Before Seattle and Chivas USA meet in the US Open Cup semifinals in two-and-a-half weeks, the Sounders may need to summon a witch doctor to release the curse on the team’s attackers.
Zach Thornton – or, perhaps more accurately, Zach Thornton’s fingernails – were perhaps the only thing standing between Seattle and a first-ever victory over Chivas USA as the teams ended scoreless on Saturday night.
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The Chivas ‘keeper turned away Osvaldo Alonso’s drive in the 88th minute, maintaining the Goats’ perfect defensive performance against the Rave Green. Chivas’ defense has stymied Seattle since the club’s inception – in 2009, Chivas held Seattle without a goal in three meetings.
The song remained the same at the Home Depot Center Saturday night. Despite coming into the match winners of four of the last five, Seattle couldn’t produce a magical moment in the draw. In the end, they might be considered lucky to escape with a point after Chivas controlled the latter stages of the game.
“You’re going on the road and you’re not going to win every game,” said Seattle coach Sigi Schmid. “To come out of here – it’s a tough place to play ... with a 0-0 tie and at least get a point, we’re not super-thrilled with it, but we’re not super disappointed with it either.”
The two teams will play again for the right to play for the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup on Sept. 1. Seattle’s continued disappointment against the Los Angeles team will provide an interesting subplot in advance of that match – Chivas USA remain the only team in the Western Conference that has not been beaten by the Seattle Sounders.
Bad blood may be another storyline, as the match was marred by red cards to Chivas captain Mariano Trujillo and Leo Gonzalez in additional time.
“It looked like two girls smacking each other,” said an amused Jeff Parke. “I don’t think Leo really got too bad into it. I think it was definitely a red on [Trujillo’s] part and maybe a yellow on Leo, but it was pretty funny-looking from my vantage point.”
With the draw, the Sounders extended their unbeaten stretch in MLS play to six matches. But coming into the game against a last-place Chivas USA side, they had hoped to do better.
“It just seemed like it was one of those days,” Keller said. “But at the same time, I was happy with the way we worked as a team and we defended, and we did some pretty good things. Definitely it’s a positive step – we’re now nine games unbeaten and things are OK.”
With Steve Zakuani staying in Seattle to recuperate from a pelvic strain, Álvaro Fernández earned his first start in Rave Green on the left side of midfield. His technical ability was evident from the get-go, as he combined well with his teammates.
Led by Fernández, Seattle played their best soccer in the first half, outshooting Chivas USA 5-1. None of those chances got by Thornton, who returned to the lineup in place of the injured Dan Kennedy. The 2009 MLS Goalkeeper of the Year made two saves as the match went into halftime without a goal.
Even though Seattle failed to score, the club’s fans had to be encouraged by the crisp passing and excellent possession displayed in Fernández’s first start alongside Blaise Nkufo.
The final stats showed an even affair, with both teams recording nine shots. But a draw won’t be possible when the two teams meet again in the Open Cup.
