Hey Everybody,

What a great way to finish the season.   It looked a little worrisome for awhile, especially with the lack of goals we have scored at home over the last 5-6 games.  We spoke at halftime and we all felt the goals were coming, we just had to be patient and keep playing as we were, just up the intensity a little.  We got on top of them from the opening kick of the second half and didn’t let up until we got the goal that had eluded us for so long.

You could see the deflation in the Dallas player’s eyes, they had the playoffs in their grasp and were letting it slip away.  They tried to push extra men forward, but we coped well and kept pushing for the winner.  What a great finish from Brad, fitting to win any game.  We still had to hold on for a few more minutes, but I never felt the lead was threatened.  We have been defending well and once again we held on to the one goal lead.

As the results went today it looks like we play Houston on Thursday at Qwest.  No time to celebrate, Thursday is right around the corner.  Back to training tomorrow and in full concentration mode for the first playoff game in club history.  Lets give ourselves the best chance possible to go through with a good result in the first leg.  We feel confident and ready.

I just want ot say thanks to the fans one more time.  You have truly made this the most impressive season any MLS team has ever had.  It’s not over yet, see you all on Thursday!

Kasey

Hey Everybody

What a great win to come from behind in KC!  It wasn’t exactly the way I would have scripted the game, but in the end the result is all that matters.  We took the lead with a great goal from Tyrone after he put himself in the right place and the right time.  With chance after chance to double the lead in the first half we went into halftime with only the one goal.

Second half we lost a little concentration and in a short five minute spell lost the lead with two goals against.  The first one was completely offsides which we confirmed after watching the tape this morning.  It’s hard to be over critical with the officiating, but after the two goals we took in New England I was thinking here we go again.  No excuses for the second, we didn’t deal with a simple cross and got rightfully punished.

What is so cool is the team didn’t drop their heads.  We were continually creating chances and Roger came in to score the equalizer.  Roger has really been pushing for more playing time and is proving why the USL Sounders had so much faith in him.

The third goal was created by some good persistence from Ljungberg on the right channel to strip the KC defender of the ball and put in a precise cross for Nate to slam home the winner.  When watching the tape this morning the team got a good laugh how close Nate came to putting the shot from close range over the top.  Visions of Zakauni at Houston came rushing back.  When you score and win its great to laugh as a team.

With the way results went for us this weekend, we could end up in first place.  We are playing a very in form Dallas, but we want to get back to winning ways at home to build that confidence before the playoffs.  There is still a chance we could be toasting a Western division championship.

Kasey

Hey Everybody,

It’s been good training the last couple of days after having the weekend off.  After having the last 2 games on the East coast, it was great to get that weekend off to recharge the batteries before our next and last away game at Kansas City.  It is a big game for us, with a good result we can clinch our place in the play-offs.  At the beginning of the season, we said that our first goal was to make it into the play-offs.  You can’t win the whole thing unless you first make it into the knock out rounds.  Getting points this weekend will see that our first goal has been met.  Nobody wants to go into the last game against a very in form Dallas needing a result to get into the show.  At the same time I feel we are due to crush someone at home.  Lets just take all that out of the equation by winning at KC.

On a personal note, this was the team that I got sent off against earlier in the year. The only other time I have been sent off in my professional career, was my second year at Millwall, so I should be safe for another 16 years or so.  I would love to go to KC and do my part to help the team finish off the regular season with a great result.  I have all the confidence in the world that we can follow our great away result at Columbus with another performance in KC.  If training is anything to go by, the confidence should be high.

On a sad note, Charlie Davies a young striker on the US National team was involved in a terrible car crash early this morning in the DC area where one of the other passengers in the car was killed.  Charlie underwent a long surgery, but I was told his condition is not life threatening.  I wish him a successful recovery and send my deepest condolences to the family of the girl who lost her life in this tragic accident.

With the rainy season officially here, be safe on those wet roads Seattle.

Kasey

Hey Everybody

What a big win for the team on the road at last years MLS champions.  What a big feel good win for Sigi to win at his old club.  Most important is the three points that get us that much closer to a playoff position.

We played well, but in the end we road our luck a little.  Columbus had a great run dating back to last season without losing at home.  They were not about to let that go without a fight.   We got a little lucky in the first half with a good shot off the post.  Second half that luck continued with Tyrone making a great overhead clearance off the line.  The next piece of luck was the missed penalty.   In the end, lots of balls thrown into our box, but we did what was needed to keep the clean sheet and preserve the three points.

Once again, the club stepped up and chartered a flight for us so we would have a direct flight.  Again we rewarded the gesture with a victory.  I was giving Adrian a hard time after the game telling him that they needed to keep the streak alive and charter until we lose.  Only half joking, but it would be great to have our own plane for every game.  Maybe in the near future, one can hope.

No game this weekend, so a good week to recharge the batteries.  Doesn’t look like any new injury worries.  Lets keep all the players fit and coming into good form just in time for the last two games and into the playoffs. I will try and answer some of your questions this week.

Kasey