Seattle, WA, Seattle Memorial Stadium- Attendance- 3,129
Weather- Cloudy, 58 degrees
Game Summary:
The Seattle Sounders defeated the Bay Area Seals, 2-1, in a first-round single elimination playoff game Sunday night at Seattle Memorial Stadium before 3,129 people. Sounders forward Viet Nguyen scored the game winning goal in the 45th minute, helping the Sounders advance to the second round of the A-League playoffs.
The winning goal came in the 45th minute when Nguyen, assisted by Scott Jenkins, capitalized off a freekick opportunity. A freekick was taken by midfielder Andrew Gregor. Gregor pass was received by Darren Sawatzky, who crossed the ball to Jenkins on the left side of the six-yard box. Nguyen received the ball from Jenkins inside the six-yard box and shot into the upper right corner of the goal.
SEA- 2 BAY- 1
Bay Area began the scoring the 5th minute of play when forward Marquis White scored off of a pass from Niall Thompson. Thompson's pass to White, sprung him in on goal. White ran into the left side of the penalty box and scored on an angle shot, five yards goal, past the Sounders diving goalkeeper Bill May.
SEA- 0 BAY- 1
Seattle came back to tie at 1-1 in the 26th minute when defender Craig Waibel scored on a corner kick. Greg Howes who shot the ball from a pass from Nguyen took the Sounders cornerkick and hit an inswinger that Greg Howes was able to control and take a shot. Howes' shot was deflected and Waibel, in front of the net, followed up with a header into the upper left corner of the goal.
SEA- 1 BAY- 1
Noteables:
Seattle wins their sixth straight first round playoff series dating back to the 1994 season.
The Sounders advance to the second round of the playoffs, where they will face the Milwaukee Rampage. The best-of-two series starts Friday in Milwaukee at 5:30 pm and concludes Sunday at 7 pm at Seattle Memorial Stadium. The two teams did not play during the 2000 season. Milwaukee defeated El Paso, 4-2, last night in Milwaukee to advance to the second round.
There was a pre-game ceremony for Sounders defender Bernie James who is retiring at the end of the 2000 season after playing 22 years of professional soccer.
Post Game Quotes:
Sounders Head Coach Neil Megson
It's the same old story. The key was that we had a high work rate. The guys played hard and deserved the victory. You have to give credit to Bay Area though, they came to play. We were able to get Viet's goal and hang on to win.
Sounders Forward Viet Nguyen
Any goal you can get in the playoffs is important. I guess I was lucky to get the game-winner here. The ball went to Greg (Howes) head and I made a run and was able to put it in. It nice to get the victory here and move on.
Notebook:
SEA- forward Erik Storkson did not play because of injury
Seattle- (3-5-2) GK- May, D- Waibel, D- Utush, D- Barton, M- Jenkins, M- Steidten M- McCormick, M- Gregor, M- Nguyen (Henderson- 85), F- Sawatzky, F- Howes (Tomlinson- 89) Reserves- did not play- GK- Burpo, D- James, M- Kinoshita, F- Farnsworth, F- Capodanno
Bay Area- (3-5-2) GK- Conway, D- Dayak, D- Martin, D- Clark (Chirgwin- 85), M- Weaver, M- White, M- Sweet, M- Baicher, M- Edwards (Weiss- 74), F- Jeffrey, F- Thompson
Stats:
Seattle Bay Area
Shots 19 11
Saves 7 9
Fouls 10 8
Offsides 1 5
Corners 7 9
Cautions 2 1
Scoring Summary:
BAY- 5 White (Thompson)
SEA- 26 Waibel (Howes)
SEA- 45 Nguyen (Jenkins)
Cautions:
BAY- 43 Sweet (foul)
SEA- 48 Jenkins (foul)
BAY- 55 Jeffrey (foul)
SEA- 57 Waibel (foul)
SEA- 80 Stedten (foul)
Referee: Cory Dean, Asst. Ref.: Dean Ajir, Asst. Ref.: Jayson Transtrum, Fourth Official: Fred Mabbott
Attendance: 3,129
