Much like last weekend's match against Philadelphia the Sounders started off the match alarmingly flat, the US Open Cup final clearly still taking it's toll on the team. Much like last week, that flatness came back to bite them. After a horrid touch by Jhon Kennedy Hurtado, Rafael Baca slipped the ball straight into the path of Chris Wondolowski who slid home his fifteenth goal of the season in the twenty fourth minute. With that goal he draws level with Dwayne De Rosario in the hunt for the Golden Boot, who had scored in DC's match against the Chicago Fire earlier this evening. The Earthquakes maintained the pressure as the half drew to a close, creating several dicey situations on the Sounders, even forcing Keller into a magnificent save that is surely Goal of the Week material.
As the second half unfolded, the Sounders looked much sharper and much more urgent going forward. The addition of Mauro Rosales coming off of the bench after being sidelined for the last few weeks provided a much needed boost of energy and creativity in the attack as well. San Jose kept threatening, however, forcing Keller into making four consecutive saves in the sixty fifth minute. Finally the Sounders found an equalizer in the eighty second minute, and it was who else but Rosales with the assist. Rosales lofted a ball from mid-way up the field and found Ochoa who timed his run perfectly and finished it past Jon Busch, the ball glancing in off of the post. Unsurprisingly, the Sounders weren't done yet. In the eighty seventh minute Alvaro Fernandez found Lamar Neagle at the top of the penalty area, who slid the ball to a completely open Montero who easily slipped it past Busch to complete the come-from-behind victory.
Next up the Sounders face Chivas USA at the Home Depot Center for their final match of the regular season.
Notes
- The Sounders have scored seventeen goals past the seventy fifth minute mark now
- After conceding first, the Sounders have a league-leading seven victories
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