Late subsitute Michael Fucito scored a stoppage-time winner for the Seattle Sounders, rescuing a dramatic 1-0 win over Kansas City in a game where neither team looked prepared to score.
As the whistle drew near, the second-year player ran onto a quick Brad Evans throw-in to hammer the ball home for his first professional goal in only his second professional appearance.
For Kansas City, the loss breaks the team’s two-match winning streak to start the season.
The Wizards sent out the same lineup that triumphed the previous weekend over Colorado, with one exception: Speedy Colombian Pablo Escobar earned his first start alongside Jimmy Conrad in the heart of Kansas City’s defense. Sigi Schmid made one change for Seattle, dropping Brad Evans from the starting lineup in favor of Pete Vagenas.
The two players with yellow shoes were the ones to watch on offense -- Kansas City’s Ryan Smith and his fellow Londoner, left-sided Seattle counterpart Steve Zakuani, triggered their sides’ respective attacks in a relatively danger-free first half. The few early scoring chances came in five-minute span early in the half, with Seattle earning the better opportunities.
Seattle’s James Riley created the first great chance, slipping past left back Roger Espinoza to deliver an excellent cross. However, Pat Noonan scuffed the shot under duress from the Wizards defense. Seattle kept the pressure on, with Fredy Montero’s shot to the near post well-saved by KC keeper Jimmy Nielsen in the 14th minute.
The next 30 minutes yielded little for either team and, perhaps frustrated by the punchless offense, Seattle’s composure started to wane. First, Zakuani picked up a yellow that could have easily been a red for making contact with referee Jair Marrufo. Seconds later, Vagenas nearly gave up a
cheap goal with an errant back pass, but Jhon Kennedy Hurtado used his excellent speed to cover the mistake.
In the end, Nielsen’s save was the only stop of the first half as each team went into the break scoreless.
Kansas City had been dealt a blow in the 32nd minute, when Conrad was forced to exit the game with a strained calf and was replaced by Matt Besler. But the visitors nearly opened the scoring in the 50th minute, with Arnaud making a strong run through the heart of Seattle’s defense. Kasey
Keller came out to deny the chance, but the Wizards started to make real inroads.
The Sounders had a chance to hit back with a free kick from just outside the area, but Ljungberg’s shot hit the stanchion behind the goal. However,
as the half progressed, neither team really came close to scoring.
Seattle’s offense got a shot in the arm after the inclusion of Evans, who replaced Noonan in right midfield. Shortly after, Seattle had what looked like a good argument for a penalty kick as Kei Kamara dragged down Marshall in the box, but it wasn’t awarded.
The crowd released some of its pent-up frustration at the Wizards in the 80th minute, when the visitors failed to play the ball out after Evans went down with an injury. Then the eventual hero came on for the Sounders in the 85th minute.
After Fucito’s goal, Seattle nearly had a flashback from last week’s conceded goal in additional time, as Keller had to be at full stretch to deny a shot from Chance Myers directly after the restart.
