Sounders FC, Fire play to stalemate

MLS's best road team, best home team finish in scoreless draw

Of all the scoring opportunities, Fredy Montero's shot off the post in the 80th minute was the best as neither team could muster the magic to break the stalemate.

Gonzalo Segares returned from Gold Cup action to reinforce the Fire's back line, a welcome addition since Chicago's All-Star Bakary Soumare missed the game through yellow card accumulation. With Soumare out, veteran C.J. Brown filled in and assumed the captain's armband.

Osvaldo Alonso returned to the starting lineup for Seattle, pairing with Nathan Sturgis in central midfield with Brad Evans still away on Gold Cup duty.

With the game time temperature a sunny 75 degrees, both teams took advantage of attacking opportunities in a lively first half. Montero, seeking his sixth goal in as many games, looked dangerous for the home side as Seattle had the early run of play.

Sounders FC nearly got an early lead off a corner kick in the second minute. Nate Jaqua and Wilman Conde challenged for a ball which ricocheted into the far post. Chicago goalkeeper Jon Busch, in an effort to make the save, collided with the post as the cleared the ball over the touchline. Momentarily shaken up, Busch was able to continue and came up with a huge save minutes later.

Off a polished buildup by Sounders FC, Steve Zakuani passed the ball to Jaqua in the penalty area. Jaqua neatly pivoted and fed an unmarked Ljungberg at the back post. The Swede went near post with the first time shot but Busch was able to palm the ball away to safety.

On the other end, Chicago had an excellent appeal for a penalty turned down. Cuauhtémoc Blanco knocked a volley into the arm of Patrick Ianni, who had his hands at his sides. However, the match referee did not find the infraction worthy of a penalty kick and the game continued scoreless.

Montero almost hit back for Seattle, who chased down a long clearance from Ianni. With Busch committed, Montero eked a shot over the goal from a tough angle.

Chicago, getting forward again, saw a Chris Rolfe shot from a threatening area roll wide of Keller's goal.

Alonso to Montero, a combination that linked up for two goals in the first two games, nearly unlocked the Chicago defense in the 27th minute. A deep-lying Alonso sighted a slashing Montero with a soft chip in the area. The Colombian controlled and sent an effort goalward with Busch coming out, but the difficult effort rolled wide of the goal again.

Busch turned in an excellent first half for the visitors. In one sequence, the 5-foot-10 'keeper punched out a free kick destined for Ianni, only to repeat the feat seconds later off a Seattle cross intended for Montero. Minutes later, Montero threw in a pinpoint cross for Jaqua whose downward header was saved by a sprawling Busch. It was a race to the rebound, but Jaqua's shot was miraculously stopped and held by Busch. Busch finished with three saves in the first half.

After a frenetic start to the match, the pace slowed in the last 10 minutes of the first half. Alonso clattered into the ankles of Blanco for the last good chance in the dying seconds of the half. The ensuing effort knocked harmlessly into the wall as the two teams went to the half scoreless.

Chicago had the best chance of the early second half, with Rolfe forcing a diving save from Kasey Keller. Ianni tried to answer at the other end, but his header under duress went over the bar.

Then came the two ejections. Thorrington's came in the 54th minute, when he fouled a streaking Ljungberg. The referee reached for his pocket, drawing Thorrington's marching orders. It was bitter for the Chicago player, who drew a cheap first yellow in the 40th minute for failing to relinquish the ball in a timely manner after a handball.

Ljungberg's ejection came in the 59th minute after earning two yellows in quick succession. Referee Baldomero Toledo first reached for his pocket to punish what he viewed as a dive. Ljungberg reacted angrily, arguing with Toledo as his teammates tried to hold him back. But he crossed Toledo's threshold and the referee gave him another yellow for dissent. With Ljungberg gone, the two teams went the rest of the way with ten players each.

Each team adjusted with defensive-minded substitutions. An extra defender, Brandon Prideaux, came on for Chicago and pushed Tim Ward into the defensive midfielder's role. For Seattle, Pete Vagenas spelled Sturgis who had a limited impact on the match.

The game took a few minutes to settle down, but when it did Steve Zakuani, who had a quiet first half, nearly opened the scoring by cutting in and shooting with his right foot. Zakuani got free for another shot in the 66th minute, but it was not enough to trouble Busch who saved easily.

Segares momentarily left the field with an injury. Luckily for the Fire, he was able to return and save the day. After Montero's dribbling run resulted in a loose ball, Jaqua pounced on the ball and got it by Busch. As it was rolling towards the empty net, a recovering Segares slide tackled the ball to safety.

Montero's 80th-minute effort was probably the best of the chances. With space to settle and shoot, his curling right-footed effort squarely struck the far post with Busch beaten.

Busch had another teammate to thank for the clean sheet in the 85th minute. Off a corner kick, Ianni headed the ball back across the goal mouth. The ball never made it past Rolfe, who had stayed by the post and headed the effort to safety.

James Riley's cross to substitute Roger Levesque was the last glimmer of hope for Seattle, but the Qwest Field crowd had to head home without seeing a goal. It was the second draw between the two clubs, as they had fought to a 1-1 deadlock in the team's first meeting.

Next weekend, Seattle plays at San Jose after the All Star break, while Chicago returns home to take on Real Salt Lake.

Andrew Winner is a contributor to MLSnet.com.

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