We continue looking at the previous 25 seasons of clubs called Seattle Sounders. We are up to the year 1979, and a club that scored at will, but did not make the playoffs.
The Seattle Sounders' sixth season in the North American Soccer League (NASL) was one of high times and low tides. How could a club with enough offensive fire power to post some impressive lopsided victories still fail to make the playoffs?
Derek Smethurst led Seattle with 13 goals in 1979. Reflecting the hot/cold nature of the club itself Smethurst scored 7 of those goals in just two matches, 3 in a 5-1 win over Portland and 4 (still a Sounders record) in a 9-0 trouncing of the Edmonton Drillers.
Seattle finished 4-11 on the road, and 9-6 in the Kingdome to end the year 13-17 and out of the playoffs. It was a disappointing campaign for Seattle, who added the firepower of Smethurst only to see the defense slip in form. While a subpar record was enough to make the playoffs in 1978, it wasn't this year. The Sounders finished third in the National Conference West behind Vancouver Whitecaps and Los Angeles Aztecs but ahead of Portland Timbers. Vancouver would go on to win their only Soccer Bowl appearance 2-1 over Tampa Bay at Giants Stadium in New Jersey. Recently discovered: rare photos from the late 1970's Sounders.
More: 1979 GOALSeattle Sounders Museum Page
1979 GOALSeattle Sounders Scrapbook Album
Coming next: the best Sounders team ever rocks the 1980 season.
Catch up: 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment