Sounders FC News & Notes -- June 8

The Seattle Sounders FC plays five of the next six MLS games at home, beginning Saturday night when it hosts the San Jose Earthquakes. Kickoff is 7:30 p.m. Pacific Time on the Xbox Pitch at Qwest Field. D.C. United visits Seattle next Wednesday night, June 17.

Sounders FC (4-3-5, 17 points) is coming off a 1-0 loss last Saturday at Chivas USA. That dropped Seattle into a tie for third in the Western Conference. It was the first loss since losing at Chivas on April 18. This past weekend San Jose (2-7-3, 9 points) earned a 2-2 draw with FC Dallas yet it remains at the bottom of the West.

Saturday's match will be aired live on KING 5 and News Talk 97.3 KIRO FM. Kevin Calabro will call the action with analysis from Greg Vanney. Calling the game in Spanish on THIS-TV (Comcast channel 114) will be Jaime Mendez with analysis from Hugo Alcaraz-Cueller, and on 1210 AM Ke Buena will be Rene Aleman, Noe Menendez and Victor Hernandez.

Seattle's next three MLS home games (San Jose, D.C. United, Colorado) are sold out. There are tickets on sale for other remaining home dates. To purchase, call 1-877-MLS-GOAL or visit www.SoundersFC.com.

JUNE 17 KICKOFF TIME CHANGE

Kickoff time for the June 17 match between Sounders FC and D.C. United has been moved to 7:30 p.m. PT. The game on the Xbox Pitch at Qwest Field will be aired live on ESPN2.

Upcoming Competition Schedule (All times Pacific)

Saturday, June 13, 7:30 p.m. - San Jose Earthquakes; Xbox Pitch at Qwest Field


Wednesday, June 17, 7:30 p.m. - D.C. United; Xbox Pitch at Qwest Field


Saturday, June 20, 4:30 p.m. - at New York Red Bulls, Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, N.J.


Sunday, June 28, 1:00 p.m. - Colorado Rapids; Xbox Pitch at Qwest Field


Saturday, July 11, 1:00 p.m. - Houston Dynamo; Xbox Pitch at Qwest Field

Second Time Around

Seattle is facing San Jose for the second time this season and pressing for a similar result as the first time around. Sounders FC defeated the Earthquakes, 2-0, at home on April 25. That, too, followed a road loss at Chivas USA. San Jose and Chivas USA are the only two teams which Seattle will play three times during the inaugural season. Chivas USA visits Xbox Pitch at Qwest Field on September 19 and the Sounders FC visits San Jose on August 2.

The Initial Meeting

In the first meeting between the Sounders FC and San Jose, rookie Steve Zakuani scored a goal and assisted on another in the 2-0 victory. Kasey Keller made five saves to earn his fourth shutout and establish an MLS record for consecutive scoreless minutes to start a season.

Zakuani scored the first Sounders FC goal in the 38th minute. A free kick by Freddie Ljungberg bounced around in the box before settling at the feet of Tyrone Marshall, who sent a quick far post cross to the head of Zakuani for the finish.

Early in the second half, Earthquakes forward Ryan Johnson forced a diving save by Keller with his one-touch re-directed shot from a corner kick in the 49th minute of the match.

Seconds later, in the 50th minute, Zakuani won a ball on the left flank and played it up the line for forward Nate Jaqua. Jaqua's square pass with the outside of his right foot set up midfielder Brad Evans with an easy finish from the penalty kick spot around charging Earthquakes goalkeeper Joe Cannon.

Keller's Unbeaten Streak Ends

Sounders FC unbeaten streak of 4-0-5 when goalkeeper Kasey Keller goes the distance came to an end at the Home Depot Center against Chivas USA last Saturday. It was Keller's first match at the Home Depot Center after missing the previous match with Chivas USA on April 18 due to a red-card suspension. Keller set an MLS record for consecutive scoreless minutes to start a season (457 minutes), and he is the only goalkeeper in league history to post three complete shutouts to start an MLS career.

A Drawn Out Streak Ends

Seattle's record-tying string of five consecutive draws came to and in its 1-0 loss at Chivas. Three of Seattle's five consecutive draws have come on the road. The sole interruption in a string of 1-1 ties was the 2-2 result at Colorado on May 23. A six-game unbeaten run began with a 2-0 home win over San Jose on April 25. Seattle is 3-1-2 at home and 1-1-3 on the road, the third-best mark in MLS.

Shutout and Lose

When Sounders FC doesn't score, it doesn't earn points in the standings either. Each of Seattle's three losses has been by shutout, and it has yet to earn a point this year when going scoreless.

No More Iron Man

Central defender Jhon Kennedy Hurtado, who is the only player to play every minute in the first 12 Sounders FC games, will be ineligible this week due to yellow card accumulation after receiving his fifth last weekend. On the flip side, the other central defender Tyrone Marshall, who was ejected in second-half stoppage time of the May 30 1-1 tie with Columbus, returns to action to help anchor the backline. The last Seattle defensive shutout came April 25 against San Jose.

Jaqua in June

If history is to repeat itself, Jaqua will need to make things happen in the final three games of the month. June has been Jaqua's most productive month during his career, with 11 goals in 23 MLS games. However, Jaqua will miss the June 13 game with San Jose as a result of receiving two-yellow cards the week prior. When he returns, Jaqua will be carrying yellow cards. His game-tying goal against Columbus on May 30 earned MLS Goal of the Week.

Back Four Shuffle

In the past four games, coach Sigi Schmid has used seven different players in his back four. Prior to last week when Patrick Ianni stepped in at central defense for Tyrone Marshall, Jhon Kennedy Hurtado and Marshall had started the first 11 games together in central defense. There had been five different starters--Zach Scott, Patrick Ianni, Nathan Sturgis, Tyson Wahl and James Riley at the outside backs during the previous four games. Of the 25 players on the roster, all have been used during the MLS and USOC play-in games played to date.

Recap: Seattle 0, Chivas USA 1

Despite controlling possession for much of the game and leading in almost every offensive category, Seattle was unable to find the back of the net this time. It is its first loss and first time being shutout since losing at Chivas USA, 2-0, on April 18.

Chivas USA got the sole goal of the game from Eduardo Lillingston late in the first half, and extended its hold of first place in the Western Conference with 27 points.

Lillingston scored the only goal in the 38th minute. Maykel Galindo on the left side in the box found Paulo Nagamura, who shot low near post. Kasey Keller made the initial save, but the ball deflected to Lillingston and he knocked it straight ahead for the score.

Seattle finished the game down a man for the fifth time this season, as Nate Jaqua was sent off in the 88th minute with his second yellow card of the evening. He faces a one-game suspension. Hurtado will also miss the next match due to yellow card accumulation. He received his fifth yellow card of the season in the 82nd minute.

Seattle played without midfielders Osvaldo Alonso and Peter Vagenas. Stephen King was a late replacement for Vagenas, who was scratched from the lineup after experiencing right ankle pain in pregame warm-ups.

Chasing History

At 4-3-5 through the first 12 games, Seattle is off to the best start for an MLS expansion franchise since the Chicago Fire (7-5-0) in 1998. Miami and Chicago are the only expansion teams to reach the playoffs, with the Fire winning both the MLS Cup and the U.S. Open Cup in its first season.
Previous Expansion Starts

Barcelona Coming to Seattle

The Seattle Sounders FC will play European champions FC Barcelona on the Xbox Pitch at Qwest Field on Wednesday, August 5. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. (PT).

Sounders FC season ticket holders have received tickets to the game as part of their 18-match package, which also includes Chelsea and the MLS Cup.

Tickets will go on sale to the general public next Monday, June 15, at 10 a.m. Tickets will be available at www.SoundersFC.com or by calling 1-800-745-3000.

FC Barcelona, whose heralded roster of international superstars currently includes Lionel Messi, Rafa Marquez, Xavi, Carles Puyol, Thierry Henry, Samuel Eto'o and Andres Iniesta. Last week Barca won its third UEFA Champions League crown by defeating Manchester United, 2-1, on goals from Eto'o and Messi.

FC Barcelona has more than 150,000 voting members. Barcelona inspired formation of the Sounders FC Alliance, a supporters association which empowers members to have a vote in the club's direction.

Chelsea Tickets on Sale

Tickets for the Sounders FC-Chelsea match on July 18 are now on sale. Chelsea completed its season by winning the FA Cup last week. The Blues finished third in the English Premier League and advanced to the semifinals of the UEFA Champions League. To purchase, call 1-800-745-3000, all Ticketmaster outlets or the Qwest Field Box office, or visit www.SoundersFC.com.

The Pro Shop at Pacific Place to Open Friday, June 12

Seahawks and Sounders FC fans who live and work in the heart of downtown Seattle will soon be able to purchase licensed apparel and souvenirs for both teams at The Pro Shop at Pacific Place. The new store will be located on Level-3 next to Benetton and opens Friday, June 12, at 9:30 a.m.

12-Game Report

Seattle is off to the second-best start in MLS expansion history, and has done so despite facing its fair share of adversity. Sounders FC has stayed above .500 through the first 12 games despite finishing five games shorthanded, going 0-2-3 in those contests. Resulting suspensions and injuries have allowed Sigi Schmid to pick his starting lineup from his top players on only three occasions to date.

Three Now on IR

Defender Taylor Graham became the third Seattle player placed on the injured reserve list. Graham sustained a fractured third metatarsal of his right foot during training last week. He is eligible to return to league play for the July 11 game versus Houston. Graham was in uniform for four league games. He started and played the full 90 minutes of a U.S. Open Cup Play-In game on April 28. Forward Jarrod Smith and goalkeeper Chris Eylander had been placed on IR earlier. Eylander is eligible to return June 20 at New York.

Mr. Smith Goes to Africa

Forward Jarrod Smith has been called up to the New Zealand National Team for the FIFA Confederations Cup and related friendlies this month in Africa. Smith was last called up by New Zealand in late March for friendlies at Thailand, but he did not see action. New Zealand will train in Botswana prior to friendlies with Botswana and Tanzania. The All Whites face Italy in another friendly on June 10 in Pretoria, South Africa. New Zealand faces Spain (June 14), and hosts South Africa (June 17) and Iraq (June 20) in Confederations Cup group play. Smith, on IR since the start of the MLS season, played 25 minutes for Seattle in an April 28 U.S. Open Cup Play-In game against Real Salt Lake.

12-Game Totals

Through the first 12 games of the MLS season, Seattle has scored 15 goals and given up 10. Of those 25 total goals, 15 have come in the first half; nine for Seattle, and six for the opponents. In the first six games, Seattle scored nine goals; just five in the last five. In the first three games, Seattle earned nine points against just eight in the last eight.

Leaders of the Pack

Kasey Keller is No.2 of MLS goalkeepers with a goals-against-average of 0.68. Keller is tied for 3rd in saves percentage (77.8). He is tied for 4th in wins (4) and 3rd in clean sheets (4). Forward Fredy Montero is 2nd amongst players in fouls suffered (28) and he is 5th in shots (33). Seattle is the team with most fouls suffered (159) and 10th in fouls committed. It ranks third in goals allowed per game (0.83) and in cautions (28).

Statistically Speaking

Sounders FC is 4-0-3 when scoring first and undefeated 4-0-5 when scoring a goal. Seattle is tied for No. 3 in fewest goals allowed (10) behind Houston (7) and Chivas USA (9). Two of Seattle's goals against were scored while playing shorthanded.

Seating Capacity Increasing

Due to the high demand for Sounders FC tickets, the team will open up seating in the south end zone of the stadium's lower bowl, beginning with the June 28 match versus Colorado. The seating configuration will be the same as it was for the inaugural game, with a capacity of approximately 32,000. The team will utilize the full-stadium capacity of 67,000 for Chelsea and FC Barcelona.

Attendance Record

Sounders FC is the first franchise in MLS history to have 28,000 or more fans at six consecutive regular season or postseason home games. Each of the first six games on Xbox Pitch at Qwest Field has sold out. The inaugural March 19 match drew the largest crowd in franchise history as 32,523 fans watched the Sounders FC defeat New York. The May 30 match with Columbus attracted the second-largest crowd to date (29,126).

Gold Cup Tickets on Sale

Two-time defending champion USA will play a first-round match of the 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup on Saturday, July 4, on the Xbox Pitch at Qwest Field. The U.S. will face Grenada at 6 p.m. PT in the second match of the Gold Cup doubleheader. The first match will feature Haiti and Honduras at 4 p.m. PT. For ticket purchases and information visit www.Ticketmaster.com, www.GoldCup.org and www.CopaOro.org.

All-Star Voting Continues

Sounders FC fans are not only supporting the team in record numbers at home games, they are also getting out the vote. According to a recent report on MLSnet.com, Kasey Keller is the overall leader in votes by fans in balloting for the MLS All-Star Game starters. Right behind Keller are seven more Seattle players: Freddie Ljungberg, Fredy Montero, Osvaldo Alonso, Tyrone Marshall, Jhon Kennedy Hurtado, Steve Zakuani and Sebastien Le Toux. James Riley is tenth.

The fan balloting counts for 25 percent of the all-star selection process, and fans can vote up to 10 times a day. Players, coaches/general managers and media each contribute 25 percent also. Balloting continues through July 6 at MLSnet.com.

The 14th annual MLS All-Star Game is July 29, when the MLS takes on Everton of the English Premier League in Sandy, Utah.

Getting Involved

Eleven players have been involved in the 15 goals scored by Seattle to date, including eight different goal scorers: Fredy Montero (4), Nate Jaqua (3), Steve Zakuani (2), Brad Evans (2), Freddie Ljungberg, Tyrone Marshall, Jhon Kennedy Hurtado and Sebastien Le Toux.

Sigi's Final Countdown

Schmid is approaching the summit of two MLS coaching categories. The league's active leader in wins (117), Schmid is seven wins shy of Bob Bradley's MLS record 124 victories. New England's Steve Nicol is No. 2 among active coaches in wins (91) and No. 3 overall. Schmid (268) is five matches away from surpassing Bradley's MLS record of 272 career games coached.

More About Schmid

Schmid against San Jose is 11-6-4 (9-5-4 with L.A.; 1-1-0 with Columbus;1-0-0 with Seattle) in the regular season, and 1-2-0 (all with L.A.) in the playoffs.

Rivals from Days Ago

Seattle and San Jose are two clubs who share the same nickname of their NASL predecessors. The Sounders and Earthquakes were, at times, bitter rivals from 1974-83. Now they represent the two youngest franchises in MLS. The Earthquakes became the league's 14th team in 2008 and Sounders FC joined this season.

Seattle and San Jose/Golden Bay met 24 times in NASL outdoor games from 1974-83, including the Sounders' final game at Spartan Stadium. FC Seattle and San Jose met another 10 times from 1985-88, most notably in the 1988 Western Soccer League final won by Seattle, 5-0, at Memorial Stadium.

As for the USL-1 Sounders, the only competitive meetings came in U.S. Open Cup play in 2002 and 2003 (there were an additional five exhibitions, including one in 2008). An SRO Interbay Stadium crowd of 1,275 saw the Quakes win 4-3 on an overtime goal in the 109th minute. Seattle won, 1-0, a year later at the University of Washington, with Zach Scott playing for the Sounders.

And We Meet Again

Sounders FC suffered their first loss of the preseason against the San Jose Earthquakes, 3-2, on February 13 at Alex G. Spanos Stadium on the campus of Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo. Both teams' regular season leading scorers to date, Seattle's Fredy Montero (3) and San Jose's Ryan Johnson (2), made their presence felt in the match. Montero scored twice for Seattle, but San Jose got two from Johnson, and a third from Quincy Amarikwa to drop the Sounders FC, 3-2.

Expansion Experience

James Riley, the starting right back for Seattle, was selected by San Jose in the 2007 expansion draft following three years in New England. Sounders FC took him from the Earthquakes in the 2008 expansion draft. Riley played in 24 games, starting 23, for San Jose, which finished with the most wins (8) and points (33) by a first-year team in this decade.

Homecoming for Weaver

San Jose features a former USL-1 Sounders player and Kent, Wash. native in forward Cam Weaver. A member of Seattle University's NCAA Division II championship team in 2004, Weaver went on to become the 2006 USL-1 Rookie of the Year after scoring 18 goals for Seattle. He was acquired by Norway's FK Haugesund, where he played from 2007-08. San Jose signed Weaver on Feb. 5. He scored the game-winning goal and added an assist in the Earthquakes' first win, 3-2 over Houston on March 28.

Other Sounders FC/Earthquakes Connections

Earthquakes assistant coach Ian Russell is a West Seattle native, and former USL-1 Sounder who graduated to MLS and helped form the nucleus of two championship teams in San Jose from 2001-03. The former University of Washington standout played a total of six seasons in the league before retiring. In 2008 he returned to the Bay Area as an assistant on Frank Yallop's staff. Russell played for the USL-1 Sounders in 1998 and '99. He has 131 appearances for the Earthquakes from 2000-05, ranking No. 5.

Sounders FC forward Nate Jaqua and Earthquakes midfielder Kelly Gray played together at the University of Portland from 2000-01. Ironically, Jaqua was traded by the L.A. Galaxy to the Houston Dynamo on July 2, 2007, in exchange for Gray and a 2nd round pick in the 2008 MLS SuperDraft.

Sounders FC forward Roger Levesque started his professional career with San Jose before he joined the Sounders in the USL after several loan stints. Levesque played a total of four MLS games for the Quakes (2003-05). He was selected by San Jose with the 23rd overall pick in the 2003 MLS SuperDraft.

Sounders FC goalkeeper Kasey Keller played briefly with San Jose midfielder Darren Huckerby at Millwall in 1996.

Earthquakes defender Chris Leitch played under Sounders FC Coach Sigi Schmid in 2006 for Columbus, starting 18 of 24 appearances.

About San Jose

Although San Jose begins the week tied with New York for the lowest point total in MLS, the Earthquakes have collected four points from the last two outings. They defeated Real Salt Lake, 2-1, at home on May 27 and earned a 2-2 road draw at Dallas last Sunday. The win over RSL ended a five-game losing streak which had begun in Seattle.

Recently-acquired Cornell Glen scored and Mike Zaher assisted on first San Jose goal in the win. It was the second game Glen, a veteran of the Trinidad & Tobago National Team who signed on May 26. Zaher was making his first start as a rookie out of UCLA. The Quakes are playing their fifth road game in their last six.

Head coach Frank Yallop is in his seventh season in MLS, and has an overall record of 68-61-41. Yallop coached San Jose from 2001-03 before the Earthquakes' move to Houston. From 2004-06, he was head coach of the Canadian National Team. Yallop returned to MLS in 2006 to coach L.A., where he spent two seasons before rejoining the expansion-side Earthquakes.

In its expansion season last year, San Jose finished 7th in the Western Conference with a record of 8-13-9.

Current Training Squad

The following players begin the week training in Seattle: Goalkeepers (6): Chris Blais, Terry Boss, Ben Dragavon, Chris Eylander, Kasey Keller, Tyrel Lacey; Defenders (11): Evan Brown, Taylor Graham, Jhon Kennedy Hurtado, Patrick Ianni, Dylan Leslie, Tyrone Marshall, James Riley, Kyle Schmid, Zach Scott, Nathan Sturgis, Tyson Wahl; Midfielders (9): Osvaldo Alonso, Brad Evans, Michael Fucito, Stephen King, Sebastien Le Toux, Freddie Ljungberg, Lamar Neagle, Sanna Nyassi, Peter Vagenas; Forwards (6): Kevin Forrest, Nate Jaqua, Roger Levesque, Fredy Montero, Jarrod Smith+, Steve Zakuani.

+International call-in
*Invitee

Reserves Schedule (subject to change)

July 12 - vs. Kitsap Pumas, at Starfire Sports Complex, 10:30 a.m.


Note: All reserve team games are closed to the public.