As we head into the Leagues Cup on the heels of an uninspiring run of form in MLS, maybe we should look back to the best of times?
What are your all-time favorite Sounders moments?
One of mine is from 2015: the Sounders complete a comeback win against CD Olimpia in CCL at CenturyLink after a Brad Evans 90+7 PK (video). Sounders were losing in the 90th minute 1-0 after a goal by Alberth Elis in the 5th minute for the visitors. We had the run of play for the rest of the match - possession, chances, but nothing was finding the back of the net. The Concacaf shithousery started infuriatingly early, with time wasting, fake injuries, etc. from maybe the 60th minute on.
Then, Friberg scored the equalizer in the 90th minute on an unmarked back post header, and the 4th official put up a massive number for stoppage time. You could sense in the building that maybe, this time, the soccer gods were going to mete out justice for the time wasting, giving us enough time to snatch the win.
Then, in the 90+5’, Dylan Remick got taken out at the top corner of the box in a clear penalty. The shenanigans continued as the Olimpia players surrounded the ref, blocked Brad from setting up the penalty, and tried to get in his head. When the players were finally cleared, up stepped The Man Who Never Missed – and he slotted it calmly home, sending the keeper the wrong way. In the celebration, Brad ran towards the keeper and shouted some choice words, drawing a shove and setting off a fracas. Aside from the CCL and MLS cup finals, the roar when he converted the penalty was one of the loudest I’ve heard at CenturyLink/Lumen.
I think that this resonates with me because we had just started attending matches a year or so previously, and it was one of the first big minutes that I got to see live (after the supporters shield clinching game against LAG). It also showed off that resilience / fight and that little bit of an edge / attitude that has defined the Sounders for so long (and maybe seems to have been missing of late).
What are yours?
Bit basic, but I think my favorite moment was when we won the 2016 Cup. I had just discovered the sounders a couple years earlier and I remember being so excited for this game because it was the biggest one since becoming a fan. My dad, who didnt really care about soccer before then, watched with me and got really into it too. I remember him joining me just to support something that I cared about but very quickly got into it himself. When Frei made that save, we both went nuts. First time I saw him really get into something other than college football haha. It was just funny to me when I thought about it, we had no idea who the sounders were 3 years prior and we lived on the other side of the states but there we were going crazy when they won. Immediately afterwards my dad bought a MLS champs shirt and wears it for matches to this day.
A close second that actually kinda connects to this is when Seattle came to South Carolina a few months after the championship for a little tournament thing in Charleston. The first day we went, it wasnt too crowded and I was able to walk up right to the rail at the sounders bench before the game and got autographs and photos with all the players. The first player I talked to was Frei, I saw him leaning on the railing talking to some woman and waited patiently to the side trying to not seem too eager. It didnt work as the woman turned and saw me, then told Frei “I think this kid wants a picture”. I said “well im 21 but yes please”. Ended the event with a soccer ball that I got signed by the whole team after going just to watch the game. I havent had this kind of luck since so I guess I used it all. Totally worth it though
Nothing basic about that! I remember that we were watching the 2016 MLS Cup at a friend’s house before we were all supposed to go to a Christmas party. When Roman stepped up to take the spot kick, I remember that the camera had inexplicably cut away and then cut back after he had already started his run up, to show the ball heading towards the back of the net. It was almost surreal because it took away the usual few seconds of anticipation from the runup - it was somehow briefly hard to believe that it happened and it was over. There was a pause while everybody tried to process what had happened and then we went nuts. We were celebrating all night, while the other people at the Christmas party were looking at us like we were crazy (they were expecting a more sedate get together, not a post-championship celebration).
Oh yeah that Evans PK is way up there.
One of the only times I ever involuntarily stood on my couch and freaked out was the 2020 semis against Minnesota. Ruidiaz equalized in the 89th, Svensson won it in the 93rd. Absolutely bonkers. Somehow we all knew they were going to come from behind to win that and they left it til the very end.
Honorable mention: red card wedding.
Of course there was also the moment I realized we were going to win CCL. Somewhere around the 70th minute when we continued to look in full control. But that wasn’t a specific event.
Oh yeah, the Minnesota game was great. And I know exactly what you mean about CCL - you were more optimistic than I was. We just had the one goal aggregate lead after Raul’s goal just before halftime, which didn’t seem like enough. The second goal was a “hey, this might be happening” moment. But Pumas were a good club and had had their chances, and 10 minutes + stoppage seemed like an eternity. I don’t think it really set in for me until Nico’s 87’ goal - which really sealed it.