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Seattle go through but Sporting KC fume over controversial Valdez goal Seattle go through but Sporting KC fume over controversial Valdez goal
(about 3 hours later)
Nelson Valdez found a perfect moment to snap his scoring drought.Nelson Valdez found a perfect moment to snap his scoring drought.
Valdez scored his first MLS goal in nearly a calendar year with a header in the 88th minute to give the Seattle Sounders a 1-0 victory over Sporting Kansas City on Thursday night in the knockout round of the MLS Western Conference playoffs.Valdez scored his first MLS goal in nearly a calendar year with a header in the 88th minute to give the Seattle Sounders a 1-0 victory over Sporting Kansas City on Thursday night in the knockout round of the MLS Western Conference playoffs.
With Seattle pressing for a winner in the closing minutes of regulation, Joevin Jones’ cross found Valdez at the near post and his header easily beat goalkeeper Tim Melia. With Seattle pressing for a winner in the closing minutes of regulation, Joevin Jones’s cross found Valdez at the near post, and his header easily beat goalkeeper Tim Melia.
“It’s felt like there’s been a big mountain on top of me all season. Finally, with the goal, that mountain went away,” Valdez said.“It’s felt like there’s been a big mountain on top of me all season. Finally, with the goal, that mountain went away,” Valdez said.
It was Valdez’s first MLS goal since 28 October 2015, against the Los Angeles Galaxy in the knockout round of last year’s playoffs. Valdez has had numerous chances during the season but finally got made it count, even though it appeared on replay he may have been offside. It was Seattle’s only shot on goal in the match and the only goal scored by the Sounders in three matches against Sporting KC this season. It was Valdez’s first MLS goal since 28 October 2015, against the Los Angeles Galaxy in the knockout round of last year’s playoffs. Valdez has had numerous chances during the season but finally made it count, even though it appeared on replay he may have been offside. It was Seattle’s only shot on goal in the match and the only goal scored by the Sounders in three matches against Sporting KC this season.
Seattle will face FC Dallas in the Western Conference semi-finals. Game 1 of the two-leg series is Sunday in Seattle.Seattle will face FC Dallas in the Western Conference semi-finals. Game 1 of the two-leg series is Sunday in Seattle.
“I can’t think of a better person to be rewarded for this moment,” Seattle interim coach Brian Schmetzer said. “He has worked so hard all year long.”“I can’t think of a better person to be rewarded for this moment,” Seattle interim coach Brian Schmetzer said. “He has worked so hard all year long.”
For Sporting KC it was another crushing postseason defeat that left coach Peter Vermes disappointed in the outcome and furious at the officiating.For Sporting KC it was another crushing postseason defeat that left coach Peter Vermes disappointed in the outcome and furious at the officiating.
Vermes sternly said MLS owes his club an apology for the officiating, claiming Valdez was offside on his goal; Matt Besler was onside on a disallowed goal for Kansas City early in the second half; and Seattle’s Osvaldo Alonso should have been given a second yellow card and sent off midway through the second half. Vermes said MLS owes his club an apology for the officiating, claiming Valdez was offside for his goal; Matt Besler was onside when his goal was disallowed early in the second half; and Seattle’s Osvaldo Alonso should have been given a second yellow card and sent off midway through the second half.
“The statistics don’t lie in this game. We dominated the game from beginning to end,” Vermes said. “Like I said they scored their goal on an offside play. Changes the outcome of the game. I would tell you in my opinion and for our organization, PRO and Major League Soccer owe our club an absolute apology because that game was taken away from us.” “The statistics don’t lie in this game. We dominated the game from beginning to end,” Vermes said. “Like I said, they scored their goal on an offside play. Changes the outcome of the game. I would tell you in my opinion and for our organization, PRO and Major League Soccer owe our club an absolute apology because that game was taken away from us.”
Nearly a year to the day, Sporting KC was back in the knockout round of the MLS playoffs, again in the Pacific Northwest and trying to erase the memory of the memorable shootout loss to Portland that went through 11 rounds of penalty kicks before the Timbers finally won, the first step on their way to an MLS Cup title. Nearly a year to the day, Sporting KC were back in the knockout round of the MLS playoffs, again in the Pacific Northwest and trying to erase the memory of the memorable shootout loss to Portland that went through 11 rounds of penalty kicks before the Timbers finally won,.
Kansas City had the majority of the possessions and chances in the first half, pushing for an early lead and only being kept off the scoreboard thanks to Seattle goalkeeper Stefan Frei. Paulo Nagamura had two early chances that were punched away by Frei, the second save rebounded out for an attempt from Graham Zusi that beat Frei to the far post but ricocheted off the outside of the post and went out for a goal kick. Kansas City had the majority of the possessions and chances in the first half, pushing for an early lead and only being kept off the scoreboard thanks to Seattle goalkeeper Stefan Frei. Paulo Nagamura had two early chances that were punched away by Frei – the second save rebounded out for an attempt from Graham Zusi that beat Frei to the far post but ricocheted off the outside of the post and went out for a goal kick.
Kansas City appeared to take the lead in the 53rd minute when Besler’s diving header off Benny Feilhaber’s free kick beat Frei. But Besler was flagged for being offside and replays showed he was barely ahead of the Seattle defenders before the ball was played.Kansas City appeared to take the lead in the 53rd minute when Besler’s diving header off Benny Feilhaber’s free kick beat Frei. But Besler was flagged for being offside and replays showed he was barely ahead of the Seattle defenders before the ball was played.
Feilhaber was the best player on the field most of the night, causing headaches for Seattle wherever he roamed. He dribbled through most of Seattle’s defense in the 80th minute, only to be denied at the very end by another key save from Frei.Feilhaber was the best player on the field most of the night, causing headaches for Seattle wherever he roamed. He dribbled through most of Seattle’s defense in the 80th minute, only to be denied at the very end by another key save from Frei.
In Washington, Matteo Mancosu scored twice and Montreal beat DC United 4-2 in their knockout match. Meanwhile, in Washington, Matteo Mancosu scored twice and Montreal beat DC United 4-2 in their knockout match.
The fifth-seeded Impact will host the top-seeded New York Red Bulls on Sunday in the first game of the two-leg Eastern Conference semifinals. The fifth-seeded Impact will host the top-seeded New York Red Bulls on Sunday in the first game of the two-leg Eastern Conference semi-finals.
Laurent Ciman scored early, and Ignacio Piatti made it 4-0 for the Impact in the 83rd minute. Lamar Neagle and Taylor Kemp scored for fourth-seeded United, both after the 89th minute.Laurent Ciman scored early, and Ignacio Piatti made it 4-0 for the Impact in the 83rd minute. Lamar Neagle and Taylor Kemp scored for fourth-seeded United, both after the 89th minute.