The Sounders looked positively Spanish in an important game down in LA tonight. Before about the 60th minute when Chivas started holding the ball more carefully, by my unofficial estimate the Sounders had 103% of possession. Sturgis and Alonso once again combined to control the midfield, the back four were superbly timing their tackles, and the attacking players held the ball well.
Unfortunately, the lack of good final balls and crosses meant that all of that possession resulted in only about 3 or 4 good chances, rather than the 8 or 10 that it deserved. Nkufo in particular had a number of bad balls and very few good balls in the first half, although he slowly settled into the game and was more effective in the second.
Still, without a save on an Alonso shot from the old man Zach Thornton that should be a candidate for save of the season, the Sounders would have walked out of Home Depot Center with a comfortable win. As is, they picked up a valuable point against a Chivas team that’s a lot better than its record would indicate. As long as we pick up wins at New England and Kansas City, this was a game the Sounders could draw without straying from The Plan, which means we’re still 5 points ahead of plan.
And as a final love note from the nightmare beast that is MLS officiating, we’re going to be seeing some Tyson Wahl over the next few MLS matches. Leo Gonzalez was guilty of striking a Chivas player in the elbow with his face, earning a red card for such dirty play.
- Chivas USA 0 – Sounders FC 0
