for the refs signal to restart, and he was probably a little too harsh on Mariner.
All in all, GO REVS!
Full disclosure: I don’t like either of the teams involved in this game. I also watch far more Spanish and English soccer than MLS.
The ref was ridiculously bad. Pathetic.
Some nice possession play in this game, although not as impressive as the LA match last night. I say this because I find it encouraging that the play in MLS is beginning to look like real soccer. I hope the trend continues, although I am a bit concerned about dilution given the speed of expansion. The NHL was pretty weak back when it was adding teams at a rapid pace.
btw did anyone see the GORILLA and the BANANA? HILARIOUS!
I know them! they invited me over to the bar when i was visiting my buddy in seattle (i’m in Cali).
it’s the Gorilla FC supporters club. they’re great, totally welcoming people.
http://www.gorillafc.com/
Leonardo:
I didn’t actually say Montero was a punk. I said I have noticed some people are calling him that and after tonight I was wondering if maybe they weren’t onto something. His being a punk would have nothing to do with his statistics anyway. Your evaluation of his performance tonight was that of someone who is biased. He blocked what looked like a sure goal for his team because he was just standing around and couldn’t be bothered to get out of the way. He missed a penalty. Then he hurt his team even further by being stupid enough (or is that being a punk?) to head a ball out of the hands of Matt Reis causing him to get a yellow card and miss the next game. NOTHING else he did in tonight’s game makes up for that!
Seattle could have won this game by multiple goals if they had been more organized and finished just a few of their chances. The referee had nothing to do with them losing.
HomeyBoehme:
Once the goalkeeper has established control of the ball and it is in his possession, you cannot challenge him for the ball. If Reis had had one hand on the ball like he did trying to block the ball from going into the goal, a player would have a right to challenge for it because there is no possession, but after the goalkeeper has established control of the ball, you cannot challenge him for it until he has released it in some way, such as bouncing it or putting it on the ground.
Why were Nichol and Mariner in the suite to give the f*** you anyway? Were they both ejected? Didn’t watch the game but tuned in during injury time and just as I was reaching to turn off the remote I saw Nichol make the motion and then just barely pull out of completing it, perhaps realizing he could be on camera. I rewound and showed my wife who interpreted it the same way.
1) the officiating was poor, and for both sides. seattle got some breaks, and revs got some too. u cant leave the game up to the ref.
2) “aristotle” wants to call Montero a punk? i think he’s awesome (10 goals, 6 assists in 19 games). let’s just talk about his play. aside from the missed penalty + his face standing in for a brick wall, he was the most dangerous player tongiht. his 1-touches were right on, and it’s not his fault that Jaqua is too darn lanky + slow.
problem is there’s a HUGE gap when Lundy is gone. Montero made a bunch of good plays, yet no one can finish. whereas when Lundy is feeding Montero, then Montero can do the finishing.
Didn’t watch the game, but let me guess…….Sounders were robbed by bad officiating + Waaaaaaaaaaaahhhhh!
bishi:
I understand what you are saying but it still doesn’t really matter. It’s the same when a player raises his foot high into the air for a bicycle kick. If the player raises his foot and cleats that high into the air it’s HIS responsibility regardless of what anyone else does to make sure he can do that without making dangerous contact with another player. He has to have the room or he needs to play the ball lower to the ground.
Even if Montero was rushing in on purpose to try and create a situation it still shows that Ralston didn’t have time to kick the ball that high without his foot making contact with Montero’s midsection. He initiated the dangerous play and it was his responsibility to make sure no one was put in danger because of it. Believe me, I was not a big fan of Montero tonight, so I’m not just defending him because I like him. I felt like kicking him in the midsection myself after watching him tonight!
well that was entertaining. Some of the link up play for both teams was very fun to watch. Shocking that Seattle could not put away at least one of the many chances they had tonight. Ref was out of control with some odd decisions, but what can you say.
Can anyone tell me what the ruling is on heading the ball out of the keepers hand?
Classic ending with Nicol giving a big a FU to his neighbors in the suites
This officiating is absolutely horrible. You have to feel for Seattle… good lord.
What I meant when I said that he ran into the defender is that he ran into the path of the defender, and the defender had clear view of the ball, just not Montero. Both were going for the ball, I just think Montero (I could be wrong about this though, it is just what I felt from the play and some other plays I have seen from him ) did something a lot of Basketball players do now, which is drive in with the intention of making contact and then milk that situation to get the foul. So even if he did not get the ball, he would have a chance for the foul. In most situations where it is 50-50, and both players are clearly going for the ball, I would not view it as a foul, unless the kick was really strong. Now, see the ref called that and gave a yellow, but in the second half, Joseph or someone else did a much more dangerous kick to a player, and did not receive a yellow. The kick Joseph did I would always see as a foul and probably a yellow, not the other one.
I disagree with you on the penalty but it was a tough call. I think Montero did feign being hurt more than he was but that really doesn’t have anything to do with the call. I also understand why Ralston was so upset because he is not a dirty player at all, just the opposite, and you could see he was even trying to pull his leg back to avoid hurting Montero. The problem is Montero had every right to go for that ball and had clear view of it. He didn’t run into the defender he ran to the ball. Ralston did not have clear view of the ball or Montero and while he had every right to go for the ball, if he is going to raise his leg and cleats that high, it is his responsibility to make sure he doesn’t endanger anyone. He kicked Montero right in the midsection. (even if everything was exaggerated) That is a foul.
I’ve seen people here referring to Montero as a punk. After watching this game I’m beginning to wonder if maybe they’re right! This guy is a train wreck right now and is really hurting his team.
Yea, but Montero should not have had the penalty. He ran straight in to the defender clearing the ball who could not possibly see Montero coming in and then Montero milked the situation. Missing a penalty is pretty bad. A goalkeeper stopping it is not that bad, but not at least hitting it to where it would have gone in goal is bad.
I wonder what happened with the Assistant Coach for New England.
New England started out by controlling the game, but after their goal Seattle took over. Seattle is going to get back in this game if New England does not try to keep up what they did in the beginning.
I don’t think Schmid should be coach of the year. Seattle’s biggest problem (apart from being unable to finish chances!) is a total lack of organization. Their discipline is not great either. They started the season looking VERY organized so I don’t know what happened.
Fredy Montero has really hurt his team tonight. He stands in front of the goal in an offside position watching the play in front of him like he is watching a movie or something, and then blocks what looked like a sure goal with his head. Then to add insult to injury, he misses a penalty. Seattle should be winning this game by at least 3-1. Probably more. This has got to be painful for Seattle fans.
It’s Baldomero. Everyone knows he’s crazy–just accept it.
It looks like were looking at Columbus vs Galexy in the MLS Cup final. No one else is any good this year. Columbus will probably win by 2 or 3 goals. Write it down. Its official.
This ref. (if you can call him that) seems really sensative. I wonder if he calls his mom every night to get a good cry in. Seattle is being handed this game and they still are finding a way to suck LOL!
I think ACES is genius. I’m so tired of watching Seattle games on the teevee–they boo literally almost everything that happens on the field that isn’t them scoring a goal. Plus the tiff between the front offices with DC…to say they have an undeserved sense of self up there is a gross understatement.
everything about ACES is poorly hidden jealousy; EXCEPT, the Freddy Montero “no means no” picture w/ him behind bars. That is just plain funny
I think the 7 fans in Dallas combined with the 15 fans in New York to create ACES. See what happens when 22 people put their heads together?!?
Any Club Except Seattle? What backward, small-minded thinking. It would be totally better for MLS if terribly run franchises that can’t fill 1/4 of the seats in tiny stadiums made the playoffs, right? San Jose all the way! There’s a real showcase for a league trying to grow.
Nice Marqis’s sis
All Clubs Envy Seattle
Aces link: http://www.aces09.com/index.html
Posted by: alex g (CSUF) | August 20, 2009 at 05:24 PM
That is awesome. We have a club dedicated to hating us and we haven’t played an entire season yet. I’ve never been more proud.
As an RSL fan I have to cheer for the revs as much as I hate to do it…
http://www.wearcheesetease.com
ACES! Any Club Except Seattle!
However, I see a tie in this one.
Aces link: http://www.aces09.com/index.html
Houston has rarely put up consecutive line ups this season as well. Whether due to injuries, call ups or cards, they just have not used the same line ups. Look at Geoff Cameron. He has played about 4 or 5 different positions this season (I am sure about these positions: CD, CM, RM, RB) in order to fill in the gaps. So it is not just a problem in Seattle. If I had to guess, the problem can be seen in probably half the teams in MLS. In a way it is good, you cannot just have a good starting 11, your entire team is tested (coaching and players). It is bad, because most of the time your team is not at what is considered full strength. Houston is going to be missing players against Seattle again as well (Andrew Hainult got 2 yellows) and 4 players are on the injury list, 3 of which are/were regular starters.
Revs have no chance
Hoping the Revs can squeak one out here. If Jankauskas can get himself back to form there’s a shot of that happening.
It is issues with headaches. if you go to the sounder blog at seattletimes.com it gives good information.
With all the red cards and injuries this season I wonder about the following for other teams: the Sounders have had the same 11 in a starting line up consecutively once this season (MLS games only) I read this on-line somewhere didn’t do the research myself.
Aaron,
He’s listed out because of “disorientation.” Who knows what that means. It’s his migraine problem, and they aren’t sure how to approach it.
What is ACES?
@Aaron, So far as I know, Ljungberg is out with unidentified head problems. He was dizzy, disoriented, and experiencing memory loss when he got off the plane for the L.A. game. It’s apparently unrelated to his migraine woes. Anyhow, team doctors want him to go 10 days without recurring symptoms before playing again. Strange.
I will be watching from section 131 with 32k of my best friends.
The point of ACES? We all need a good laugh, don’t we?
How come Ljungberg is out, anyone know??
hope the sounders can continue the goal scoring they started against LA and yes I think there is a good chance that Montero will take the lead if he plays like he did in the last game.
Dempsey just scored
Yea, talk about a tough turn around for the Sounders… travel then take Houston on away, where they are still upset about the US Open Cup loss….
What’s the point of ACES anyways? I just don’t get it.
Cue the ACES comments. I’m hoping Sanna sees the pitch so we can see the twins do battle.
I won’t be watching–I’ll be sleeping. Unfortunately, kick-off is past my bed-time. I might catch the first 30 minutes or so but that’s it.
I’m hoping for a 0-0 or a 1-1. Go Crew!
Not that i mind that the sounder play a game on thurs and then play my team on sunday, but wth is MLS thinking? is this to even out Houston game in CCL?