Instant (Over)Reaction: Toronto FC

After losing Steve Zakuani to a broken leg last Saturday, the Sounders were ready to move on and win one for their lost winger. On paper it was the best case scenario as bottom feeding Toronto FC were the opponents who had to come into Qwest on the emotional night. Surely it would result in a victory. Then something unexpected happened: the Sounders lost O'Brian White for an unspecified (but likely long) period after having surgery to remove a blood clot from his leg. Hours before gametime it was learned that Mauro Rosales would be out with a minor injury. Suddenly a team with great depth would be faced with the possibility of starting Mike Fucito, Miguel Montano or possibly Lamar Neagle on the right side. In my head I started asking myself if this was a trap game...if this was a game where our emotions overcame us and made us prone for an upset.

The first thing we found out was that it would be Brad Evans who moved to Right Mid with El Flacco on the left side and Erik Friberg in the middle with Ozzie Alonso. Just typing that line-up makes me happy. I know they can't replace what Zakuani brought to the game, but they do have the potential of playing the possession game. Having Evans and Friberg on the field at the same time just provides some calmness that is not present when Zakuani is sprinting at people. I don't know if it will be successful over the long haul, but against a team like Toronto FC it was going to work.

Boy, did it ever. I have all my concerns put to rest 9 minutes into the game when Brad Evans put a beautiful cross onto El Flacco's head for a big time goal. It was one of the rare goals that you could see coming. Evans was running down the flank with his head-up the whole time. It wasn't a blind cross, but rather one with purpose. El Flacco clinically put it away and showed a lot of emotion. With a Zakuani tribute planned 2 minutes later and the stadium buzzing after an early goal, the game was essentially over.

For the next 81 minutes the Sounders dominated the game. Evans got on the scoreboard off an assist from Fredy Montero in the 52nd minute and then added a PK in the 75th minute. He could have have at least 2 more. The score could have easily been 6-0, but obviously the team will take a 3-0 win any day of the week.

It was such a dominating performance, but one that I don't want to put too much weight into. the bottom line is that this is a horrid, horrible, terrible Toronto squad. Duane Rollins at the 24th minute, a man who knows a thing or two about the Reds, is saying their performance was on par with their 5-0 loss to the Red Bulls in the last game of the 2009 season, ending all playoff hopes. That is widely known as one of the worst games in the history of the league, so comparing Saturday's game to it is something.

The Sounders now travel to DC today and then Columbus on Saturday to end their 3-game, 7-day marathon. While neither team is very good (thanks MLS for calming down our schedule), they will both prove to be big tests as the team will undoubtedly be a little tired. Still, I expect a win and a tie.

Here are some other observations from Saturday:

• The team is now unbeaten in 6 games (3-0-3). the consecutive 1-0 losses to start the season now seem a distant, distant memory
• The logjam at center D means someone - Ianni, Parke or Hurtado has to sit. I am shocked however that Leo Gonzalez has gotten beaten out by Tyson Wahl these past two games. With that being said, I have actually been very happy with Wahl's performances. It will be interesting moving forward
• My love for Roger Levesque is well known. It pains me to say that he just isn't very good
• It is super nice having Mike Fucito back. The guy gets to a lot of balls he has no right getting to because he is super fast and has such a low center of gravity. One second he's a step behind you, the next second he's stolen the ball and is past you
• Fredy continues to be frustrating. He shoots when he should pass and he passes when he should shoot. Still, he is quietly becoming a complete player - his distribution is getting better and he is helping on the defensive end. If we keep winning you won't hear me complain about his lack of goals
• The Steve Zakuani tribute was a nice touch
  

A story to leave you with. The Wife and I went to Temple Billiards before the game. I am standing on line (yep, that's right, only in Seattle is their a bar where you stand on line (which actually is a lot less stressful)) when a girl comes up and is leaning in and talking to the dude in front of me. Nothing wrong with that...I figure she's with the dude. She then turns around to me and asks if I'm next in line. I say yes and point to the line in back of me. She goes, "Um, well actually would you like to buy me a beer?" The first thing that goes through my mind is if she is underage. I mean, why would I buy her a beer? Then I realize that the guy checked ID's on the way in. So I ask her, "Why, what for?" She goes, "Well because I really want one and I haven't had one in a while." My next thought is, wait, is she hitting on me? My wife is standing right here.... So I go, "Um, yeah...that's not gonna happen." She is visibly stunned by this and walks away. I am left confused by the whole episode but realize that my reaction was priceless. I mean, what an amazing way I have with the ladies.