SEATTLE – How do you inject energy into a lifeless game? With a dose of Fredy Montero.
On a night when the MLS All-Stars played against Manchester United earlier in Houston, Seattle’s Montero may have provided the best example of individual skill on the night when his team took on El Salvador's Metapán in the first leg of their playoff for CONCACAF Champions League Group C spot.
The Sounders’ own All-Star scored on a stunning effort mere seconds after his second-half insertion, breaking a scoreless deadlock and giving Seattle a 1-0 victory against visiting Isidro Metapán of El Salvador.
On Montero’s goal, Metapán goalkeeper Misael Alfaro was completely bamboozled by the long range effort. The knuckling shot hit the turf in front of Alfaro and the 'keeper could not secure the ball before it crossed over the goal line.
Up until that moment, the match had been marked by cynical play and an ever-inflating foul count.
Seattle put out their second team against Metapán, with only three starters pulling double duty after Sunday’s game against the Colorado Rapids. The rhetoric from the club during the week demonstrated a desire to win this competition. But first, Seattle had to get past Metapán, who featured a strong team including Rodolfo Suárez, older brother of Uruguayan World Cup hero Luis Suárez.
Seattle’s eagerness was manifested in four fouls committed in the first five minutes. It was a portent of things to come—for both clubs.
After a foul-filled opening, Sanna Nyassi flirted with a red card in the 16th minute by attempting to shove an opponent. Mexican referee Ricardo Arellano handled the situation by having a quick word with both players.
Arellano had another decision to make a few minutes later, giving James Riley a yellow card for a foul. Joining Riley in the books just seconds after was Osvaldo Alonso, who came on in the 14th minute for Peter Vagenas after the latter strained his right quad while taking a corner kick. Alonso was booked for a foul on Suárez as the referee sought to gain control over the match.
The first scoring chance of note for either team came in the 21st minute, when Miguel Montano unsuccessfully tried to head a bouncing cross from Nyassi. Nyassi was Seattle’s most dangerous threat in the first half, as he and right back Riley had good luck against Metapán’s defensive left side.
In the 29th minute, Mike Seamon had his shot blocked by a defender after some nice buildup play from the Sounders.
The visitors had their best chance of the night 12 minutes later. Hearts were in throats as Tyrone Marshall’s mistimed challenge let the Metapán attacker in clean on the right side. However, the play ended with Seattle goalkeeper Kasey Keller corralling a loose ball to end a play that could have been more dangerous.
Nonetheless, the story of the first half was the fouls: 19 in all, with five yellow cards handed out. The foul total would balloon to 37 before the night’s end, robbing the game of any semblance of flow.
After Montero’s goal at the hour mark, Metapán looked to have a good chance to equalize before the end, but Marshall did well to poke a bouncing ball away from a Metapán attacker in the 77th minute.
Nyassi, who also started three nights earlier against Colorado, nearly added another, but missed just wide seven minutes from the end.
Metapán’s goalkeeper was involved in the last two notable plays. First, Alfaro came out of his own box to take a free kick in the 90th minute, but his effort was blocked by the Seattle wall. On the other end, he had to make a diving save to deny Montero’s attempt at finishing a cross in additional time.
Metapán will look to make up and surpass the difference when the two teams will play again on August 3 in San Salvador. The aggregate winner will advance to compete in Group C of the CONCACAF Champions League.
