Score: Sounders FC 2 @ Chivas USA 1
Site: StubHub Center, Carson, Calif.
Records: Sounders FC (4-2-1, 13 points); Chivas USA (1-3-3, 6 points).
Man of the Match: Chad Marshall was credited with an assist on Lamar Neagle’s 24th minute goal, but he gets tonight’s Man of the Match for locking up Erick Torres for the 79 minutes the Chivas forward was on the field. Torres scored the only Chivas goal on a penalty, but from the run of play, had just three shots – a long range shot that was easily saved, a header off a corner kick that missed high and a shot from the top of the box that was blocked by Marshall. By virtually taking its opponent’s only forward out of the game, Seattle was able to focus on other tasks at hand.
Telling Stat: 12. Sounders FC now has a 12-match unbeaten streak against Chivas USA, dating back to June of 2009. In that stretch, Seattle is 8-0-4 and has only trailed for a total of 50 minutes in those matches. While so much of the roster turns over from year to year, there is a confidence Seattle holds when facing Chivas and that mental edge persists each match.
What You Missed: Clint Dempsey, who had two assists on the night, exchanged jerseys with Carlos Bocanegra after the match. Bocanegra was captain of the U.S. National Team starting in 2007 until Dempsey took over that role in March of 2013.
So What: Seattle now returns home after playing three straight matches on the road. The seven points earned from those three matches give Seattle a lift as it will now play three straight at CenturyLink Field against the Colorado Rapids, Philadelphia Union and FC Dallas.
That’s What He Said: “That’s one of those that lands in front of you. You’re fortunate, and those are the ones that players like me love. Just cleaning up. Three yards out. Just smash it. Goal.” Lamar Neagle explaining his 24th minute goal that evened the match up at 1-1.
