Sounders 2006 Home Opener

Late goals, Large crowd in 1-1 Draw

New sign.

Tailgaters.

SOUNDERS' WEAVER FORCES 1-1 DRAW WITH THUNDER
(Club Report)

(Seattle, Wash.) - - The defending USL Champion Seattle Sounders took the field against the Minnesota Thunder Saturday night with an air of confidence. The Sounders came out hoping to avenge their 4-0 loss to Minnesota in front of a packed and rowdy Qwest field crowd. The proud Seattle fans, 8966 strong, cheered on the lineups loudly as the championship banner was dropped in honor of the 2005 season. At the end of the game the Sounders would ultimately earn their first points of the season off a 1-1 draw.

Chris Eylander earned his first official league start in the net on the sunny Seattle evening, and Minnesota kept him busy early. Melvin Tarley’s shot was deflected away from the near post by Eylander in the 5th minute, and Eylander would notch two other key saves in the opening ten minutes. Tarley would see a few more of Minnesota’s best chances in the first half, but the majority were sent flying just over the cross bar.

Beside a few early corner kicks, the Sounders saw their first real goal scoring opportunity in the 23rd minute. The opportunity developed quickly after the ball trickled to Midfielder Leighton O’Brien at the corner of the18 yard box. O’Brien saw an opening and ripped a shot toward the near post forcing Minnesota goal keeper Joe Warren to deflect the dig back into play. The deflection was quickly cleared by Minnesota defenders.

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The second half kicked off with the same intensity that both teams carried throughout the first half. The Sounders offense got to work early when Midfielder Kevin Sakuda sent his chance off the far post. The play developed as Roger Levesque collected a cross from O’Brien on the left side. Levesque took the ball down inside the 18 with his back to the goal, and then laid a pass back to the oncoming Sakuda. Sakuda took a touch out wide of the goal mouth and then shot low forcing the Minnesota keeper to luckily deflect the shot off the post.

The scoring finally got underway in the 75th minute when Minnesota’s Mike Wilson put a rocket past Eylander from 26 yards out. Eylander was left no chance when Wilson’s half volley rose all the way to the near post’s upper ninety.

However, the Sounder’s wasted no time to equalize off a Leighton O’Brien free kick in the 77th minute. Cam Weaver came off the bench to deflect O’Brien’s cross off of his head and into the back post. Weaver scored his first goal as a professional with his first touch in the game, earning Weaver rights to player of the game. Both teams would have a few more chances as the game finished with a flurry of counter attacks. But the game would remain knotted thanks to great saves in the closing minutes by Eylander and Warren.

Notes- Midfielder Leighton O’Brien injured his foot in the match. He will be re-evaluated on Monday.

Starting Lineups
Seattle Sounders-
GK Chris Eylander, D Danny Jackson, D Ben Somoza, D Seyi Abolaji (Cam Weaver, 77), D Zach Scott (Jake Besagno, 56), M Kevin Sakuda, M Andrew Gregor, M CJ Klass (Nate Boyden, 89), M Leighton O’Brien (Gabe Sturm, 80), F Roger Levesque, F Jamal Sutton (Craig Tomlinson, 65)

Minnesota Thunder-
GK Joe Warren, D Brett Branan, D Kevin Friedland, D Dustin Branan, D Zafer Kilickan, M Freddy Juarez, M Nate Winkel, M Mike Wilson, M Matt Schmidt, F Nate Knox (Aaron Paye, 75), F Melvin Tarley