Don’t be fooled, Seattlelites! If you believe that your favorite team has the lead in a game—a rather comfortable lead at 2-0—do not write the match off in your mind as a win. And certainly do not TiVo the remaining 45 minutes if the competition simply because your aforementioned team completely “has it in the bag.”
The Seattle Sounders definitely did not have it in the bag last Wednesday, that’s for sure. After a strange and disastrous second half of play, the guys in green ended up with an embarrassing 3-2 loss against CONCACAF Champions League team, C.F. Monterrey.
Everything seemed wonderful for the Sounders during the first 45 minutes of the away game, which produced two goals total in favor of the visiting soccer club. The first point occurred at 27 minutes and was own-goal by Monterrey when the ball deflected off Mexican defender Hiram Ricardo Mier after an attempted shot on goal by Sounder Mike Fucito. The subsequent goal was produced by Fucito, yet again, with help from teammates Nate Jaqua and Alvaro Fernandez at the 44 minute. When halftime was called, the score sat at 2-zip and the Sounders were able to breathe a bit.
Suddenly, after a relatively uneventful 20 minutes passed in the second half, Seattle’s momentary lucky streak snapped inexplicably. An astounding three goals were tabulated in favor of Monterrey between the catastrophic 74th and 78th minute, which thusly robbed the lead at 3-2. The only explanation for the blown-victory seems to focus on Mexico’s amplitude of play, which jumped many decibels during those critical 240 seconds, allowing them to break through the Sounders weak defensive wall and score on back-up goalie, Terry Boss. The Sounders brought their Champions League record to a sad 0-4 and have a very small chance of furthering themselves within CONCACAF this year.
“We had a bad 10 minutes today,” stated Seattle head coach Sigi Schmid. “We learn every time we play together.”
Let’s hope it was a lesson that will never be repeated.