Seattle Sounders FC preview vs San Jose Earthquakes. Over 62,000 tickets sold as Kasey Keller prepares for his final home match.

By Money Mike



A record crowd of over 62,000 will fill CenturyLink Field tomorrow as one of the greatest Goalkeepers in the game, Kasey Keller gets set to play in his final regular season home match of his career. A lot of folks have been chanting "ONE MORE YEAR!!" hoping that he will change his mind and return for the 2012 season. For them, and it hurts me to say this, they won't get their wish. And then people have been asking if he will be in net for the playoffs, and obviously, that's a dumb question. Keller will of course be in net for the playoffs. The Sounders on the other hand have two games remaining before the playoffs. Tomorrow, they take on the San Jose Earthquakes, who are already eliminated from playoff contention. These two teams met back on April 2 down at Buck Shaw Stadium in San Jose. Brad Evans and O'Brian White were the goalscorers for the Sounders, but the Earthquakes got two of their own from Simon Dawkins and Khari Stephenson and the match ended all square at 2-2. Right now, San Jose's big focus would be Chris Wondolowski getting his second straight Golden Boot, he'll be their go-to guy in this one.


Injury report:

San Jose Earthquakes - For the Earthquakes, Andre Luiz, who seriously needs to retire, has a left knee injury and he is out. Ike Opara has a left foot injury and is also out, and that's a key injury because this guy is a threat on set peices. Alan Gordon had season ending surgery, I don't know where though. Bobby Convey has inflammation on his right knee. Steven Lenhart is not injured, he has taken a family leave of absense for the rest of the season. Anthony Ampaipitakwong and Ramiro Corrales are both listed as doubtful. And Nana Attakora and Scott Sealy are both listed as questionable.

Seattle Sounders FC - For the Sounders, of course Steve Zakuani, Mike Seamon and Terry Boss are shut down for the season. Jeff Parke suffered a concussion last week against the Philadelphia Union and he has been ruled out for the home finale. O'Brian White still has not recovered from his second blood clot surgery and he may not be back this season. And finally, Mauro Rosales has been cleared for play this weekend after sitting out for a few weeks with an MCL sprain he suffered against D.C. United.


Looking back at Kasey Keller's 20-year career:

I tell you what, thing will never be the same without Kasey Keller. He made his U.S. national team debut in 1990 when he was still playing College Soccer at the University of Portland. With the national team, Keller picked up his 100th cap in the semifinals of the 2007 CONCACAF Gold Cup against Canada because of the fact that Tim Howard was carrying a yellow card and would've been suspended for the final if he picked up another one in the semifinal. So they benched Howard and started Keller and the U.S. eventually won the match 2-1 after a last second equalizer by Atiba Hutchinson was ruled out for offside. The U.S. would go on and win the Gold Cup in 2007 defeating Mexico 2-1 in the final. Keller made 102 appearances overall for the United States from 1990-2007, and there's no doubt, he made some big plays for the national team, including in their second match of the 2006 FIFA World Cup against Italy when he made a world class save to deny Alessandro Del Piero a go ahead goal. He made 176 appearances for Milwall from 1992-96, 99 appearances for Leicester City from 1996-99 and also won a League Cup for them, 51 appearances for Rayo Vallencano from 1999-2001, 85 appearances for Tottenham Hotspur from 2001-2005, 4 appearances during his short loan stint with Southampton in 2004, 78 appearances for Borussia Monchengladbach from 2005-2007, 13 appearances for Fulham during the 2007-2008 English Premier League season and so far, 91 appearances for the Seattle Sounders since 2009.


A Tribute to the Captain: