Sounders 4 – Red Bull 2

I never had enough energy to head into Seattle for one of the Sounders games I had circled when the schedule came out.

New York (even with out Henry) was one of the big ones and ESPN2 missed the first 10 minutes when the Cal-Virginia baseball game went over. The apology tweet from Alexi Lalas was nice, but come one, Cal were 8-1 down with two out in the 9^th it really was long over.

“On paper” this looked like a solid chance for the Sounders to get three points. Through a combination of injury, suspension and international call ups NYRB were missing Marquez, Ream, Juan Agudelo (maybe the best player to come out of the US youth system yet), Henry and Rodgers were all starters that were missing.

Despite being shorthanded NYRB is a side that’s not had issues scoring, putting three past Portland on Sunday (and conceding three to be fair) and winning 2-1 against New England before that.

When ESPN2 finally cut to the game the first thing we saw was Freiberg control the ball with a beautiful first touch to control the ball and a then put it away with a curling ball into the far corner. A really well taken goal to put Seattle up 1-0.

No idea what happened in the previous 10 minutes, but this was a good start. Then it got even better when a minute or so later it was Alonso’s turn. A defensive header fell just right for Alonso to put away on with a great volley that took a deflection to give the keeper no chance.

Over the next few minutes it turned into a very open, entertaining game.

Dane Richards scored for New York about half an hour in. he used his pace to creat a little space and put the ball over Keller. Keller may have been unsighted by Zack Scott (replacing the suspended Hurtado), but it was a good finish to a well put together chance.

The second half started the way the first ended, with chances at both ends. This was turning into a very entertaining game for football. Both sides had some great chances and goals were going to come.

Unfortunately it was Zack Scott that scored with a toe poke past Keller for an own goal. Nothing the keeper or the defender could do, but it came during a period of consistent New York pressure where Seattle really had their backs to the wall for a period.

It really was anyone’s game at his point and it took a third goal from a corner to put Seattle ahead. Rosales one again the provider, this time it was Levesque with a flick on header inside the near post. Roger does not score often, but he soon followed it us with his second of the night when he took the ball off the NY keeper and slotted it home in the empty net to make it 4-2 with 15 minutes left to play.

There were a couple of positives for Seattle. Three goals came from corners (set pieces have been an issue). Three of the four goals were scored by attacking players and the own goal Zack Scott gave away was plain unlucky.

On the other side of the equation Alonso picked up his fifth yellow and will miss the New England game (his first game off this season). Montero did not look 100% and never had any really clear chances. The biggest issue may have been the defense. I’m not sure why Scott was preferred over Pat Ianni with Hurtardo suspended. Scott did look a little out of his depth, it seemed like nearly everything dangerous was coming past Scott in the middle of defense.

The whole of Royal Brougham Park (or Century Link if you prefer) was opened up tonight. This game was part of a package that included the Manchester United game and the 46,000 there saw a very entertaining game of football this evening with three points collected. As nice as it was sitting there with the cat, it would have been better to be at RBP.