David Falk has followed soccer in the Puget Sound region since 1974. This blog covers Sounders FC, local college soccer, Seattle Wolves FC, Tacoma Tide FC and Kitsap Pumas. Send tips or comments to: goalseattle@gmail.com
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Seattle Soccer Examiner

Seattle Soccer Examiner

Saturday, September 13, 2008

1-1 Draw clinches playoff berth for Sounders

Le Toux scores and Emerald City Supporters celebrate.

It wasn't stylish and it wasn't a victory, but it was enough.

The Sounders drew 1-1 with the Atlanta Silverbacks on September 13 at Starfire Sports Stadium to clinch a spot in the United Soccer Leagues Division One playoffs and thus earn a chance to defend their 2007 Championship.

No one was talking 'repeat' after this latest performance once again failed to bring the best out in Seattle. While there was improvement over the loss against Montreal on Wednesday, much still needs to improve if the Sounders have any hopes of making a playoff run.

“It’s nice to be in the playoffs. But I think we’re all a bit disappointed that we let that game slip away,” defender Kevin Sakuda told the club website. “I think we’ve learned from experience that playoffs are about gaining some momentum and getting on a roll.”

Sounders enjoy taking a 1-0 lead on Atlanta.

View my match photo gallery

Seattle went up 1-0 38th minute when Kenji Treschuk had the ball on the left side, and worked it past a Silverbacks defender into the box. Dribbling it almost to the end line, Treschuk sent a cross zipping along the turf toward the left post. LeToux ran onto it and rammed it inside the post from a couple yards in front of the net at 37:26.

Atlanta tied it midway through the 55th minute. Macoumba Kandji, out the past five games (all of them Atlanta losses) with a high ankle sprain, came downfield on a counterattack, got past two defenders into the box, then beat Chris Eylander one-on-one from the top left corner of the goal.

The Sounders could still finish anywhere between 3rd and 6th as the final week of the regular season comes around.

Match Reports:
The Seattle Pitch
ProstAmerika.com
Seattle Sounders
Seattle Soccer Show Player Ratings
Seattle Times

Jenni Conner match galleries: Large Format Slide Show

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