At the end of the 2008 MLS season, the San Jose Earthquakes were dead last in the Western table. As it was an expansion season for the newly reformed team, that was tolerable. Indeed, they performed better than the other two expansion sides in this decade gaining eight wins and 33 points.
The newest expansion team, Seattle FC, has thrown out the book that says the expansion side should play poorly in its first year. Over halfway through the campaign, Seattle stands in second place, only three points out of first and has shown no signs of a rookie letdown.
The Sounders visit the Quakes on Sunday for an early noon kickoff.
The Quakes have lost both previous matches against Seattle this season both at Qwest Field. On April 25 the Sounders gained a 2-0 decision on goals by Freddie Ljungberg and and Fredy Montero. The men in green took the Quakes on June 13, 2-1, with Seattle goals framing halftime again coming from Ljungberg and Montero . Darren Huckerby got his first goal of the season in the 68th minute for the Quakes, but it was too little, too late.
Montero is second among MLS goal-scoring leaders with nine. His six assists give him 24 points, a MLS best.
Seattle is tied for the fewest losses in MLS with four other teams. The side hasn’t lost since the first week of June. Two of their three losses have come on the road at the hands of Chivas USA. The defense has produced nine clean sheets, and only thrice have opponents notched multiple goals in a game against them. The stingy defense is led by Jhon Kennedy Hurtado, an All-Star selection who played about 25 minutes against Everton Wednesday.
Also representing the Sounder’s in Wednesday’s All-Star game were Ljungberg, Montero, and Kasey Keller in goal. The Quakes, in contrast, had no players represented at the game.
Keller has 0.8 goals-against average, good for second best in the league. Besides Hurtado, the rest of the back line shares defensive credit. Along with veteran Tyrone Marshall, James Riley has shut down opponents’ offenses. Riley has the most playing time of any Sounder. A member of the bottom-dwelling Quakes last year, Riley was plucked away from San Jose by Seattle in the expansion draft. Imagine his feelings at getting picked two consecutive years by newly formed teams. From one losing situation to another, he must have thought. But fortune has smiled on Riley and Seattle as his squad controls its own destiny into the playoffs. Short of a complete meltdown, Seattle might be the first MLS expansion team to make the playoffs in its inaugural season in this millenium.
Sunday against the Chicago Fire the Sounders couldn’t break through resulting in a 0-0 draw. The twist on the game is that each side had a send off within five minutes of each other. First, the Fire’s John Thorrington earned his second yellow card in the 54th minute. Then five minutes later Ljungberg got booked for diving. He became irate and got sent off for arguing.
In retrospect Ljungberg’s behavior was costly. For five minutes Seattle was a man up for the first time this season compared to being a man down four previous times. Losing Ljungberg might have nullified the Sounders chances of earning three points against Chicago, which would have lifted them to within a point of the top club Houston. He will also be missed in the upcoming tilt against San Jose. His skills as a playmaker are especially valuable on the smaller Buck Shaw Stadium pitch, home of the Earthquakes. On the other hand, it allowed Freddie to play the entire All-Star game knowing he would have the following weekend off.
Seattle catches a small break with the return of Brad Evans from Gold Cup competition, offsetting Ljungberg’s loss at midfield.
Meanwhile the Quakes remain mired in last place in the Western table. Occasional glimpses of success that hint at a breakout are too infrequent. Coming from behind 2-0 last Saturday against DC United showed excellent determination, but it wasn’t enough to get the three points.
The Quakes have undoubtedly observed the strategy of other clubs against the Sounders. Montero and Ljungberg are among the most fouled players. Seattle media have called it hack-a-Fred and decried the practice, but the Quakes may join the trend in order to hamper the Sounders’ attack.
San Jose continues to churn talent looking for the right combination to achieve wins. Gone are Eric Denton, Kelly Gray, and Pablo Campos. Joining the squad are Antonio Ribeiro and Salvadoran national team captain Ramon Sanchez. In his first match with the Quakes, Sanchez was relatively quiet in central midfield against DC United. With more time to train with the team will Sanchez and Ribeiro be able to control the center of the pitch and shore up the core? Quakes’ coaches and fans are hoping so.
Injury Report
Earthquakes
OUT: DF Aaron Pitchkolan (L groin avulsion); DOUBTFUL: MF Arturo Alvarez (R hamstring strain); QUESTIONABLE: MF Ramiro Corrales (R ankle sprain); FW Ryan Johnson (L AC joint sprain); PROBABLE: DF Ryan Cochrane (L ankle surgery)
Sounders
OUT: GK Chris Eylander (L medial knee bone bruise); DF Taylor Graham (R metatarsal fracture); MF Michael Fucito (R foot sesamoiditis)
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