SEATTLE — A left-footed volley probably wasn’t the way Sanna Nyassi imagined scoring his first MLS goal. When a missed clearance fell to the Seattle midfielder, though, he didn’t hesitate.
It was the speedy midfielder’s first MLS goal. The Gambian has scored in other competitions, including the US Open Cup and even twice in three games for his country. But, 35 games into his MLS career, he had to wait until this afternoon against Toronto FC to break his duck in MLS play.
When the shot hit the net, the normally reserved Gambian jumped straight into the arms of the nearest teammate, Blaise Nkufo.
“I’m really happy for him because he’s a young player,” the veteran striker Nkufo said. “He has a nice character, a nice personality. He wants to do the best. I’ve spoken with him a lot and . . . I’m looking forward to his next goal on Tuesday.”
Nyassi’s goal turned out to be the difference in the 3-2 victory over TFC. When he was substituted off in the 68th minute, he received a warm ovation from the capacity crowd.
The 21-year-old’s first goal was long in coming: he had a goal taken away on an incorrect offside call in the season opener against Philadelphia. He’s come close countless other times.
“I told him in the locker room that I’m not going to wait two years for the next one,” Sigi Schmid said.
Seattle have now earned 27 of a possible 36 points in the past 12 games (8-1-3). A great deal of the credit for Seattle’s turnaround deserves to go to Nyassi. After he stepped in for departed Freddie Ljungberg, Seattle’s offense received an injection of confidence. Nyassi assisted three times in the month of July, and since then he has been a mainstay in the starting lineup, fending off a challenge for his position from Uruguayan international Alvaro Fernandez.
But he had not actually put the ball in the net until Saturday.
“Since the first half, I felt that it was a team I could score against,” Nyassi said. “I should have scored at least two goals in the first half, but of course I wasn't able. When the second half came I made sure I took my chances.”
In Schmid’s formations, the outside midfielders are vital to the attack. Nyassi’s emergence as a scoring threat could be a fine counterbalance to left winger Steve Zakuani, who has scored nine times this season, including another one on Saturday.
"At halftime, I told [Nyassi], ‘you're going to get one because you should have had about nine in the first half,’ " Zakuani said. “It’s a great finish with his left foot. It’s fantastic. (I am) very, very happy for him.”
Nyassi’s boundless energy and increased defensive effectiveness have him in good stead with Schmid. He’s also been a regular with the Gambian national team, who called him in for a weekend qualifier against Burkina Faso for an African Cup of Nations qualifier. He’ll leave directly after Tuesday’s US Open Cup final against Columbus.
