Seattle Sounders News Release - www.seattlesounders.net

 

Saturday, July 22, 2006

 

SEATTLE, WA -- The Seattle Sounders made it back-to-back victories over their arch-rivals the Portland Timbers with a 3-1 victory Saturday night at Qwest Field. 

It was a hot and humid evening but the Sounders got on track early with a Cam Weaver goal in the 10th minute.

Sounder Forwards Roger Levesque and Maykel Galindo scored their first goals of the season sealing the victory. The Timbers only goal was the result of a penalty kick from Luke Kreamalmeyer.

The Sounders dodged two bullets in the opening 5 minutes of their rubber match with the Timbers.  Sounder keeper Chris Eylander was beaten twice by Timber shots.  However, both shots by Timber forward Oral Bullen careened off the post and away from the goal.

Sounders took advantage of their early chances.  Forward Cam Weaver connected with Midfielder Leighton O'Brien on a set piece forty yards from goal to put the Sounders on the board in only the 10th minute. O'Brien flighted in a perfect cross that found Weaver in a crowd of Timber defenders.  Weaver went to the air and headed the ball back across the goal and past Timber keeper Martin Hutton.

The Timbers would equalize in the 17th minute off of a questionable penalty call.  Sounder defender Noah Merl committed a soft foul inside the eighteen that allowed Timber midfielder Luke Kreamalmeyer a chance to draw even from the penalty spot.  Kreamalmeyer kept his shot low to the left corner to beat Eylander.

Seattle would retake the lead in the 27th minute off of Roger Leveque's first official goal of the USL season.  The opportunity developed when O'Brien sent in a corner that defender Jake Besagno headed off the crossbar.  Roger Levesque was at the center of the ensuing scrum in front of the net.  Levesque bent down, found the ball, and nodded the rebound just below the Timber keeper's outstretched arm.

Just before half closed Timber midfielder Mike Randolph was issued a red card giving the Sounders a one man advantage for the remainder of the game.  In the 42nd minute Randolph got tangled up with O'Brien after Randolph committed a hard foul.  During the scuffle Randolph's swinging fist connected with O'Brien's face directly in view of the referee.  As a result Randolph was sent off and O'Brien earned a caution. 

The Sounders would add a world class insurance goal in the 59th minute. The play was highlighted by a back-heel from Levesque to Midfielder Ben Somoza.  Somoza took the heel pass in stride and entered the eighteen before he cut back a flawless pass to substitute Maykel Galindo for the assist and finish.  Galindo put his head down and buried the ball past the Timber's keeper, low and toward the far-post.   

What's Next: The Sounders hit the road for a three game road trip through the northeast and Canada playing the Rochester Raging Rhinos, Montreal Impact, and Toronto Lynx beginning July 26th. The next home match for the Sounders is August 11th against the Virginia Beach Mariners at Qwest Field. Kick off is scheduled for 7pm, tickets are available online at www.seattlesounders.net or by calling the Sounders at (206) 622-3415.