The LA Galaxy and Real Salt Lake are facing off in the MLS Final at Qwest field in a few hours, at 5pm. It’s a little odd. This would be the “SuperBowl of Soccer” if the Sounders were playing.  The Sounders broke all MLS attendance records with their unprecedented fan base this year. But alas. Read more…

It’s been a week since the Sounders’ first season came dripping to a halt with an 0-1 loss to Houston.  (It was a shitty game on both sides by all accounts.  The loss?  Easy: The pitch-raged patches of grass filled in with sand, just fine for college and high school throwball, but horrible for soccer. It’s an embarrassment that professionals play on fields like that, almost as embarrassing as playoff games that fetch a mere 7,000 attendees (New England) or even 11,000 (Real Salt Lake).  But I digress…)

My great season-end conclusion:  We not only have a great team, but the Sounders have begun to finally bring the World’s Game to America. Greg Nickels probably didn’t have this in mind when he wanted to transform Seattle into a “world class city,” but the Sounders have all the makings to be the Manchester of MLS.  The Bayern Munich of America.  The AC Milan of the USA.

Yup, you heard me. The Sounders have become the flagship of the MLS.

Now, all we have to do is win more trophies.

The Sounders can start that with a few minor adjustments.

Read more…

[Editor's Note: This was originally posted on Saturday prior to Sunday's game. Perhaps, now, after the 1-0 loss, it's for masochists only.]
SoundersNerd, along with Steve Clare of Prost Amerika Soccer, interviewed Sounders Nate Jaqua and Roger Levesque, and Sounders coach Sigi Schmid in advance of the match against Houston tomorrow. Full preview coming Read more…

The Sounders lost 1-0 to the Houston Dynamo yesterday in overtime, ending their season.  SoundersNerd commiserated by buying a box of wine and a discounted pecan pie from Fred Meyer before he realized he was engaging in “shopping therapy.” Season analysis coming soon.

As a matter of principle (and personal taboo), I don’t make predictions.
But based on PubliCola’s election predictions, maybe I should start.  After all, I was close: I fell over myself lauding Chivas Keep Zach “Thwarten” Thornton in September, and yesterday he won the MLS Keeper of the Year Award.

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Tonight’s game is a clash of the titans.  As I said on KUOW this morning, I think Houston is second strongest team in the league only to Columbus.
Two MLS Cups, three US Nat starters (Ching, Holden, Clarke), and a bucketful of silly stats, like “seven active players who have started at least 10 Read more…

I’m so super effing giddy about the Sounders playoff tomorrow, I gotta do a pre-day pre-game post.
I thought I’d address two rumors spread last night by my soccer team.
Rumor #1: Sounders attendance breaks top 50 in the world!
Yep, Prost Amerika cites the August (?) addition of World Soccer Magazine.
I Read more…

The drawback of a press pass? The press box.
Sitting high above the field, it’s Sterile and professional. And very quiet. Strictly no cheering allowed. If a Sounders game is about one thing, it’s cheering.
I stay the first half, gnawing on my knuckles at the various chances and missed opportunities. In the 16th minute, Read more…

Nothing makes a clinical psychologist happier than watching your clients realize their shortcomings, correct them in action, and proceed to triumph in their improved lives.
Last night, after falling asleep for 15 minutes in the second half and letting Kansas City score twice—falling once again into the pattern of losing to teams they should beat Read more…

Sounders, 10-7-11, 41pt, 4th in Western, 6th overall

at

Kansas City Wizards, 8-12-8, 32 pts, 2nd to last in the Eastern standings.

Last meeting, April 11th, 0-1 win for KCW

5:30pm kickoff
Two weeks ago, the Sounders’ underdog 1-0 win over Columbus pushed them within 92.5% chance Read more…

The Sounders adrenalizing 1-0 victory over Columbus Crew brought the Crew’s 22 home-game non-losing streak to a screeching halt  and propelled us to 3rd in the West/5th in the playoffs. It was nothing short of fucking awesome.
Our unstoppable first-half defense (countering Columbus’ relentless attacks—they did beat us 17-7 in shots). Columbus hitting the post. Read more…