Sounders ready for a new season
Andy Macdonald
Issue date: 3/12/10 Section: Sports
The Seattle Sounders FC look to build on the momentum of its inaugural season.
While many teams struggle in their first year in a new league, the Sounders set the standard for the rest of Major League Soccer to follow in their first year.
They were competitive from the first kick to their season-ending loss against the Houston Dynamo in the playoffs. They were even able to add some hardware to the trophy case by bringing the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup to Seattle with six victories in America's longest running tournament.
All that success is going to make for a busy 2010 season. Meaning, there will be even more opportunities to see them take the pitch this year.
Not only do the Sounders have their regular season to play, but they will defend their Open Cup title and compete in the CONCACAF Champions League by virtue of winning the Open Cup last season. The Columbus Crew, Real Salt Lake and the Los Angeles Galaxy will also be competing in the CONCACAF.
But first, the Sounders traveled to Spain to compete in the La Manga Cup.
In the first match, Norway's Rosenborg BK outmatched the Sounders 3-0. Rosenborg is the defending Tippeligean (Norway's first division) champion. The Sounders would fare better in their next two matches, defeating Stabæk IF 2-1 and SK Brann 1-0. Both clubs were also from Norway.
Playing that many matches, with so many different levels of competition, will be a draining chore for the rave green to handle. Fortunately, the Sounders will wield virtually the same squad as last year, with one notable exception.
Fan favorite, and the first player to sign with the MLS version of the Sounders, Sebastien Le Toux is now part of the league's newest team, the Philadelphia Union. Le Toux was not protected in the expansion draft of the Union, and is the lone departure of note from last year.
Le Toux will be making his only scheduled appearance in Seattle later this month when a national audience will tune in to watch the Sounders host MLS First Kick for the second time in as many years as the Union make their league debut at a sold out Qwest Field.
Although many of the fans will miss our favorite son, the Sounders have added a big name striker, Blaise Nkufo. The addition only helps the already stacked roster.
Nkufo is a member of the Switzerland national team, and is the all-time leading scorer for FC Twente with 111 goals. FC Twente is a top club in Eredivisie (Holland's first division) located in Enschede, Holland. Nkufo has over 200 career goals over all levels of competition.
"Blaise is a proven goal scorer who's had a good run with the Swiss national team and a tremendous career at Twente," said Sigi Schmid, Sounders FC coach. "He is a player that knows how to find space in the box at appropriate moments."
See you at the pitch this summer. Scarves Up!
While many teams struggle in their first year in a new league, the Sounders set the standard for the rest of Major League Soccer to follow in their first year.
They were competitive from the first kick to their season-ending loss against the Houston Dynamo in the playoffs. They were even able to add some hardware to the trophy case by bringing the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup to Seattle with six victories in America's longest running tournament.
All that success is going to make for a busy 2010 season. Meaning, there will be even more opportunities to see them take the pitch this year.
Not only do the Sounders have their regular season to play, but they will defend their Open Cup title and compete in the CONCACAF Champions League by virtue of winning the Open Cup last season. The Columbus Crew, Real Salt Lake and the Los Angeles Galaxy will also be competing in the CONCACAF.
But first, the Sounders traveled to Spain to compete in the La Manga Cup.
In the first match, Norway's Rosenborg BK outmatched the Sounders 3-0. Rosenborg is the defending Tippeligean (Norway's first division) champion. The Sounders would fare better in their next two matches, defeating Stabæk IF 2-1 and SK Brann 1-0. Both clubs were also from Norway.
Playing that many matches, with so many different levels of competition, will be a draining chore for the rave green to handle. Fortunately, the Sounders will wield virtually the same squad as last year, with one notable exception.
Fan favorite, and the first player to sign with the MLS version of the Sounders, Sebastien Le Toux is now part of the league's newest team, the Philadelphia Union. Le Toux was not protected in the expansion draft of the Union, and is the lone departure of note from last year.
Le Toux will be making his only scheduled appearance in Seattle later this month when a national audience will tune in to watch the Sounders host MLS First Kick for the second time in as many years as the Union make their league debut at a sold out Qwest Field.
Although many of the fans will miss our favorite son, the Sounders have added a big name striker, Blaise Nkufo. The addition only helps the already stacked roster.
Nkufo is a member of the Switzerland national team, and is the all-time leading scorer for FC Twente with 111 goals. FC Twente is a top club in Eredivisie (Holland's first division) located in Enschede, Holland. Nkufo has over 200 career goals over all levels of competition.
"Blaise is a proven goal scorer who's had a good run with the Swiss national team and a tremendous career at Twente," said Sigi Schmid, Sounders FC coach. "He is a player that knows how to find space in the box at appropriate moments."
See you at the pitch this summer. Scarves Up!
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