WASHINGTON – D.C. United and Seattle Sounders FC have shown a propensity for drama in their brief but eventful history, and Thursday night’s meeting at RFK Stadium continued that pattern.
On a muggy night in the nation’s capital, the two teams traded blows throughout an end-to-end match before Roger Levesque produced a late header off Fredy Montero’s excellent cross to give Sounders FC a 1-0 win that runs their all-time record at RFK to a perfect 3-0.
Montero was a live wire all night and he started early, drilling a long-range effort just wide of Troy Perkins’ left-hand post just four minutes into the game.
But United youngster Andy Najar brought the home crowd to their feet in the 8th minute with a long dribble out of defense that led to a quick exchange with Santino Quaranta at the top of the Sounders box. United’s 17-year-old winger ran onto the return pass and tried to sneak a low shot underneath goalkeeper Kasey Keller, but Seattle’s captain got down to make the save.
Steve Zakuani’s speed created danger down the Sounders’ left flank and he came very close to opening the scoring in the 35th minute after Montero’s wall pass set him free in the United penalty area. Dejan Jakovic recovered to make a timely sliding block inside the six-yard box, however, and the first half ended in a scoreless stalemate.
The flank battle between Najar and Zakuani continued to simmer as the game wore on, with the two starlets constantly probing for opportunities to get forward – and forcing one another to seek covering help from their defensive mates. Montero nonetheless looked like the most dangerous player on the pitch, always eager to shoot and menacing the DC back line with nearly every touch in the attacking third. The Colombian drilled a low free kick through a hole in the United defensive wall but with Perkins beaten, the bid curled just wide of the post.
United coach Curt Onalfo debuted one of his new signings shortly afterwards, bringing on Argentinean Pablo Hernandez for Jaime Moreno up top.
Another ill-tempered chapter was added to this nascent rivalry in the 65th minute when Keller sprinted out of his box in an attempt to cut out a long through ball played into Najar’s path. The grizzled netminder seemed to lose the race and hit the turf clutching his ankle in apparent pain, but referee Alex Prus waved play on, allowing Najar to lay off for Quaranta, whose chip towards the empty net was headed off the goal line by Patrick Ianni.
On the ensuing corner kick, Keller just barely got his body in the way of Hernandez’s header and with the ball still loose in the goalmouth, he went to ground again but was bailed out by a quick whistle from Prus, whose decision drew a cascade of boos from the home fans.
Both teams continued to press for the opening goal and the tempo remained high as DC designated player Branko Boskovic made his first-ever MLS appearance, assuming a deep midfield role in place of Stephen King.
With 10 minutes left, Onalfo used his last substitution to bring Adam Cristman on as a target forward and four minutes from full time, a Cristman cross from the right wing deflected off Hernandez, then defender James Riley, forcing Keller to make another sharp save to prevent an own goal.
The late heroics would take place at the other end as Seattle seized on a DC turnover in the 88th minute and Montero beat Jordan Graye to the endline, lifting a delicate cross to Levesque at the far post, who slipped away from Jakovic and squeezed a diving header past Perkins for the match winner that quieted RFK and sentenced United to another dispiriting home loss.
DC’s Bryan Namoff had announced the suspension of his career earlier in the day due to the lingering effects of post-concussion symptoms, so United’s supporters groups rose to hail the veteran defender in the 26th minute. Chanting his name and displaying signs bearing his number 26, La Barra Brava and Screaming Eagles paid tribute to one of their club’s most loyal servants over the past decade.
Scoring Summary:
SEA -- Roger Levesque 1 (Fredy Montero 7, Sanna Nyassi 1) 89
Misconduct Summary:
DC -- Julius James (caution;
Reckless Tackle) 54
SEA -- Leo Gonzalez (caution; Tactical Foul) 85
Seattle Sounders -- Kasey Keller, James Riley, Jeff Parke (Tyrone Marshall 62), Patrick Ianni, Leo Gonzalez, Pat Noonan (Sanna Nyassi 88), Nathan Sturgis, Mike Seamon (Osvaldo Alonso 73), Steve Zakuani, Roger Levesque, Fredy Montero.
D.C. United -- Troy Perkins, Devon McTavish (Adam Cristman 81), Dejan Jakovic, Julius James, Jordan Graye, Andy Najar, Stephen King (Branko Boskovic 72), Clyde Simms, Chris Pontius, Jaime Moreno (Pablo Hernandez 56), Santino Quaranta.
Referee: Alex Prus
Referee's Assistants: Cyril Madukanya; Brian Poeschel
4th Official: Michael Kennedy
Attendance: 13,716
Weather: Cloudy and 89 degrees
