SB Nation Seattle - Seattle Sounders Vs. Houston Dynamo, Fulltime: Steve Zakuani's 80th Minute Goal Salvages Tiehttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48997/seattle-fave.png2011-03-25T22:22:47-07:00http://seattle.sbnation.com/rss/stream/18356042011-03-25T22:22:47-07:002011-03-25T22:22:47-07:00Seattle Sounders Vs. Houston Dynamo: Dominance Does Not Spell Victory, But At Least It's A Point
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<p>Almost no matter how you look at Friday's match, the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.sounderatheart.com/">Seattle Sounders</a> were the better team. They fired off a team record 26 shots, forced <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.dynamotheory.com/">Houston Dynamo</a> goalkeeper <span>Tally Hall</span> into seven saves and conceded just six shots, only two of which were on goal. They had 12 corner kicks (tying a team record) to the Dynamo's one. No official possession stats were available, but it's not hard to imagining the Sounders holding a sizable advantage there as well. But in the only area where it really matters, the Sounders and Dynamo were dead even. The 1-1 tie may not be indicative of which team played better, but it does tell the story of the Sounders' season to this point.</p>
<p>In fact, if not for <span>Steve Zakuani</span>'s opportunistic score in the 80th minute, the Sounders would have walked away from their third straight game without a point. Zakuani's goal, which he scored when a corner kick practically fell at his feet as he stood next to the goal post, allowed the Sounders to escape with at least some of their dignity intact.</p>
<p>Up until Zakuani's score, the game had been filled with frustration as the Sounders were foiled by a combination of impressive goalkeeping, bad luck and missed opportunities. The Sounders' night was effectively encapsulated by a two-minute sequence around the 29th minute. It started with a free kick by <span>Osvaldo Alonso</span>, which was blocked and came out to <span>O'Brian White</span>, whose close-range shot was also blocked. That led to a corner kick, which came out to White, who was again stopped. The rebound came out to <span>Jeff Parke</span>, whose shot went off the crossbar.</p>
<p>The Dynamo, meanwhile, did the most with their few chances. Their goal came in the 42nd minute when Lovel Palmer's free kick from about 30 yards out hit off the crossbar, found its way through several players and ended up at the feet of <span>Geoff Cameron</span>, who fired a shot off the underside of the crossbar and into the goal. Other than a shot in the 11th minute, it was the only time the Dynamo were able to put a shot on target. That sent the Dynamo into halftime with a 1-0 lead, despite being out shot 15-5.</p>
<p>The Sounders now turn their attention to their April 2 date at the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.centerlinesoccer.com/">San Jose Earthquakes</a>. Last year, the Sounders managed a 1-0 victory in San Jose despite not playing particularly well. There's no question they'd gladly accept a similar result.</p>
https://seattle.sbnation.com/seattle-sounders/2011/3/25/2073058/seattle-sounders-vs-houston-dynamo-dominance-does-not-spell-victoryJeremiah Oshan2011-03-25T21:07:58-07:002011-03-25T21:07:58-07:00Seattle Sounders Vs. Houston Dynamo: Utter Domination Only Results In One Point For Sounders
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<p>Rarely will you see a MLS dominate another team as thoroughly as the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.sounderatheart.com/">Seattle Sounders</a> did the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.dynamotheory.com/">Houston Dynamo</a> on Friday night at Qwest Field. Even more rarely, will you see the team that dominated feel relieved to come away with a point. Yet, the Sounders must feel at least somewhat that way after needing a <span>Steve Zakuani</span> goal in the 80th minute to come out with a 1-1 tie.</p>
<p>The Sounders thoroughly outplayed and out-chanced the Dynamo, but had all kinds of trouble finishing any of those chances. Meanwhile, the Dynamo made their only real chance count when <span>Geoff Cameron</span> scored in the 42nd minute.</p>
<p>Outside of Cameron's goal, which immediately followed a <span>Brad Davis</span> free kick that struck the crossbar, the Dynamo struggled to do much of anything against the Sounders. Seattle held the ball for much of the game, fired off more than 20 shots and were undone by a combination of impressive saves by Dynamo goalkeeper <span>Tally Hall</span> and plain missed opportunities.</p>
<p>The result for the Sounders is their first point of the season, although it comes in easily their best game. Despite regular starters <span>James Riley</span>, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/players/110948/alvaro-fernandez">Alvaro Fernandez</a> and <span>Jhon Kennedy Hurtado</span> all being held out for a variety of reason, the Sounders had the better of the play throughout the contest.</p>
https://seattle.sbnation.com/seattle-sounders/2011/3/25/2072986/seattle-sounders-vs-houston-dynamo-utter-domination-only-results-inJeremiah Oshan2011-03-25T20:52:07-07:002011-03-25T20:52:07-07:00Seattle Sounders Vs. Houston Dynamo: Steve Zakuani Equalizes For Sounders
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<p>After openly wondering whether Qwest Field might be built on an Indian burial ground, Steve Zakuani sent the Seattle Sounders faithful into a fullblown frenzy when his goal in the 80th minute equalized. Zakuani was given a golden opportunity as the ball came free at the far post and, unlike the Sounders had been doing all evening, did not blow it.</p>
<p>Within a minute of that goal, Fredy Montero nearly put the Sounders ahead when he hit a half-volley from about 15 yards out. But, as he has much of the game, Dynamo goalkeeper Tally Hall was able to make a diving save.</p>
<p>Prior to Zakuani's goal, the Sounders' night had been filled with frustration. Around the 70th minute, Leo Gonzalez appeared to be fouled inside the penalty area. But rather than earning a penalty, referee Ramon Hernandez showed Gonzalez a yellow card for diving. Replays clearly showed that the defender made contact with Gonzalez while making a slide tackle.</p>
<p>A couple minutes later, Montero came streaking down the the right wing and fired a shot on goal. Tally Hall made the save, but left a rebound and an open goal on the opposite side. Erik Friberg, though, could not get a touch on the ball and it slid harmlessly away.</p>
<p>Zakuani nearly got a look at an open goal in the 79th minute, but Dynamo defender Kofi Sarkodie made a nice tackle to get the ball to safety. Zakuani ultimately scored on a play that started with the ensuring corner kick.</p>
https://seattle.sbnation.com/seattle-sounders/2011/3/25/2072951/seattle-sounders-vs-houston-dynamo-steve-zakuani-equalizes-forJeremiah Oshan2011-03-25T20:35:52-07:002011-03-25T20:35:52-07:00Seattle Sounders Vs. Houston Dynamo: Nate Jaqua Makes His 2011 Debut
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<p>Needing to find a goal in the worst way, the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.sounderatheart.com/">Seattle Sounders</a> have turned to <span>Nate Jaqua</span> in the 62nd minute of their match against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.dynamotheory.com/">Houston Dynamo</a>. The Sounders trail 1-0 in the 70th minute. Jaqua, who has not yet played this season after undergoing offseason surgery, was brought on for <span>O'Brian White</span>, who had missed several first-half opportunities.</p>
<p>Jaqua scored nine goals for the Sounders during his first season with the team, but injuries and the addition of <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/players/110895/blaise-nkufo">Blaise Nkufo</a> limited him to two MLS starts in 2010. Jaqua was mostly reduced to being a late-game substitute and playing in competitions like the U.S. Open Cup and the CONCACAF Champions League. He had two assists in 434 MLS minutes last year. Jaquad did score six goals, five of them in Open Cup where he was named the Player of the Tournament.</p>
<p>This past offseason, Jaqua was one of 11 players the Sounders protected in the expansion draft.</p>
https://seattle.sbnation.com/seattle-sounders/2011/3/25/2072913/seattle-sounders-vs-houston-dynamo-nate-jaqua-makes-his-2011-debutJeremiah Oshan2011-03-25T20:11:19-07:002011-03-25T20:11:19-07:00Seattle Sounders Vs. Houston Dynamo, Halftime: Not Sure What Sounders Need To Do
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<p>The last five minutes of the first half against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.dynamotheory.com/">Houston Dynamo</a> pretty well summed up the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.sounderatheart.com/">Seattle Sounders</a>' season through 450 minutes. Despite absolutely dominating in every phase of the game, the Sounders conceded what has so far been the game's only goal in the 42nd minute on a shot from <span>Geoff Cameron</span> that ricocheted off the inside of the cross bar.</p>
<p>The Sounders have outshot the Dynamo 15-5, but have been somewhat undone by the fact that just four of their shots have been on target. When their shots have been on goal, Dynamo goalkeeper <span>Tally Hall</span> has so far been up to the task, parrying balls away with relative ease.</p>
<p>The Dynamo have managed to catch most of the game's breaks, getting somewhat lucky in the third minute when <span>Hunter Freeman</span> tugged at <span>Erik Friberg</span>'s jersey and was shown only yellow despite being the last man back. They've also benefited from the Sounders wasting several of their best chances by failing to put shots on target.</p>
<p>Their goal, though, was a product of their good work. <span>Brad Davis</span>' free kick from about 28 yards out hit the crossbar and Cameron was alertly there to clean it up.</p>
https://seattle.sbnation.com/seattle-sounders/2011/3/25/2072903/seattle-sounders-vs-houston-dynamo-halftime-not-sure-what-soundersJeremiah Oshan2011-03-25T19:56:21-07:002011-03-25T19:56:21-07:00Seattle Sounders Vs. Houston Dynamo: Of Course Dynamo Score First
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<p>After an entire half of being dominated, the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.dynamotheory.com/">Houston Dynamo</a> have taken the early 1-0 lead on a goal by <span>Geoff Cameron</span> in the 42nd minute, a lead they took into hafltime. The goal came during a sequence that started with a <span>Brad Davis</span> free kick, which he struck off the crossbar. The ball came back out to Geoff Cameron, who struck another shot off the crossbar, but his attempt ricocheted just inside the goal line.</p>
<p>Up until that point, the Sounders had created no fewer than eight quality scoring chances, with the most recent coming in the 35th minute when <span>Steve Zakuani</span> had a 1v1 with Dynamo goalkeeper <span>Tally Hall</span>. Zakuani's attempt from about 10 yards out on the left side was directly at Hall, who easily made the save.</p>
<p>It was perhaps the easiest save Hall had made on the night, who has spent much of the evening pulling his Dynamo teammates out of the fire with saves from all sorts of angles.</p>
<p>Just to add insult to injury, the half ended with the Sounders getting a couple of golden opportunities inside the Dynamo penalty area. But O'Brian White's shot was stopped by a Dynamo defender and <span>Fredy Montero</span> and Steve Zakuani were unable to get shots off just before the whistle blew.</p>
https://seattle.sbnation.com/seattle-sounders/2011/3/25/2072865/seattle-sounders-vs-houston-dynamo-of-course-dynamo-score-firstJeremiah Oshan2011-03-25T19:40:51-07:002011-03-25T19:40:51-07:00Seattle Sounders Vs. Houston Dynamo: The Chances Are Coming, The Goals Aren't
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<p>In a roughly five-minute span, the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.sounderatheart.com/">Seattle Sounders</a> had at least three golden opportunities to score their first goal of the season. In each instance, they were foiled by good defending, bad luck and poor shooting as the score with the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.dynamotheory.com/">Houston Dynamo</a> remains 0-0 about 35 minutes through the first half.</p>
<p>The sequence started when <span>Erik Friberg</span> sent in a cross from the right side that found the head of <span>O'Brian White</span> in the 26th minute. But White's attempt was stopped by <span>Tally Hall</span>, who made a purely reflexive save of the shot.</p>
<p>A couple minutes later, the Sounders were given an opportunity to fire off three shots from inside the penalty area. The first shot reflected off a Dynamo defender, the next shot hit off the cross bar and a final attempt sailed high.</p>
https://seattle.sbnation.com/seattle-sounders/2011/3/25/2072851/seattle-sounders-vs-houston-dynamo-the-chances-are-coming-the-goalsJeremiah Oshan2011-03-25T19:28:28-07:002011-03-25T19:28:28-07:00Seattle Sounders Vs. Houston Dynamo: No Shortage Of Chances For Rave Green
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<p>Through 22 minutes, the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.sounderatheart.com/">Seattle Sounders</a> have been controlling their match with the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.dynamotheory.com/">Houston Dynamo</a>. In addition to <span>Erik Friberg</span>'s chance in the 4th minute, the Sounders have had several other dangerous chances. Unfortunately, that's basically been the case all season.</p>
<p>In the 8th minute, <span>O'Brian White</span> was able to fight off two Houston defenders to control a ball at the edge of the six-yard box but was unable to get much on his shot that ended up being stopped by goalkeeper <span>Tally Hall</span>. A few minutes later, <span>Brad Evans</span> got a clean look from just outside the penalty area, but his shot sailed high and wide. In the 14th minute, <span>Steve Zakuani</span> collected a ball just inside the penalty area and nearly caught Hall off his line, but his shot also sailed high.</p>
<p>The best chance, though, came in the 21st minute when <span>Fredy Montero</span> collected a free ball just outside the six-yard box. His attempt through several defender was high of the bar.</p>
https://seattle.sbnation.com/seattle-sounders/2011/3/25/2072831/seattle-sounders-vs-houston-dynamo-no-shortage-of-chances-for-raveJeremiah Oshan