Sounders draw 1-1 at Columbus

By Money Mike


After watching their six game unbeaten streak slip away in D.C. on Wednesday, the Seattle Sounders had to make a lot of changes in their lineup on Saturday against Columbus and they leave Columbus Crew stadium with a point after finishing level with the Columbus Crew, 1-1.

Sigi Schmid said before the game that Fredy Montero really had to step his game up, and that's what he did in the seventh minute...........

In the seventh minute, Erik Friberg sent in a cross from 35-yards to the center of the box, and Fredy Montero slipped between Crew defenders Chad Marshall and Julius James and flicked the pass into the back of the goal as Will Hesmer was coming off his line to try to clear it. Not a smart move in Hesmer's part. It was Montero's 2nd goal of the season and his 24th of his Sounders career.

Columbus had a great chance to equalize in the 32nd minute. Dilly Duka's header sent Robbie Rodgers on the break, Kasey Keller came off his line and stopped Rodgers as he tried to slide it past the goalkeeper, but Keller used to right foot to deny him.

In the 67th minute, the Crew were awarded a penalty when Chad Marshall was pulled down by Patrick Ianni on a corner kick which was taken by Eddie Gaven. Emilio Renteria stepped up to the spot and placed the shot right down the middle as Keller dived to his left. It was Keller's 2nd penalty he's faced this season. The first PK he faced was in the 2nd match of the season against the Red Bulls when he denied Thierry Henry from the spot.

Columbus had some chances to pull off a victory. In the first minute of stoppage time, Kasey Keller came up with another huge stop, denying Andres Mendoza's free-kick from 23-yards out.

The Sounders (now 3-3-4) return home for a stretch of three straight home matches, starting next Saturday against the Portland Timbers, that match kicks off at 8pm.

Scoring summary:

Seattle Sounders FC - Fredy Montero (Erik Friberg) 7'

Columbus Crew - Emilio Renteria (penalty kick) 67'

Misconduct summary:

Seattle Sounders FC - Servando Carrasco (caution; Retaliation) 38'

Seattle Sounders FC - Fredy Montero (caution; Reckless tackle) 44'

Seattle Sounders FC - Leonardo Gonzalez (caution; Reckless tackle) 53'

Seattle Sounders FC - Alvaro Fernandez (caution; Reckless tackle) 64'

Columbus Crew - Sebastian Miranda (caution; Reckless foul) 75'

Seattle Sounders FC - Roger Levesque (caution; Reckless tackle) 90'

Lineups:

Seattle Sounders FC - Kasey Keller; James Riley, Jeff Parke, Patrick Ianni, Leonardo Gonzalez; Erik Friberg (Nate Jaqua 66'), Osvaldo Alonso, Servando Carrasco, Alvaro Fernandez (Lamar Neagle 89'); Roger Levesque, Fredy Montero (Michael Fucito 84')

Columbus Crew - William Hesmer; Sebastian Miranda, Chad Marshall, Julius James, Rich Balchan, Rich Balchan; Dilly Duka (Andres Mendoza 61'), Kevin Burns (Emmanuel Ekpo 73'), Dejan Rusmir, Robbie Rogers, Eddie Gaven; Emilio Renteria