Having received a man advantage in the latter stages of Saturday's match, the Indiana Blast had an opportunity to make a major statement against the Pacific Division-leading Seattle Sounders.
The Blast did so indeed, but not the one they had hoped for.
Two defensive lapses by Indiana in the final 20 minutes led to Seattle goals and that ended any upset hopes by the Blast, as they lost 4-2 at Kuntz Stadium.
Forward Brian Ching netted each of the Sounders' last two goals, both coming after teammate Jason Farrell was sent off by virtue of his second yellow card of the match, in the 70th minute.
Ching broke the 2-all tie in the 77th minute, going around Blast goalkeeper Josh Lynk, who had come way out of the net to challenge Ching.
Another Ching breakaway goal, in the 87th minute and with no opposing player within 10 yards of him, sealed the deal for Seattle (9-1, 42 points) and averted a second loss in as many nights. The Sounders fell Friday at Cincinnati.
Blast coach Eric Descombes blamed the goals on freelancing on the part of some of his players.
"What happened was (the Sounders) go a man down and the defenders felt they could push forward when there was no need to change anything," he said. "That was poor judgement by the backs."
During a wild first half, Seattle's Viet Nguyen twice was able to counter Indiana goals, scoring in the 10th and 39th minutes.
The Blast (3-8, 12 points) got out of the gate quickly, as in the third minute Rodrigo Costa booted one from close range that went off Sounder keeper Preston Burpo's leg and then into the net.
Myron Vaughn made it 2-1 for Indiana in the 32nd minute, booming a shot from the right side about 30 yards out that sailed over Burpo's head and went in. Vaughn also assisted on the first Blast goal.
"We did a good job offensively and the guys up front created opportunities," Descombes said. "But the defense let us down, especially when (Seattle was) a man down."
The Blast were fortunate in two regards. One was Lynk kept his team in the game with several spectacular saves (he had eight for the match) and the other being Costa made two hard tackles that several Sounder supporters in the stands thought merited ejection but the Indiana striker escaped with just one caution.
Lineups
Seattle -- Burpo, Jenkins, Barton, Gregor, Edwards, O'Brien, Ching (Smith, 86th), Farrell, Nguyen, Sawatzky (Brown, 81st), Daligcon.
Indiana -- Lynk, Dresser, Ottesen, Tenoff, Sweet, Costa, Prosser, Samples (Ihekoronye, 15th, Rue, 81st), Allen, Less, Vaughn.
Scoring
I -- Costa (Vaughn, 3rd), S -- Nguyen (unassisted, 10th), I -- Vaughn (Tenoff, 32nd), S -- Nguyen (Jenkins, 39th), S -- Ching (unassisted, 77th), S -- Ching (unassisted, 87th).
Cautions
I -- Costa (16th), S -- Barton (51st), S -- Farrell (54th), I -- Ihekoronye (58th), S -- Farrell (70th).
Ejection
S -- Farrell (70th).
Shots on goal -- S 20, I 9.
Saves -- Burpo (S) 4, Lynk (I) 8.
Corners -- S 6, I 0
Fouls -- S 8, I 8.
