Captain Kyle Takes Charge as RSL Stifles Sounders

RSL celebrates Kyle Beckerman's opening goal vs Seattle

The atmosphere was a little more rocking than usual at the RioT Saturday night, as it always is when the Seattle Sounders come to town.  RSL fans always get up for playing the Sounders, and well, we know what the traveling Sounders fans add to a match.  Both sides were in fine voice on Saturday, but in the end, all the moments on the pitch belonged to RSL.

One of the best parts about playing the Sounders is that you know that they're coming to play, not sit back like so many teams do when they come to the RioT.  This was the case Saturday night as well, as both teams took turns with some decent possession, but neither created a lot of chances.  It turned out to be worse for the Sounders though, as they weren't able to even muster a shot on goal in the first half.  As for RSL, they had a lot of their possession in the Sounders half, and were actually sending some pretty decent balls into the box, but the Sounders repelled all invaders, for most of the first half anyway.

It came crashing down on the Sounders late in the first half.  In the 40th minute Kyle Beckerman earned a free kick just outside the area, clearly right in the wheelhouse of Javier Morales.  Javi's free kick deflected off of the Sounders wall, but they weren't able to clear it.  The ball fell to Beckerman  on the end line near Gspurning's left hand post.  Beckerman unleashed a wicked volley back across his body and into the goal, sneaking it just underneath the crossbar to give RSL the 1-0 lead.  It was very impressive, and is up for MLS Goal of the Week.  Seattle stood dazed, but RSL was not able to capitalize again in the first half, and the teams went to the locker room with the Claret and Cobalt holding the 1-0 lead.  My favorite part of Kyle's goal was the fact that it happened right in front of me, quite literally.  It was awesome to watch and I couldn't believe that it went in.

The ecstasy hit a fever pitch for RSL fans just after halftime.  In the first 30 seconds of the half Robbie Findley smashed a drive on goal that Gspurning did well to parry.  The ball fell to Alvaro Saborio, who looked set to smash in a goal, but he flubbed his shot, instead the ball rolled off of his foot and over to Findley, who took advantage of his second chance and drove the ball home to make it 2-0, leaving Michael Gspurning to yell at his defenders because BOTH RSL strikers got free, basically unchallenged touches in the box.

It was downhill from there for the Sounders, as RSL dominated from that point on.  Gspurning made a couple of good good saves later in the match to keep it at 2-0.  Khari Stephenson and Beckerman absolutely shut down Mauro Rosales in MF for Seattle and Borchers and Carlos Salcedo stifled Eddie Johnson and Obafemi Martins in attack, though to be fair to them, they didn't really get much service.  Johnson and Brad Evans, who played for the US National Team at the RioT on Tuesday, looked particularly gassed late on as RSL cruised home for the 2-0 win.

Here are the Puddle's Three Stars for the match:

THIRD STAR:--Carlos Salcedo, CB, RSL:
Carlos was an absolute beast for RSL all night.  Center back looked to be a problem for RSL as Chris Schuler is still out with a foot injury and Kwame Watson-Siriboe tore his ACL in the reserve match against Phoenix.  The 19 year old looked totally comfortable next to Borchers and really didn't cause me a single worry all night.

SECOND STAR--Alvaro Saborio, F, RSL:
The Sabo haters were out in full force after the match because after all, how dare he play 90 minutes and not score a goal? You know what he did do?  He occupied the Seattle defense freeing up some runs for other guys.  His hold up play was absolutely  FANTASTIC leading RSL to maintain possession in Seattle's half and carve out some chances.  If he and the rest of the striker corps can stay healthy, well, things are going to be scary for RSL opponents.

FIRST STAR--Kyle Beckerman, MF, RSL:
There's no question here for me.  Not only did Kyle have the match winning goal, but he bossed the midfield all night with out Osvaldo Alonso in the middle for Seattle.  He completed 57/75 passes and had 7 interceptions, really limiting the effectiveness of Rosales in the MF for Seattle.

RSL next host the Carolina Railhawks in the US Open Cup Quarterfinals this Wednesday night before traveling to TFC on Saturday.  Seattle has a bye week this weekend, so they'll have a chance to regroup before hosting DC United.