Before the game Saturday night at CenturyLink Field, the Sounders found themselves on the back of a 9 game winless streak, the longest in their history and were hoping they didn’t make it 10, when they hosted the Colorado Rapids.
Out of a possible 27 points, Seattle had only managed to pick up 5, and only 1 of them at home. In the early stages of this season Seattle had made CenturyLink Field a fortress, with 5 wins out of their first 6 games at home.
Apart from the Sounders looking for a win, the game against the Rapids brought another big occasion, the return of Steve Zakuani. Some 15 months ago Zakuani was seriously injured by Mullan in a horrific tackle, and rumors spread before the game that he would make his return to the squad to face the team that he last played and that was to be confirmed in the team sheet before the match.
Sigi Schmid made 6 changes to the side that drew 0-0 in Utah against Real Salt Lake, with three of the back four making way with Johansson, Ianni and Burch coming in to partner Parke, the only survivor. Also there was a formation change with 5 midfielders being selected, Caskey, Alonso and Rose coming in along side Rosales and Fernandez. Johnson was also preferred to Montero who was on the bench.
The first half started strongly for Seattle who could have taken the lead in the 9th minute when Fernandez controlled a great ball from Johnson inside the area and cut inside the defender for the shot but it was deflected and then parried away by Pickens for a corner.
They then had a chance a minute later when some sloppy play by the Rapids defense turned the ball over to Rosales who threaded the ball through to Johnson but the angle was too tight for him to put away.
The second half started off just as the first did with Seattle banging on the door for the opening goal and they got it in the 51st minute after a Rosales freekick was parried away for a corner, and the resultant corner brought a headed goal from Fernandez for his first goal of the season.
Fernandez was left unmarked in the box and he rose high and headed under the diving Pickens to open the scoring.
Seattle then made it 2-0 in the 63rd minute after another Rosales corner wasn’t dealt with and the cleared ball found Rosales again who put a pin point cross into the box for Eddie Johnson to rise up and head home for his eighth goal of the season. He rose above the stranded defense to guide it into the far side of the goal.
Seattle haven’t had a solid defense for a while and they conceded in the 78th minute after giving the ball away it found its way out wide and the cross found Cummings at the back post for the tap in to create a nervous last twelve minutes.
In 84th minute the Rapids must have thought they had brought heartbreak to the Sounders as Cummings slotted home, but it was ruled out for offside, luckily for the Seattle defense.
After that sudden shock the Seattle faithful were then in raptures as they welcomed back Number 11 Steve Zakuani to the field. He came in to a standing ovation to see out the rest of the game and the Sounders first 3 points since May 9th.
Seattle now turn their attention to the semi final of the U.S. Open Cup as they take on Chivas USA on July 10th, as they try to reach the final for a record fourth time.
(image courtesy of Getty Images)
