Fredy Montero Shines In Seattle Sounders Workout

The Seattle Sounders’ training pitch at Tukwila Wednesday was burning from the torrid heat applied in workout activity by star striker Fredy Montero. The talented Colombian continues to improve his offensive game from the standpoint of kicks and headers. As he stands as one of the MLS’ leaders in goals scored, he continues to excel as well in the assist department. Coach Sigi Schmid was delighted with the skills Montero displayed today in delivering booming kicks into the net. Following the workout he delivered praise Montero’s way. “He is obviously technically a very good player and he is a player who’s got a good eye in front of the goal,” Schmid said. “His effort has been really good and, as a result, I think that has got him on the ball more and by getting on the ball more it gives you more chances to make plays. He has made some good decisions. “The cross against D.C. was superb. It’s not a cross that everyone can hit and Roger [Levesque] finished it well at the back post. He [Montero] has definitely been involved with us on those goals and connecting and finding people. It’s a tribute to the work but it’s also a ...

Seattle Sounders FC: Sigi Schmid Addresses Topic of Freddie Ljungberg

Speculation continues to abound concerning whether Freddie Ljungberg will be dealt away by the Seattle Sounders during the transfer period. Coach Sigi Schmid following Tuesday’s practice session at the Sounders’ Tukwila training facility discussed Ljungberg’s status among other questions. “Ljungberg is still (coping) with the injured ankle,” Schmid said, adding, “but also, at this point, he is exploring options. So we’ll see how things proceed in the next three, four, five days. “Freddie is a great player and he brings energy onto the field. Every time he plays on the field he plays with energy. For us as a team, you have to judge how we play with him or without him. I know I have my feelings and my judgments on that thing. But at the end of the day, our backs are against the wall and I think the guys know that. “That helps you find some spirit and desire and sometimes when you hit a good streak somebody is not on the team. For example, [Brad] Evans is not on the team right now. We are hitting a good streak. Does that mean if he was on the field we would be better or would we be worse? It’s tough ...

Red Card Controversy Beclouds Seattle Sounders-Celtic FC Friendly

Glasgow, Scotland’s heralded Celtic FC, a top international soccer team formed in 1888, took its U.S. tour to Seattle on Sunday for an exciting friendly in which the visitors edged the Sounders 2-1 before 45,631 patrons at the Xbox Pitch of Qwest Field. Until the sun finally came out toward the end of the second half, the match had been played under cloudy skies. How symbolic that was considering the first-half controversy that beclouded the contest. Star Celtic midfielder Georgios Samaras, who won plaudits performing for Greece in the recently concluded World Cup competition, broke through the Sounders’ defense in the 32nd minute and was fouled in the box by goalkeeper Terry Boss. The undaunted Samaras booted the ball into the net nonetheless. Referee Paul Ward could have counted the goal but instead handed Boss a red card and awarded the Celtic striker a penalty kick. Bedlam erupted as both Celtic FC and Sounders players protested the call. The Scottish team’s players preferred to let Samaras’ goal stand while the Sounders were furious over the red card banishment to Boss. Meanwhile, the crowd erupted in a loud chorus of boos. When calm was ultimately restored, Boss stalked off toward the dressing room and ...

Nkufo to Make Seattle Sounders Debut; Keller to Get Day Off

Seattle Sounders Coach Sigi Schmid following the final team workout Saturday prior to Sunday’s nationally televised home friendly against Scotland’s Celtic FC said the words that soccer fans have been waiting so long to hear. “We do feel confident that Blaise (Nkufo) will give his debut tomorrow,” Schmid said, “so it will be a nice day from that standpoint.” In a joint teleconference with Nkufo Thursday in the District of Columbia the afternoon of the team’s crucial MLS match with D.C. United, Schmid revealed that Nkufo had just experienced his first workout with the team the day before, but was unsure whether he would see action that night. Based on the limited amount of work Nkufo had in the form of the one workout after joining the team following a post-World Cup break, it was a certainty that the team’s new star player would not start. Ultimately Schmid decided that holding out Nkufo would be the proper decision and so he watched the 1-0 victory over D.C. from the bench. Now, having returned with the team to Seattle and obtaining more work, Schmid is prepared to put Nkufo on the pitch against Celtic FC. The Sounders’ coach returned to the subject of Nkufo in the course of ...

Celtic FC Visits Seattle

Neil Lennon is pictured in 2007 during his Celtic FC playing days celebrating a Scottish Cup victory with his teammates. The 39-year-old Lennon is beginning his first full season as manager of Celtic FC after being signed following an interim period. The first item on the agenda is defeating bitter Scottish Premier League rival Rangers FC. Last season Celtic finished second to Rangers. Lennon leads his team into Seattle for a friendly against the Sounders on Sunday that will be nationally televised over ESPN2 beginning at noon Pacific time. In previous matches on this trip Celtic lost 1-0 to Philadelphia Union in Chester, Pennslyvania and 3-1 to Manchester United at Rogers Centre in Toronto. Begin Slideshow

Kasey Keller Saves, Levesque Goal Push Seattle Sounders Past D.C. United

It was a must win on a hot, muggy night in our nation’s capital, and veteran goalkeeper Kasey Keller was the embodiment of true grit in a hard fought 1-0 win for the Seattle Sounders over host D.C. United before 13,716 fans at RFK Stadium and a national ESPN2 television audience. Nothing would stand in the way of Keller’s successful pursuit of a clean sheet, not even injury. Keller made five saves to earn his fifth shutout of the season, despite playing the final 25 minutes with a right mid-foot sprain that occurred on a challenge after he came out of the goalkeeper’s area. In the late stages, coaches Sigi Schmid of Seattle and Curt Onalfo of D.C. United, both feeling an intense need for a win and three valuable points, poured substitutes onto the RFK pitch in pursuit of a late score. The strategy worked for Schmid, as Sanna Nyassi was credited with an assist just one minute after entering the match. It was his first point in league play. The scoring effort culminated in the 89th minute, as Fredy Montero crossed a ball from the end line on the right flank to a diving Roger Levesque at the far post. Levesque headed ...

Seattle Sounders Place Midfielder David Estrada On Injured Reserve

The Seattle Sounders FC announced Thursday that midfielder David Estrada has been placed on injured reserve due to a right hamstring strain and right first toe sprain. Estrada is required to miss six games. He will be eligible to return to action for the September 4th game in New England against the Revolution. Estrada, 22, has appeared in three Major League Soccer games. He has made one start at FC Dallas. Seattle selected Estrada as its 11th overall pick in the 2010 MLS SuperDraft.  Read more MLS news on BleacherReport.com

Sounders Update: Nkufo In D.C., Ljungberg Home With Ankle Injury

Wednesday at 3 p.m. the Seattle Sounders held a teleconference featuring Coach Sigi Schmid and his newest player, international star Blaise Nkufo. The international transfer involving Nkufo enabling him to play for the Sounders is expected to go through. He will then be eligible for play beginning Thursday, July 15, when the team faces D.C. United. After a rest following his activity with Switzerland’s national team in the recently concluded World Cup, where he played a role in helping the Swiss gain the only win over ultimate champion Spain, Nkufo arrived in Washington, D.C. and Wednesday had his first workout with the Sounders. “I felt good after the workout and am anxious to help my new team,” Nkufo said. When asked about Nkufo’s status for Thursday night’s D.C. United clash, Coach Sigi Schmid pointed out that since the Sounders’ newest player just had his first workout today, he definitely would not be starting. Schmid did not rule out the prospect of Nkufo seeing some action. While news is positive on the Blaise Nkufo front, Schmid disclosed that winger Freddie Ljungberg did not travel with the team to the nation’s capital. The ankle injury that occurred in the team’s final practice session before the FC Dallas game ...

Lineup Mysteries Galore for Seattle Sounders Against D.C. United

Sounders Coach Sigi Schmid looked understandably glum following his team’s last contest against D.C. United. After the team’s most impressive MLS win of the season, a 3-0 shutout triumph over the New England Revolution, Seattle looked forward to closing out the first half of the season and enjoying the respite of the World Cup break. All that stood between the Sounders and that ideal first-half close was a game at home, June 10 against D.C. United, which came into the contest in last place in the Eastern Conference. After the earlier victory against New England in the friendly confines of the Xbox pitch of Qwest Field the odds were very much in the Sounders’ favor. Curt Onalfo’s visiting team spoiled the scenario by planting a 3-2 upset win behind the solid effort of one player to whom Schmid paid homage as he faced the media. “We lost tonight to Chris Pontius,” Schmid declared. Initially former Santa Barbara University star Pontius was given credit for a hat trick but ultimately one score was ruled an own goal by the Sounders. As Schmid said, the evening belonged to Pontius from an offensive standpoint, as reflected by the score and how the goals were accomplished. D.C. startled ...

Sigi Schmid On Blaise Nkufo and Other Topics

Sounder world is in a state of suspense. Blaise Nkufo will soon be eligible for play. In fact, his name goes on the roster for eligibility on Thursday, July 15, a date that can prove highly significant. Nkufo could conceivably make his Seattle Sounders debut the evening of July 15 in a road test at D.C. United. With last Sunday’s 1-1 tie in Seattle with FC Dallas the Sounders secured one point for a total of 16 on the season. The team is running out of opportunities to make the playoffs. Coach Sigi Schmid thinks that it will take 45 points to insure a playoff spot, meaning that the Sounders will have to garner 29 points over the regular season’s final 14 games. This need for points means not being satisfied with a tie and one point on the road but going for three points and wins, which takes us to the significance of the D.C. United matchup. The Sounders have rancid memories stemming from a 3-2 loss to D.C. United at home in the final game prior to the World Cup break. A breakthrough Thursday night could elevate Seattle to 19 points. So the question is: Will Nkufo make his Sounders debut that pivotal ...