Seattle Sounders News Release - www.seattlesounders.com
Friday, May 16, 2008
SEATTLE, WA -- The Seattle Sounders (1-1-3) face the Atlanta Silverbacks (1-1-2), Sunday, May 18 at 7:00 pm at the Starfire Sports Complex.
The match marks the second time the two teams have faced off this season with Seattle winning 2-0 (O’Brien 8, Le Toux 65) in Atlanta on May 2. Last season, Seattle beat the Silverbacks 4-0 in the league championship game played at Starfire.
Seattle hosted the Rochester Rhinos Wednesday night and settled for a 1-1 draw. After a scoreless first half, Zach Scott headed home a Josh Gardner corner in the 75th minute to give the Sounders the lead. Rochester defender Scott Palguta countered in the 90th minute for the equalizer. The Sounders are currently in fifth place with 6 points.
Atlanta hosts the Minnesota Thunder on Friday before flying cross country to Seattle. Despite two games in three days for Atlanta, the Sounders recognize that the match will be a hard fought battle. “The players in this league are used to having demanding travel requirements,” said Sounders Assistant Coach Darren Sawatzky. “Atlanta is a very good team, and we expect a very high quality game.”
Tickets are still available, ticket prices are $15 at the gate. Fans are encouraged to show up early for all matches at Starfire to avoid traffic congestion. Mad Pizza will give out two for one slices after 5:00. Seattle's next home game is Sunday, May 18 at Starfire against the Atlanta Silverbacks. Following the game Sounders players will be available for fans to sign autographs.
GAME NOTES
• All-Time Versus Atlanta: 5-2-2
Versus Atlanta in 2008: 1-0-0
Versus Atlanta in 2007: 2-0-1
• Nathan Knox played with the Sounders last season where he scored three times in 15 appearances during the club's 2007 championship run.
• Zach Scott’s goal Wednesday was the first in 190 minutes of play.
• Atlanta’s David Hayes and Ansu Toure were named to the USL-1 weekly Best 11 squad following the club’s 2-2 draw versus Carolina. Hayes scored the equalizer in the final minutes, and Toure tallied an assist.
INJURY REPORT
Seattle:
Hugo Alcaraz-Cuellar (ankle) - Questionable
Atlanta (as of 5/18):
Mike Ambersley (knee) - Out for season
Mac Kandji (knee) - Probable
Chris Mahaffey (knee) - Probable
Warren Ukah (knee) - Out for season
