RSL Start Slow in Seattle
By Truhlk




In what looked like a repeat of their first game against NYRB, Seattle showed that they are going to be tough to defeat at home. Armed with a great crowd, the field turf monster, and a solid counterattack, the Sounders came out aggressive and never let up in a 2-0 embarrassment for RSL.


Number 1 draft pick Steve Zakuani took 17 minutes to make his mark in his MLS debut. With two good cut backs to free himself from Tony Beltran, he played a great cross in to Jaqua and the game was as good as over. Rimando was again victimized by Fredy Montero in the 77th minute in what meant little more than extra security. Cuban-born Osvaldo Alonso assisted on both goals and kept Javier Morales in check throughout the game. As good as Montero has looked, and as much pub as Ljungberg and Keller will get, Alonso thus far has been the MVP of their team for me. With a defense as weak-looking on paper as they have, he has been their anchor and has kept opposing players from getting many chances in Seattle’s defensive third.


RSL’s best-looking chance didn’t come until the second half, when Yura Movsisyan won a footrace with Hurtado and was in 1v1 against Kasey Keller. His shot was off the mark though, deflecting off Keller’s legs and back to Mathis who hit it just wide of the far post. Other chances RSL was able to create met with similar fates as they, like NYRB before them, never quite adjusted to the Seattle turf monster. The midfielders were plagued by it throughout the first half. They consistently hit balls too hard on short passes or let the ball get stuck up under their feet, allowing Seattle to take it away and counterattack.


The only real bright spot for the beleaguered RSL side came in an 84th minute substitution of Raphael Cox for Tony Beltran. Time and again Beltran had provided weak runs down the right flank, and when he did get chances to cross the ball in, he was never able to get his head up and find a target. Cox, however, was able to impress by doing exactly what Tony was struggling with. He got up the left flank and played some dangerous balls in for a side that was pressing for the final 10 minutes of the match. To be fair to Beltran though, Cox did have the advantage of a Sounder defense that was playing turtle and allowed RSL players to control possession in the wide areas of the pitch.


When the final whistle blew, several questions about both teams had been answered and some new ones emerged. SSFC is for real. They understand how to play within the confines of their home field; how they do on the road will be interesting to see. They remind me of an RSL side from a year ago: great at home on turf, but after watching two opponents defeat themselves, I’m not sold yet.


RSL also partly answered the question as to how they will play on the road this season. Let us hope that they can turn that around before too much of the season has gone by. If they can figure out how to come out in the first half like they did in the second, things will work out just fine for them.



-Truhlk











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Match Fotoz: 3/21/09




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