Two of the top three teams in Major League Soccer during the regular season square off in the opening match of the MLS conference semifinals (10pm, Fox Soccer Channel).
The No. 3 seed in the Western Conference, Real Salt Lake will look to win at Rio Tinto Stadium in game one of the two-game series to put pressure on the No. 2 seed Sounders, who should have a considerable edge in game two at CenturyLink Field.
RSL welcomes back Kyle Beckerman, who served a four-match ban, and Beckerman will be partnering with Javier Morales for the first time since April.
Seattle will be without standout playmaker Mauro Rosales, who is sidelined with a knee injury. The Sounders will be counting on Lamar Neagle and Sammy Ochoa as starters tonight to help support standouts Fredy Montero and Alvaro Fernandez.
SBI will be providing live commentary on tonight's match so please feel free to share your thoughts, opinions and some play-by-play in the comments section below.
Enjoy the action (Live Commentary is after the jump):
It’s impossible to find a feed these days. I’d pay to watch, but for some reason MLS won’t let you (probably their stupid TV deal).
does anyone have a feed?
go to a t d h e . f m its has one
Ugly soccer so far…
Not surprising when you put together the number 3 & 4 teams in the entire league this year in fouls committed.
thank you sir.
or ma’am
wow fernandez grow a f*cking pair. Clean tackle
Rather thuggish play from RSL, on both those tackles on Fernandez.
you are such a p*ssy
This game reminds me why MLS is joke of a league. Long balls and hacks, gotta love it!
I guess you showed me.
A colorado fan complaining about hacks, ok
Look at all of those fans disguised as empty red seats, real nice Halloween costumes! But carry on, nobody notices poorly attended games unless the teams are RBNY or Dallas right?
Rapids 17th of 18 teams in FCs. But that’s real, actual info about soccer, so I understand if you’re unaware of it.
Rather like all the hacking, actually…
Exciting soccer so far…What game are you watching?
Mullan enough siad
Keller is a beast tonight!!
Remind me why Eurocunts post here?
Til now…Feel bad for Seattle…No way they should be playing RSL so early.
LOL
That you proudly that out as your entire case… Enough said, indeed.
+1 …This is MLS Playoffs P*ssies
I think Dallas would take this size of a crowd any day.
euroweasel
Seattle not playing well probably deserve to be down but not through a goal that was offside
Seattle doesnt deserve sh!t. If they cant beat RSL now then they shouldnt win anything
Even though what I said has zero to do with Europe or Euro-snobs. But OK.
Well-played match so far…Looking forward to the second half
It looked like they were matched up on the goal. It is where they were leaning Hurtado was leaning away from goal, but Saborio was towards goal. I think it was called right, if its a tie it’s suppose to go to the offense.
All the replays shown by Fox Soccer dont have the right view to judge whether it was offsides or not. Pity, but kudos to Geiger for conferring with the linesman. Like to see more of that. RSL deserve the lead anyways.
Can’t see the ball going in without a touch, but many others can. Both Riley and Gonzalzes are not closing space quick enoug on the flanks. Neagle must track back better. RSL has not dominated.
hahaha just really ironic that youre complaing about hacks on the sounders when Mullan broke zakuani’s leg
But if they continue to get so much time out wide, RSL could blow the game wide open.
Why does Seattle insist on having duct tape on their jerseys?
As I’ve already said…
you know this how? There wasnt a clear replay to show that Saborio was indeed offsides so how are you be so sure?
Morales is back…So is Salt Lake.
Yes, Settle needs to step it up though
RSL is having a feast out on the wings.
And no more Fox Soccer Channel for Directv customers in 2 days. What is going on?
What the hell is goin on out there!
RSL is pure quality when in form and healthy
RSL has the defense and keeper to hold this kind of lead. Sounders better get one back. Fucito time
This team looks an aweful lot like the one that made the CCL final.
Paging Mr. Rosales….Mr. Rosales where are you????
Same reason they insist on wearing highlighter yellow.
Sigi will need to change both FBs for return leg, don’t think he will, so wings will need to play more defense,
Better…more experience and depth
So my Fox soccer channel just died on the TV. No, I have cable, but thanks for asking. Is this happening to anyone else?
Olave, now Borchers? Does any team have the depth to lose 2 rocks like that?
Luis Gil on…RSL is stacked
Sigi will need to bring in Rosales…They need goals
Sounders only hope is that they are both out next leg
Congrats RSL, one of the worst performances seattle has put in all year. you should go through now, no way we can get it all back next wednesday.
As bad as I feel for some of the nice Seattle Sounders supporters I have one thing to say to the loud mouths that have been predicting an easy Sounders MLS cup run……. HAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!
Good job as usual by Dellacamera, but who is the other weasel on this broadcast?
I dont think so…RSL just found their form. SSFC needs a monster game at home. If anybody can pull it off, it is them.
It happening for good on direct tv…Not good for soccer in this country
RSL dominated the match. They were first to every ball. Their skilled players went out wide to kill Riley and Gonzales one on one. Parke and Alonso were continually pulled out to cover for the FBs. Hats off to Kries for a good game plan.
Was RSL just saving Morales for the playoffs? If so, smart move
Can’t argue with you after that result. Seattle was neutered.
Home leg will be different with Mauro and both Center Halves out, but 3 goals will be tough.
A three goal lead is pretty good depth.
3-0…OMG
Seattle was ripped apart by a more experienced cohesive team. RSL lives for the playoffs, and this is their time to come “truly” alive. Seattle will need to overcome a three goal deficit and win, which is highly unlikely with or without Rosales, if they can complete a feat such as that, I will say they’ll likely go on to be the champions.
Crazy game. Great advantage going into the playoffs. How was Alonso not sent off? Very excited, tough match to play up in Seattle.
Directv, is losing customers due to their ovverated packages, which contain only a few good channels and the rest are watered down in quality.
BS…Seattle has been outstanding in CCL and US Open Cup….They know how to win trophies.
It’s going to be exactly like the Galaxy saving Donovan and three other starters for the playoffs. I can’t wait to post for the commentary on tomorrow’s game. LA will easily beat NY, just wait and see. RSL and LA are quality all other teams are just trying to ride the luck train of the playoffs. Sorry to burst everyone’s bubble, but whoever wins the RSL vs. LA series will be the champion!
I have not heard a single sounders fan predicting an easy path to the MLS cup. we knew we had to play a very talented team in RSL and then probably LA as well and some team out of the east. so two of the other best three teams. i literally have not heard one person say itd be easy, stop trolling
Yeah the one’s that don’t matter or not too many care about. They haven’t won the CCL, but nice try!
Brian Dunseth?
Oh so this is your first comment on SBI. Welcome.
im sure knowing how to win the US Open cup and that darn prestigious Cascadia cup will sure come in handy in overcoming a 3 goal deficit :]
Seattle wasnt awful, but RSL outclassed them. If Olave and Borchet are out, Salt Lake is in bigg trouble. They took Montero out of the match.
+1000. Cascadia cup = Experienced Champions. Oh you didn’t know? lol
Is in big trouble??? of what?? not repeating a 3-0 victory?? I’m sure RSL will be ok with a tie.
Is in big trouble??? of what?? not repeating a 3-0 victory?? I’m sure RSL will be ok with a tie
You are right, but I think RSL will be cool with a tie.
I didnt see this one coming
Dont forget about LA or even NY
Can someone explain Nick Grabavoy’s goal celebration to me. He looked like he was tapping a vein and getting ready to shoot up. What the hell was that? Maybe nailing the final nail in the coffin??
Jeff Parke = Tim Ream
I think Seattle has amazing support and are a great asset to MLS. I just think that they need some more time before they are actually a threat. They are great during the regular season and other competitions, but if you don’t have a third gear such as RSL and LA have had in the past (or present) then the most you can hope for is a stunning victory like Dallas had last year against the Galaxy. It is a tribute that no team in MLS under-estimate’s the Sounders. Good luck next year and if they pull off a stunning defeat next game (which I doubt) I will be back so that you may all berate me. Cheers!
i think the replay on MLSsoccer.com shows him onside. but regardless even if he wasn’t there, the tap in wasn’t necessary. the ball was goin in.
Olave and Borchers are important players no doubt about it, however Kreis is pretty good coach and RSL is known well for their depth, most guys on their bench can contribute in some sort of way on any MlS team. That said, I hope Seattle realizes now, you don’t get too many opportunities to win Rio Tinto, RSL has lost on their home pitch so few times it’s utterly suprising, example the CCL Final and they only lost 1-0, and had their finishing been on point they would’ve killed Monterrey like they killed Cruz Azul, but that’s another story…..
3 times in 3 minutes
Oh I see. He meant in the next round. Got it, my apologies.
Seattle is pretty darn good at home also. 3-0 or 4-1 without Olave and Borchers wouldnt be too surprising
I aagree, Seattle just haven’t experienced enough adversity yet to play like a “playoff” team, they just lack that intensity and leadership, with the exception of Keller, and they need an extra season (or two) to find out what it takes to battle through the level they’re facing right now. In addition it baffles me that Seattle has yet to score a goal in the Cup Playoffs…..
*agree
Colorado still gets zero love
Without Keller this game is 5 or 6 nil
Horse Manure = Tim Ream
Was thinking 6-0, the one Saborio put over the net, Morales’s shot being saved, and Espindola’s near post save as well. Those are sure goals against other keepers in the league.
injection… as in super-sub.
Sickening result…Steve Zakuani where are you? Thanks, Brian
Scalpers and no shows for this Wednesday, Seattle will still draw more people and put to shame the rest of MLS in atmosphere…Including(especially) the Red Bulls and Galaxy…
It would take the Earth’s atmosphere to come back from 3 goals…oh, wait
Ive been posting here for over a year moron
this is their first year havInc to deal with CCL play. in light of this, I’m impressed they’ve done as well as they have. CCL is a heavy burden, one that takes an organization time to learn to carry. they’ve had a much harder schedule down the stretch. this why I believe RSL will go through. just look at the tailspin RSL was thrown into after their early season CCL campaign.
Absolutely no mention of the loss. Glad to see that you guys still care more about your little choir group than the game of soccer on the field
Your choir group was mighty impressive in 2008. We certainly know that Seattleites like to chant when it’s marketed heavily; we just don’t have enough evidence to know if they like soccer yet. Based on USMNT attendances, I’d say no.
Ice in his veins, according to him.
Please tell me you’re joking. Theree were 19,000 people at that game. Grow up
The tongue in cheek idea there was that if you hadn’t seen that you must not post here often. And yes, the boasting is rampant. Check the post 2 days ago where a sounders fan predicted a 5-0 aggregate scoreline. So close……..
No wonder Arsenal is looking at Ream!!!
Seattle & Portland don’t care about soccer, it’s all about the fans. They talk more about the supporters than the actually teams. It’s pretty funny.