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Tonight: Houston

News   October 29, 2009 at 3:42 pm LaRoche

Tonight’s game is a clash of the titans.  As I said on KUOW this morning, I think Houston is second strongest team in the league only to Columbus.

Two MLS Cups, three US Nat starters (Ching, Holden, Clarke), and a bucketful of silly stats, like “seven active players who have started at least 10 play-off games”
But success comes with a price: With a CONCACAF Champions League last week, this will be their third game in eight days. And they’re playing in cold, rainy Seattle at an expanded Qwest Field now holding 36,000 fans.
Early in the season, I wrote that “Our goal is to learn from our mistakes now and continue to improve for the games that matter.”

Done.
Mid-season we were plagued with red cards and ejections; but aside from Jaqua’s inconsequential suspension earlier this month (when he needed the time off), we haven’t had one since August.

A weak left D, massive defensive breakdowns and own goals haunted us the first half of the season. Leo Gonzalez has sewn that wound up.

A 15-week at-home scoreless span (and the consequential non-wins) was broken on Saturday.

And the same game, barely a month after I roasted him for his lack of presence, marked the return of Brad Evans: A recalled offsides goal in the first half, a winning goal in the second, and all over the place in between.

All the buzz agrees: This ain’t your father’s inaugural-season team.

This ain’t one game, but one of two intense halves.  I suspect it’ll be “calmer” tonight, paving the way to a bloody round two in Houston next week.




  • Patrickwsu

    Drew Carey is in town too, so if you can make it head to fuel on 2nd and Washington for some drinks. Usually Drew will just announce it an open bar and pay for all drinks while he is there.

  • sparkles2.0

    I’d put Galaxy as the scariest team in the league ahead of Columbus. Chivas is the team we’ve had the biggest problem with so if we’re able to make it out of this round the Sounder’s have a tough road ahead. You are right about a great clash of the titans – Freddy M needs to step up tonight and we’ve got to protect Freddie L, ’cause they’re going to be going after him. Expect a few yellows.

  • sparkles2.0

    I’d put Galaxy as the scariest team in the league ahead of Columbus. Chivas is the team we’ve had the biggest problem with so if we’re able to make it out of this round the Sounder’s have a tough road ahead. You are right about a great clash of the titans – Freddy M needs to step up tonight and we’ve got to protect Freddie L, ’cause they’re going to be going after him. Expect a few yellows.

  • sparkles2.0

    I’d put Galaxy as the scariest team in the league ahead of Columbus. Chivas is the team we’ve had the biggest problem with so if we’re able to make it out of this round the Sounder’s have a tough road ahead. You are right about a great clash of the titans – Freddy M needs to step up tonight and we’ve got to protect Freddie L, ’cause they’re going to be going after him. Expect a few yellows.

  • http://peacetreefarm.org N in Seattle

    Who will be more affected by the crappy weather? Seems to me that the sides are fairly well matched, and the outcome may hinge on a fluke.

    Of course, “outcome” isn’t really the right word, since tonight is in essence the first two quarters of a four-quarter, 180-minute, two-city match.

    I’ll be there, Sounders FC scarf in hand…

  • http://peacetreefarm.org N in Seattle

    Who will be more affected by the crappy weather? Seems to me that the sides are fairly well matched, and the outcome may hinge on a fluke.

    Of course, “outcome” isn’t really the right word, since tonight is in essence the first two quarters of a four-quarter, 180-minute, two-city match.

    I’ll be there, Sounders FC scarf in hand…

  • http://peacetreefarm.org N in Seattle

    Who will be more affected by the crappy weather? Seems to me that the sides are fairly well matched, and the outcome may hinge on a fluke.

    Of course, “outcome” isn’t really the right word, since tonight is in essence the first two quarters of a four-quarter, 180-minute, two-city match.

    I’ll be there, Sounders FC scarf in hand…

  • Soundersnerd

    Thanks #1, you know how to get my attention!

  • Soundersnerd

    Thanks #1, you know how to get my attention!

  • Soundersnerd

    Thanks #1, you know how to get my attention!

  • http://gomezticator.livejournal.com/tag/2009+election Gomez

    So I suppose both teams were playing not to lose last night? Now Sounders FC gets to go to Houston in a week and try to flip an upset on the road.

  • http://gomezticator.livejournal.com/tag/2009+election Gomez

    So I suppose both teams were playing not to lose last night? Now Sounders FC gets to go to Houston in a week and try to flip an upset on the road.

  • http://gomezticator.livejournal.com/tag/2009+election Gomez

    So I suppose both teams were playing not to lose last night? Now Sounders FC gets to go to Houston in a week and try to flip an upset on the road.

  • http://threetreejournal.blogspot.com/ David in Burien

    Great game environment; the fans support at QWEST projected well on the TV broadcast. The game had it’s moments too. But failure to connect on clearances (the Sounders sure played a lot of kickball out there) and failure to finish on three or four good chances (for each team) make for an even more nervous test at Houston on the second leg.

    And what the hell is wrong with James Riley? Headless play and falling asleep with Ching on the ball nearly cost the Sounders at least twice.

  • http://threetreejournal.blogspot.com/ David in Burien

    Great game environment; the fans support at QWEST projected well on the TV broadcast. The game had it’s moments too. But failure to connect on clearances (the Sounders sure played a lot of kickball out there) and failure to finish on three or four good chances (for each team) make for an even more nervous test at Houston on the second leg.

    And what the hell is wrong with James Riley? Headless play and falling asleep with Ching on the ball nearly cost the Sounders at least twice.

  • http://threetreejournal.blogspot.com David in Burien

    Great game environment; the fans support at QWEST projected well on the TV broadcast. The game had it’s moments too. But failure to connect on clearances (the Sounders sure played a lot of kickball out there) and failure to finish on three or four good chances (for each team) make for an even more nervous test at Houston on the second leg.

    And what the hell is wrong with James Riley? Headless play and falling asleep with Ching on the ball nearly cost the Sounders at least twice.

  • Patrickwsu

    Drew Carey is in town too, so if you can make it head to fuel on 2nd and Washington for some drinks. Usually Drew will just announce it an open bar and pay for all drinks while he is there.