Le Toux, where are Le Goals? Seattle striker eyes the ball last night.(David Falk)
The Seattle Sounders and Portland Timbers played to a 0-0 draw before 10,184 fans last night at Qwest Field. View our photo gallery.
My view from the sidelines was probably much like your view from the stands. You saw a Sounders team dominate in possession and chances, but unable to finish business against their rivals.
The match was a letdown for Seattle supporters and a let-off for Portland, who should have been tagged with their first loss of 2008. Alas, Andre Schmid somehow managed to miss in the first half when it would have been easier to score, and Josh Gardner's 25-yard blast nicked the top of the crossbar a few minutes later.
Other than a few tussles and a couple more half-chances, that was pretty much it. I was left to look at the crowd of 10,184 and admire the passion and noise that traveling Portland fans and an ever-growing Emerald City Supporters section were adding to the night.
They both deserved better, as did the rest. It was the biggest opening night crowd in USL-1 Sounders history. Qwest Field was alive. If only the players had matched the pageantry.
Jason Cascio impressed as a forward sub late on, doing all of the things Schmid is struggling with. Cascio is strong, possesses the ball well and has good speed for a 'big' guy. We'll be seeing more of him as Seattle struggles to find the key to unlocking the scoring cupboard.
Ray Burse was good in goal for the Timbers, but otherwise they were unremarkable. The last scheduled match in the Emerald City between the I-5 rivals came and went with what amounts to a group 'whimper' by both rosters.
Portland now leads the Cascadia Cup standings with 4 points. Seattle has 1, and Vancouver have yet to play a CC match.
The Sounders host Rochester Wednesday night at Starfire.
Match reports:
SeattleSounders.net
The Seattle Pitch
Seattle Times
Tacoma News Tribune
Timbers Offside Blog
Shotgun Prose
ESPN SoccerNet
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment