By TRAVIS CLARK
Fredy Montero is placing the Seattle Sounders on his back and carrying them back into postseason contention.
The young Colombian striker was once again instrumental in orchestrating the Sounders attack, scoring one and setting up a second in Seattle's 2-0 win Sunday evening. The win vaults Seattle into a tie for fourth in the MLS standings, level on points with Eastern foes New York.
After a scoreless first half, Montero latched onto a long ball from goalie Kasey Keller, turning Dynamo defender Eddie Robinson, and fired past Tally Hall to open the scoring. Late in half, Montero played new signing Alvaro Fernandez in behind Houston's defense, and the Uruguayan beat Hall to seal the points.
Here are the highlights, and a few other stories for Monday morning:
MANCHESTER UNITED WIN COMMUNITY SHIELD
The Community Shield may have no bearing on the Premier League standings, but Manchester United sent out a message with a solid performance to beat defending champions Chelsea 3-1 on Sunday.
Antonio Valencia gave the Red Devils a first half lead, before Mexican striker Javier Hernandez doubled the lead with a rather fortunate finish. Salomon Kalou gave Chelsea hope inside 10 minutes, but a goal by Dimitar Berbatov in the 90th minute sealed United's win.
FC DALLAS DROPS PHILADELPHIA
The Philadelphia Union couldn't stand the heat in Dallas, going down a man on the way to losing 3-1 at FC Dallas. Alejandro Moreno gave the Union the lead, stabbing home after a scramble in front of Kevin Hartman's net to give the visitors a lead.
But that's as good as it would get for the struggling newcomers. Brad Knighton, replacing a sick Chris Seitz in the Union goal, earned a red card when he bobbled a routine ball in the box, taking down Brek Shea in the penalty area. David Ferreira tied the game at the spot, and the 10-men Union couldn't hold on for the rest of the game, as a brace from substitute Jeff Cunningham earned Dallas the win.
MLS ROSTER NOTES
The Chicago Fire sent defender Tim Ward to San Jose for a 2011 conditional draft pick. They then re-signed defender Gonzalo Segares, who had spent the last six months playing in Cyprus.
Los Angeles Galaxy traded Alan Gordon to inter-city rivals Chivas USA for allocation money.
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What did you think of Seattle's performance? Impressed by Manchester United? Surprised to see FC Dallas still surging?
Share your thoughts below.
I love that this thread exists. Arlo is amazing. FSNW vs. FSC–there’s no question that FSNW wins because of Arlo. You get the feeling that he’s a sounder then an announcer.
@ian- He makes Dairy Queen Cheesecake Blizzards sound as terrible and American as they are when you really start to think about what they are. I love it.
I thought the same thing: DC United. LOL
would that game include a social drink whenever he sensually describes a Dairy Queen Blizzard?
To borrow from Bill Simmons then, I guess Nate Jaqua would be a poor man’s target forward and Alan Gordon would be a homeless man’s target forward.
But I kid. I actually like both Nate and Gordon.
Joe, I always loved your work. At least while you were alive.
I don’t want to disagree with the notion that he’ll want to stay. Kissing the badge after goals – in my opinion – means nothing. Ultimately, Montero’s got his own goals and aspirations. Ultimately, Seattle will not be able to pay him as much as teams in Europe. We won’t be able to keep him by paying him more unless we overpay. I’m not sure management will do that, but we can all hope.
As for how Sigi uses him – that’s a more persuasive argument in my mind. With Nkufo here and Ljungberg gone, it allows Montero to play in a manner he’s more comfortable with. He drops back into space and can create as well as take people on. Maybe that gives him some added incentive to stay.
Actually not true… Neither Montero nor Hurtado are on loan anymore and we control their rights. So if he does go we get the transfer $$$
And considering how the league nor Seattle own him (he’s still on loan), they literally have no control.
It appears that way. Which is somewhat suprising as I think it does have relevance to the fact that LA appear to be clearing space and rounding up allocation money.
It wasn’t a completely off topic post.
Wow! Travis, did you really delete my comment? I’ve never know this blog to censor anyone in the comments section. All I did was mention the worst kept secret in the league. What a joke.
if anyone is wondering, i previously mentioned that A former mls player and youth national team stanDout coUld be making his way to the la Galaxy.
“Los Angeles Galaxy traded Alan Gordon to inter-city rivals Chivas USA for allocation money.”
Actually, intra-city rivals.
/pendant
Montero is night and day compared to the beginning of this season. I don’t think I have seen him get shoved off the ball once in the last 8 games, plus his hussle, where did that come from ? Not last season.
That goal last night was just sheer determination, do what it takes to score.
I would have bet 1 billion dollars a year ago that I would never think about praising Montero in a soccer blog.
is there any question that chose the right Freddie ?
none and I am very glad they chose correctly.
I concur…!
Speaking of announcers, some of the best US soccer announcers ironically do the games in Spanish on Fox Espanol and Univision…Troy Santiago, Jorge Caamano, Jorge Perez Navarro, Diego Balado. Way more original and entertaining then any of the ESPN MLS announcers.
Agreed. Money talks in the end, naturally, but he seems to be enjoy playing for Seattle just fine. The profile of MLS is also rising inside and outside of the US, which helps.
As soon as Fernandez stepped on the field he became the best player ever to wear the green.
It’s been amazing to see how the rest of the team looks for him and how he always makes intelligent decisions once he gets the ball.
He’s gonna storm the league.
“Cool as you like”! We can’t spend much more on players so I guess we can spend money on the best announcer in the business.
Arlo is about three steps ahead of any other broadcaster I’ve heard doing US soccer.
Arlo White is a blast. We’re putting together a drinking game based on some of his favorite lines and use of alliteration.
I like Arlo but don’t like that he does both TV and Radio at the same time as he ends up talking a little too much for TV. He and Matt Gashck (sp?) do a preview show that although low on production value is very informative and gets me pumped going into games.
A poor man’s Nate Jaqua? I always thought Jaqua was already a poor man’s target forward.
yea, but wish we knew what to do w/ them. we’re a horrible team, starting w/ our coaching and gm.
Does anyone else love Seattle Sounders announcer Arlo White? He’s pretty awesome. Is he just better/more enthusiastic? Or am I biased to the way an English accent sounds? In any case, Mr. White is QUALITY!
1. DC United finally broke out of their scoring slump…and against Chelsea no less–hah! Oh, wrong United….nevermind…
2. If you can’t sign Ronaldinho, then Adu (tactically-wise) is pretty similar. Neither are very physical players, neither are great defenders. Both are a little more comfortable playing almost as a withdrawn outside left forward. Let’s hope that Adu does go to LAG. Arena is a good coach for him, and Freddy could do worse than emulate the workhabits of Landon Donovan.
I think Seattle uses DP money to match any financial offering anybody in Europe would be willing to make (barring one of the major powers setting their heart on him, which I don’t see happening). It is then simply a question of how bad Montero wants Europe. Is he willing to give up hard cash for it? Over the past 1.5 yrs, he got some criticism in Seattle, but I think Sigi knows how to use him now, and all of Seattle now adores the guy. He is a young superstar stud here, and we can afford to pay him whatever it takes.
I think he stays.
Does he still want to go to Europe, though? Lately he’s seemed really happy with everything. Someone who is pointing to and kissing the shield on his jersey isn’t someone looking for a way out.
Anyone know what the deal is with Roger Torres? Been waiting the past couple matches for word.
I didn’t really expect anything out of the broadcast duo… Sullivan was convinced that Seitz was in goal right up until Knighton got a red card.
Hanging on to guys like Montero isn’t always in the league’s control. If he wants to go to Europe and there are legitimate offers, you have to sell him. Otherwise, you have a disgruntled star poisoning team morale.
I hope he stays, but if he keeps playing like this, I think he’s gone in the winter transfer window.
Your messed in the head.
Sounders need to sign Montero as their 3rd DP. Make it happen. He is exactly the kind of player that this league wants to hang on to. Young talented international, who originally stated that MLS was his path to Europe. If MLS can hang onto these guys, its a good, good day.
The stay with Chivas will be a short one. My bet is that Portland will take him in the Expansion Draft and play him in the role of a reserve striker- sort of a poor mans Nate Jaqua.
In terms of the MLS Playoffs- the teams that are in the spots 1 through 8 as of now will make it- except TFC. Toronto will come in 9th. Who is the team going to the playoffs instead of TFC?
Chicago of course. Sadly to say that the last 3rd of the MLS season will be very anticlimatic.
After watching both the Chi/NY and Seattle/Houston games; I think Seattle made the correct choice when they decided to keep Freddy M. and send Freddie L. to Chi. They both played the same position on the field but with a very different result.
LA’s freeing up a lotta cap space… also pickin up some extra allocation money. i think a 3rd DP is on the way..
San Jose is really picking up some excellent young players on the cheap.
Fernandez to the Sounders is really starting to pay off. I guess Seattle is and will always be a 1 Fredy town. I’m glad they are finally getting it together this season, the playoff atmosphere with SSFC in contention will be much better for the league imo.