Seattle is first club in 27 years to repeat as champions of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup
Author: Stanley Holmes
Stanley Holmes
Stanley fancies himself the best soccer writer youve never heard about. But that is about to change. For most of his 20 years as a journalist, Stanley has covered a different kind of sport the winners and losers of global business. All the while he was harboring a secret desire to write about the sport he has played, coached and watched since childhood when the only soccer on TV could be found on Sunday mornings on PBS Toby Charles Soccer Made in Germany. To say it was a near religious experience is putting it mildly. Meanwhile, Stanley climbed the ranks of journalism, covering business for The Chicago Tribune, The Rocky Mountain News, The Seattle Times, The Los Angeles Times and Business Week Magazine, where he was named a 2004 finalist for National Magazine and Gerald Loeb awards. Stanley grew up in the Seattle area, graduated from Western Washington University with a bachelors and earned a masters degree from Columbia University School of Journalism. Among his proudest soccer and journalism moments was being the first Business Week writer to publish a business story about soccer in the magazines then 77-year history: Can Britains No. 1 Soccer Club Score in America? Hugely Profitable Manchester United wants to crack the U.S. market. His other Kodak moment: playing soccer for a small village in the south of France where the wine was better than the team.
Seattle aims to be first repeat winner of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup in 27 years.
Minus Ljungberg, a midseason makeover has created a playoff team
Blaise Nkufo scored a hat trick to lead the Sounders to a 4-0 victory over Columbus that tightens their hold on a playoff spot
The loss effectively eliminates Seattle from advancing to the knockout stages of the CONCACAF Champions League competition.
Kasey Keller saved a first-half penalty kick but Osvaldo Alonso ruled the midfield and stifled Real Salt Lake’s vaunted strike force resulting in 0-0 draw before a nationally televised match at Qwest Field.
When it became clear that Ljungberg and Montero couldn’t play together, Coach Sigi Schmid jettisoned Ljungberg and rebuilt the team around the Colombian striker. The sporty mid-season decision may have salvaged the Sounders season and kept their playoff hopes alive.
A much anticipated clash with Chicago and Freddie Ljungberg generated predictable boos every time the Sounders first designated player touched the ball and it generated an improbable victory for Seattle.
A much anticipated clash with Chicago and Freddie Ljungberg generated predictable boos every time the Sounders first designated player touched the ball. It generated the usual litany of complaints from the former Sounder and Arsenal superstar whenever a Sounder touched him. And it generated a predictable stellar performance from the other Freddie — Fredy Montero, who scored both goals, including the dramatic winner in stoppage time. “We’re very happy with the result,” Coach Sigi Schmid said. “It’s such an outstanding feeling to score the second goal (in stoppage time).” Ljungberg, who left Seattle during the mid-season transfer in a controversial…