It took eight games to happen, but the Calgary Mustangs finally won their first game of the season on Wednesday as they defeated the Seattle Sounders 2-1 on a pleasant evening in Calgary.
There were not many quality scoring chances early in the first half. The Mustangs’ Conrad Smith had a couple of shots on goal, but nothing to seriously challenge veteran Seattle keeper Preston Burpo.
The best chances of the half occurred near the break. In the 39th minute, Sounder Scott Jenkins put a very long throw-in right in front of the goal. Jason Ferrell connected with the bouncing ball off the turf, but his shot went right to Calgary keeper Lutz Pfannestiel.
Calgary nearly took the lead in the 40th minute when Steffen Holdt flicked the ball to Damir Jesic about 25 yards from the goal. Jesic’s shot looked like it was going to arc into the net, but instead hit the crossbar and went out of play.
In injury time, Holdt snuck between two Sounder defenders, but his shot from the top of the box rolled wide left. The half ended 0-0.
After a relatively even first half, Calgary started to take the play to Seattle in the second frame. Mesut Mert of Calgary increased the pressure in the 56th minute when his well-placed corner kick went through the box dangerously. Shortly afterward, Mert’s cross found Jesic by the far post, but Burpo was able to punch his shot over the bar. The third time was the charm for Mert in the 57th minute when his perfect corner kick was converted by Holdt and Calgary took the lead.
In the 65th minute, Calgary sub Zdravko Savic made an impressive run on the right side, but his shot went wide left.
Seattle now was feeling a sense of urgency and started to bring the play to the Mustangs. Farrell took a free kick in the 70th minute, but the Mustang wall held firm.
Calgary doubled their lead in the 75th minute when Jesic blasted the ball past Burpo after receiving a great ball from Holdt, who in turn had received a good pass from Savic to start the play.
In the 78th minute, Sounder defender Velez took a low driving shot from 30 yards out, but Pfannenstiel had no problem with it.
Jesic nearly got a second goal in the 79th minute, but his curling shot from the left side veered just wide of the right post after Burpo parried it away. The resulting corner by Mert went right to Calgary substitute Sergei Kolomiets-Raad, who headed it right at Burpo from very close range. Burpo couldn’t hold the rebound, but Jesic’s shot could not find the back of the net.
Seattle made it interesting in the 84th minute when an unmarked Roger Levesque volleyed a shot into the Calgary goal from about 20 yards out.
A few minutes later the Sounders went down a man after Billy Sleeth was ejected for elbowing Nick Zuniga during a break in play.
In injury time, the Mustangs had a chance with Kolomiets-Raad and Savic counterattacking, but it was not converted. Welton Melo of Seattle tried to tie it with a header off a late corner, but it went over the bar.
Final score: Calgary 2 Seattle 1
Lineups
Calgary: Pfannenstiel, Kooy (Gillespie 23), Sestito, Peszneker (Zuniga 37), Brusselers, Mert, Holdt, Auvigne, Reyes, Jesic (Kolomiets-Raad 88), Smith (Savic 62)
Seattle: Burpo, Jenkins (Henderson 60), Velez, Jackson, Sleeth, Aristodemo (Melo 62), Farrell, Ngyuen (Callahan 76), Brown, Levesque, Smith (Edwards 90)
Cautions:
Seattle: Sleeth (31st)
Calgary: Reyes (80th), Kolomiets-Raad (90th)
Ejections:
Seattle: Sleeth (87th)
Calgary: none
Attendance: 1247
Weather: partly cloudy, calm 17 C
NOTES: Calgary just signed two new players. Nick Reyes is a familiar face as he was with the PDL Storm in 2001 and the A-League Storm in 2003. Goalkeeper Jordan Robinson was previously in Edmonton’s camp. The young keeper hails from Calgary. He recently completed a stellar university career at the University of Victoria. He will take over as backup keeper. Jamie Glasnovic will be third string and be more involved as a coach…Aaron Richer is the only Mustang in sick bay with an ankle injury.
