Earlier today the teams practiced at Qwest Field and there was a pre-game presser:

RSL Practicing at Qwest:

Beckham and Donovan Meet the press (Video)

To promote the match, the circular roof of Seattle’s Space Needle was painted to resemble the MLS Cup ball. The design also features the logos of the both clubs LA Galaxy and Real Salt Lake playing in MLS Cup 2009.

Earlier in the week the MLS Cup arrived by ferry

And the teams arrived by chartered flight:

There are plenty of activities all listed here taking place in the run up to the Cup final:

Schedule of Events

[ FRI, NOV 20th ]

// Meet & Greet Social and Silent Auction

6PM – 8PM : Hosted by Gorilla FC
Fado Pub, 801 1st Ave
Happy Hour drink specials all night, pre-registration and entertainment by the Pop Offs (Cover band, 80’s, 90’s, 00’s) from 10pm until close. Sounders FC’s Roger Levesque and Sébastien Le Toux will be in attendance!

Silent Auction Opens! MLS All-Star Game Ball and Jersey signed by the MLS squad, Sounders items (autographed by Montero, Keller, Le Toux or Alonso), autographed Ken Griffey Jr. label wine, and more! Auction to benefit the Sounders player charity, Seattle Children’s Hospital.
» Download the Pub Map

[ SAT, NOV 21st ]

// 2009 Supporters Summit

10AM – 2PM, Hosted at Qwest Field, West Club Lounge (enter through north gate)
($10 suggested charity donation, lunch provided)
» Parking Pass for the Summit
» Download the Map

// Sounders End of Season Party

3PM – 6PM, Hosted by Prost Amerika ($13, doors open at 2pm)
Baltic Room, 1207 Pine Street
Fox Soccer Channel’s Jeremy St Louis and Sounders FC General Manager Adrian Hanauer, broadcaster Peter Fewing, and FIFA Representative in the Pacific Northwest, Sandy Hunt highlight the guests at the Sounders End of Season party. The event takes place on the Saturday before the MLS Cup Final at the Baltic Room. Food provided by Uli’s Sausages of Pioneer Square is included in the price. Only 130 places available so buy now to book your place and to take advantage of the advance discount.

» Read more and ticket information

// Pioneer Square Supporters Pub Crawl

6PM – 10PM, Hosted by the Sounder Supporter Groups
Pub crawl the soccer-friendly establishments in and around Qwest Field with fellow supporters while enjoying local drink/food specials. This is your last chance to get your Seattle Children’s Hospital charity bids in at Elysian Fields before the Silent Auction closes at 8pm. MLS All-Star Game Ball and Jersey signed by the MLS squad, Sounders items (autographed by Montero, Keller, Le Toux or Alonso), autographed Ken Griffey Jr. label wines, and more! Refer to the pub map for location details: Fado, Fuel, Elysian Fields and Swannies.
» Download the Pub Map

ELYSIAN FIELDS (Sounders Alliance): (6-9pm)
Continue the day’s summit discussions in the space provided. Silent auction finale at 8pm! ($3.50 Golden Boot/ $3 Bud Light game day specials). Sounders FC’s Sébastien Le Toux, James Riley and Taylor Graham will be in attendance and may bring a few of their MLS friends/teammates.

FUEL (Emerald City Supporters): (8-10pm)
Join the ECS MLS Cup Party and celebrate with the Emerald City Supporters. Kasey Keller will be in attendance! Drink and food specials in effect for those attending. (21+)

SWANNIES (North End Supporters):
$1 off beer and $5 Sounders Slammers game day specials all weekend.

FADO PUB Pub (Gorilla FC):
Happy hour and beer drink specials, Soccer Trivia Contest with great prizes (6:30pm), entertainment by the Kennedy Brothers!

[ SUN, NOV 22nd ]

// FIFA 2010 Tournament

11AM – 2PM, Hosted by Gorilla FC ($20 entry fee)
Fado Pub, 801 1st Ave
Are you the best FIFA10 XBOX player? Winner takes home a large prize basket full of Sounders autographed swag and GFC’s favorite bars and stores gift cards. Benefit for the victims of Black October in Bolivia. Limited to 32 teams! Don’t miss the 12:30 complimentary wine tasting with Masquerade Wine Company, including their acclaimed champagne-style sparkling wine, “Effervescing Elephant”. Register today at www.gorillafc.com!

// Pre-Game Spaghetti Feed

2PM – 4PM, hosted by North End Supporters and Emerald City Supporters ($0-$6)
Fuel, 164 S Washington St, Seattle
Swannies, 109 S. Washington St, Seattle (at Occidental Park)
Fans of the two teams competing in MLS Cup will be hosted by Emerald City Supporters (at Fuel) and North End Supporters (at Swannies). Drink specials at both pubs and a Swannies Spaghetti Feed. $6/person : Meat & veggie spaghetti, salad, & bread » RSVP to the feed!

// MLS Cup Final & March to the Match

3:45PM, Meet for the March at Occidental Park
Major League Soccer fans will meet at 3:45 at Occidental Park for a brief celebration and address and then depart from there towards the X-Box Pitch at Qwest Field at 4:00 p.m. The Sounders FC band, “Sound Wave” along with Sounders FC owners, players, coaches and MLS Commissioner Don Garber are all slated to take part. Grab your poncho gift at the gate, then join the Soccer Celebration in the North Lot, where Third Eye Blind will be performing before the game!

5:30PM, Kickoff at Qwest Field

Summit Hosted By:

Emerald City Supporters

Gorilla FC

North End Supporters

Alliance Council

Immortal Fury

Additionally, Rock band Third Eye Blind will play a free concert outside of the stadium prior to Sunday’s game, with footage to air during halftime of ESPN’s coverage.

Special Thanks to David Falk at the Examiner, Prost Amerika Soccer and the Seattle Times, and the Sounders Council for some of the above content.

What do you think? Excited to see another top USL team officially enter the league? What will be the “impact” of the Impact on MLS? Will we see any effect of a French-speaking region on MLS? What do they need to do to replicate the successes of Seattle and Toronto?

-Patrick Beatty

According to a search of the US Patent and TradeMark Database, USL breakaway club Miami FC has brought the long dormant trademark back to life this past week on November 16, 2009.

Such a move would allow the USL Team Owners Association to brand and market their league as the North American Soccer League.

And…..

And…..

And finally….

Now with the NASL back, could the New York Cosmos with Pelé as President be far behind? Well according to this article in the Times of London maybe not…

You couldn’t make it up. Paul Kemsley — Lord Sugar’s former Apprentice lieutenant, whose £500m property empire imploded in June — has bought America’s most famous soccer club, the New York Cosmos.
Kemsley plans to turn the team, dormant since 1985, into a global lifestyle brand with retail, leisure and music arms. But how? Last I heard, “soccer” wasn’t all that popular in America.

He will have some help from Pele, the world’s greatest footballer, who ended his playing career at the Cosmos in 1977: Pele will be president of the company. Simon Greenberg, Chelsea football club’s departing communications and public affairs director, is also said to be on board. It is unclear whether there will be any role for Kemsley’s other pals, including Sports Direct founder Mike Ashley or Topshop’s Sir Philip Green.

The club’s first game under new management will be held next summer in Central Park. It will see the Cosmos play Kemsley’s beloved Spurs — he was vice-chairman at the club until October 2007. In the meantime, presumably, he will draft in some players and coaches. Rumours that he will try to lure David Beckham have so far proved unfounded.

What do you think of all this? Good move? Bit ambitious?

What do you think? Excited to see more MLS players become coaches in the US or does experience as a player not that important for a coach? What other alumni would you like to see involved in soccer in the US aside from playing?

-Patrick Beatty

According to Goal.com (click here for the original article and all the details), Houston Dynamo and USMNT midfielder Stuart Holden could be going to Aberdeen FC in Scotland, which finished 4th in the Scottish League last season.

Manager Mark McGhee is quoted on stv.tv as saying “(Holden) is one we are looking at,” before explaining that a move for the midfielder could happen in January or the team might have to wait until the summer. “He fits into the caliber of player we are trying to sign,” the manager concluded.

“I’m available on a free and I’ve already got a few options in Scotland and England. Moving back to the UK appeals but I have to make sure wherever I end up I’m playing every week. I have a big chance to play at the World Cup in the summer and don’t want to miss out on it by being at the wrong side.”

What do you think? Is the town of Holden’s birth, the place that he should be playing before the World Cup or is there a better fit for him that has playing time and quality? As a Dynamo fan, are you concerned for next season with Clark and Holden potentially out the door? Are young American players improving at the expense of the quality of MLS or is this a good thing for both the USMNT and MLS?

-Patrick Beatty

One source who recently saw Torres play had some impressive things to say about the young Colombian, “He’s a young, small, quick player with excellent skill on the ball. He took all the set pieces for America de Cali while he was on. Torres is not afraid to dribble and take guys on.”

“He’s not a classic #10, more like a cross between David Ferreira (FC Dallas) and Marco Pappa (Chicago Fire)”, the source added, “with the former’s quickness and the latter’s dead ball ability. Torres is still very much a project, though.”

Comparisons to Freddy Montero will likely arise. But at 18-years old, Torres may not be ready to be the center piece of the Philadelphia Union just yet. “Torres is not a guy to build a team around, but perhaps an interesting piece of the puzzle–again, like Marco Pappa was for the Fire”, the source stated.

Torres looks like he could be an exciting player with some serious skill. If the deal is completed, it will be an encouraging sign for the Philadelphia Union. The team realizes that a number of key foreign players need to be brought in if the team wants to be successful in its first season.

America de Cali is one of the most successful clubs in Colombia. They are the defending champions of the Colombian first division, and have had great success in Copa Libertadores.

There has been no confirmation on the signing from any American media outlets, but the following Colombian news source first broke the story.

http://www.enlajugada.com/principal/ver_nota.php?idn=27824 (in Spanish)

What do you think?

Inspired by the 1950 kit?

This is an extremely important day in the process to establish our club, to be successful both on and off the field,” said Philadelphia Union CEO & Operating Partner Nick Sakiewicz. “I know how hard Peter has been at it—scouting and talking with coaches and general managers throughout MLS—making sure he selects the players who have the right balance of character and talent; who will work incredibly hard and give their coaches and our supporters maximum effort every time out.”

Here’s how the draft works:

Teams can participate in a half-day trade window on Monday, November 23 until Noon Eastern Time. All 15 current MLS teams are required to submit their lists of protected players to the League by 3 PM Monday, ET.

Philadelphia Union will then have until 1 PM ET to send their picks to the MLS office in New York.

Once approved by the League, Philadelphia Union will release the names and complete information on the players selected on the club’s internet site, www.philadelphiaunion.com. Peter Nowak and Coach and Youth Team Coordinator John Hackworth will be available to the media at the club’s offices shortly thereafter. At the conclusion of the Expansion Draft, results will be posted on MLSnet.com and teams may resume trading.

The most recent MLS Expansion Draft was highlighted by several impact players who helped lead Seattle Sounders FC to a playoff berth in their first season including Brad Evans, Nate Jaqua and James Riley.

Philadelphia Union may not claim more than one player from any given team in MLS – five teams will not have a player taken in the Expansion Draft.

2009 MLS Expansion Draft Rules

Senior Roster

* Teams may protect 11 players between its Senior and Developmental Rosters.
* If the Player’s contract expires at the end of 2009, he will still be considered part of the Team’s Senior Roster.
* If a Team protects a player, it is not obligated to exercise the player’s option. It may renegotiate a new budget number for the player as in previous years.
* If a player retires, he will not be a part of the Senior Roster, but his Team will lose its right of first refusal to him should he ultimately decide to play.

Developmental Roster

* Players on a Team’s Developmental Roster, other than Generation adidas players who have not graduated by the end of the 2009 season and Home Grown Players, will be part of the expansion draft.
* Generation adidas players (who have not graduated by the end of the 2009 season) and Home Grown players are automatically protected (teams do not have to use a protected slot on them). If Philadelphia selects a Developmental Player it must offer him a Senior Roster position and he must be on Philadelphia’s Senior Roster as of the Roster Compliance Date.

International Players

* Teams are restricted in the number of International player(s) that they may make available per the table set forth below.
* For purposes of this expansion process, for U.S.-based teams, any non-domestic U.S. player would count as an International and for Toronto FC, any non-domestic U.S. player or non-domestic Canadian player would count as an International.

Designated Players

* Designated Players do not have to be protected unless the player has a no trade clause in which case he must be protected.

Maximum Player Loss

* Once a player has been claimed from a Team’s non-protected roster, that team is eliminated from the expansion draft and may not lose any further players.

Right to Renegotiate

* Philadelphia will have the right to renegotiate a drafted player’s salary (either up or down) without having to place such player on waivers or giving his previous Team a right of first refusal.

Priority

* On the first day of the Discovery/Allocation Period, Philadelphia will have priority over players who played professionally in the USL First or Second Division in 2009, subject to another MLS team’s right of first refusal.

Rounds

* The expansion draft will be 10 rounds.

INTERNATIONAL PLAYER PROTECTION REQUIREMENT TABLE:

· Teams may make available a number of international players equal to their total number of international players minus three, provided that if a team has three or less international players it may make available not more than one.

The Dynamo have begun to think of life after Ricardo Clark.

According to the Dynamo, the U.S. national team midfielder, whose contract expires next month, has no intention to re-sign with Major League Soccer as he pursues opportunities abroad.

“He’s indicated to us that he’s moving on,” Dynamo chief operating officer Chris Canetti said Tuesday. “We don’t know where he’s going or what his options are.”

Paul Allen Sounders Owner; Founder and Chairman, Vulcan Inc., who already has overcome cancer once, has been diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
Allen, started chemotherapy treatments earlier this month and is expected to continue to oversee the team and his many other business ventures as he fights the illness.

“Somebody called me from the Marriott this afternoon when it all went down and said, ‘Are you buying the Silverdome?’ ” Duggan said Monday. “I said, ‘No, not this week.’ He said, ‘There’s a Canadian company that said they’re putting a pro soccer team in Detroit.’ “I don’t know anything about it, whether it’s true or not.”
Duggan said he was stunned when he learned that the winning bid for the Silverdome was only $583,000.
The successful bidder’s name is to be released when final details are worked out and the Silverdome sale closes, which could take up to 45 days.

What do you think? Could Detroit be the 20th team in MLS? Is the fan base there? What ingredients are there that could make it another Seattle? What city would you prefer to be the 20th? Have the PDL Michigan Bucks of Duggan shown that there is a market for soccer with their success in the Open Cup and against the New England Revolution or is the average attendance of 726 last year in a stadium that seats 2100 make you concerned? What things need to happen there to make you get behind Detroit?

-Patrick Beatty

“Too soon! Steve and Libby are sorry to see the Sounders season come to an end… but it’s time to dry the tears, because there’s much more soccer to be played, including MLS fixtures this weekend, big EPL matchups, and World Cup qualifying. We also catch up with friend of the show (and crack MLS analyst) Patrick Beatty, and look forward to the MLS Cup final party with Prost Amerika.”

What do you think? Wish more MLS teams had regular soccer radio shows or do MLS fans wants something else? What teams could really use this kind of coverage? Prefer video interviews or just analysis? How can the online soccer community make MLS more interesting and relevant to the hardcore fan, new fan, and/or the casual fan?

-Patrick Beatty

According to Gareth Wheeler at the Toronto Sun (click here for the original article and all the details), Preki may be heading to Toronto FC as head coach adn tecnical director.

What do you think? Is Preki what Toronto FC needs or is there a better candidate? With Preki at the helm, what changes do you anticipate in the player pool in 2010 at TFC or will things stay the same? Is 2010 the year they make the playoffs? What about Guevara? Will he remain since Preki and he have had a tumultuos history and is that a good or bad thing for the club? What else besides the grass is on your TFC 2010 wishlist?

-Patrick Beatty

Other observations and discussions:
-Seitz may never see the field at this rate. However, he was loaned to the Portland Timbers and got in 6 or 7 games. He has a great attitude and is very happy for Rimando’s success.
-John Busch looked pretty rough after the game. He cares that much about the game. Made you just want to give him a hug.
-Nyarko was still wearing his bandage and was dizzy.The trainers also didn’t want him to drive home to be on the safe side. Nice to see the rest of the team looking out for him too.
-Saw Dave Checketts holding the Eastern Conference Cup. Haven’t seen him smiling that wide before.

What do you think? Agree with Kreis and RSL that they are a good team or do you think the Fire gave the game away? Happy to see RSL turn it around after all these years or were you looking forward to Blanco vs Beckham in the MLS Cup? Which would have been better for MLS or does it matter?

-Patrick Beatty

Venue:
Toyota Park, Bridgeview, IL

Weather:
Partly Cloudy and 61 degrees

Referees:
Head Ref: Ricardo Salazar
Asst Ref: Adam Wienckowski
Asst Ref: George Gansner
4th Official: Mark Geiger

Actual Lineups:

Real Salt Lake (1 Loss and 1 Tie Against Chicago Fire in 2009)
GK Nick Rimando
RB Robbie Russell
CB Jamison Olave
CB Nat Borchers
LB Chris Wingert
RM Andy Williams
CM Javier Morales
CM Kyle Beckerman – Captain
LM Will Johnson
RS Robbie Findley
LS Yura Movsisyan

Subs
GK Chris Seitz
DF Tony Beltran
MF Jean Alexandre
MF Ned Grabavoy
MF Clint Mathis
FW Pablo Campos
FW Fabian Espindola

Chicago Fire (1 Win and 1 Tie Against Real Salt Lake in 2009)
GK Jon Busch
RB Brandon Prideaux
CB Dasan Robinson
CB C.J. Brown -Captain
LB Daniel Woolard
RM Chris Rolfe
CM Logan Pause
CM John Thorrington
LM Marco Pappa
RS Brian McBride
LS Cuauhtemoc Blanco

Subs
GK Andrew Dykstra
DF Wilman Conde
MF Austin Washington
MF Mike Banner
MF Justin Mapp
FW Patrick Nyarko
FW Calen Carr

PRE-GAME:
-Sorry delay in getting to park

IN-GAME:
29min: So far a spirited game with Pappa and Blanco wreaking havoc in the box and Movsisyan doing the same for RSL.
30min: Blanco putting on a dribbling and shielding clinic on the right gets the ball forward and his teammate is fouled by RSL. Section 8 chanting and waving flags. Great atmosphere.
34min: Blanco running down a long ball by Busch just left of the goal, but just a little too far for Mr. White.
35min: Williams with some cuts near the left side of the goal and wins a corner, but the Fire defense is stone walling everything.
36min: Rolfe with a move up the left wins a corner from his low cross. Earlier RSL is really fighting with a lot of heart. Movsisyan is sliding into tackle balls away up top.
37min: Rimando with some shaky moments. Almost gave the ball away in front of goal.
39min: Rolfe skating up the right and sends a ball across to Logan Pause,l who gets tackled by Morales. YELLOW CARD for Morales and a free kick for the Fire from the top left of the box. Wow, Blanco curls the shot around the wall, but Rimando is well positioned.
43min: RSL lofting balls into the biox, but being cleared by Fire. Both sides pressing as much as possible. Woolard sends a long ball over the group to the goalie, looking for an onrushing Blanco. That final pass just isn’t there yet.
45min: Dangerous moments for the Fire as the ball is run into the box by Findley and Morales gets of a shot at goal, but just wide right. Wow, Findley and Movsisyan rushing goal and Movsisyan gets off a close range shot that Busch somehow stops with his body.

HALFTIME
Shots: RSL 5, FIRE 3
Shots On Goal: RSL 3, Fire 1
Saves: RSL 1, Fire 3
Fouls: RSL 8, Fire 4
Corners: RSL 1, Fire 5
Offsides: RSL 2, Fire 1

46min: We’re back and RSL in control up top. No subs at the half. Fire on the counter and after some footwork by Rolfe, Blanco lofts the ball a little too far, but Prideaux with some nice moves in those old legs to shield the ball and get it back. Fire can’t make the final pass and on the other end, RSL is fouled for a free kick at the top right of the box.
49min: Morales curls the ball to the outside of the net on the right. Wow, thought for sure that was in.
51min: Thorrington with a ball from Rolfe at midfield gets in the middle of a RSL four man sandwich for a free kick for the Fire. Lose it up field and RSL on the counter. Section 8 non-stop chanting. Awesome stuff! Big crowd.

Tonight’s attendance is 21,723!

53min: Rolfe on a run up the left but is stripped. Movsisyan on the other end is on the ground in the box after hanging out with CJ Brown. No one is buying it.
55min: After some nice passes by Blanco, Rolfe ends up with it on the left, but is again shutdown. Maybe time for Nyarko?
56min: LARGE Fire chant shaking the stadium. Nice! Fire cross from left but Rimando beats McBride to it.
58min: Wow, Wingert slips a ball ina s he runs up from the left and Morales dishes it to Movsisyan in the box, but Fire defender able to make him miss wide right. Scary moments again for the Fire. Fire attack from the right and move the ball around to the left, but Woolard is stripped.
60min: Neither team can get that final pass/shot, but both teams are having chances. LOL, Blanco running forward for a long ball and then gets in Rimando’s face. Love it!
62min: Beckerman gets the ball after Morales and Movsisyan move it around outside the box. Low shot that Busch gobbles up with plenty of warning.
63min: Pappa spins past Wingert and runs up the right for a shot at goal…directly at Rimando.
64min: Ball in the box and everyone winding up but Thorrington takes the shot and Rimando nearly loses it. Fire were smelling blood. I think the speed of Nyarko would destroy Wingert right now. no, subs yet.
66min: RSL runs it up the right and Fire keep it away from being a shot, but RSL gets a corner. No result.
67min: McBride as target man get the ball and flicks it to the right for Blanco, who leads Thorrington into the box on the right, but Rimando literally jumps on it. Again, the Fire attack as Prideaux is fed a ball up the right and lets off a cross to Rolfe in the box, whose header is just over the bar.
68min: Williams out, Mathis in. McBride taken down and no call. Mathis already being quite active in passing and ball movement. Again neither team can make the final pass. Thorrington on the break and leads the ball a little ahead of his foot and Will Johnson simply takes it.
72min: CJ Brown stops a ball that gets fed out to the right and Robinson totally strips the attacker and wins the ball back to the Fire. Wow! Beasts!
73min: Movsisyan out, Espindola in. McBride lets off a long range shot from the right that is wide right.
75min: Pappa taken down and Fire win a free kick in their own third. Wingert gets a YELLOW card and Nyarko is coming on. Nyarko in, Pappa out.
78min: Woolard makes a run up the left and after beating one man, slams into 2 RSL players.
79min: Nice long through ball for Nyarko but just a little to far ahead and RSL intercepts. Nice idea though.
80min: McBride looking tired. RSL have possession but lose it.
82min: Lots of ball movement around the box and McBride eventually gets it to Rolfe, who misses wide left. Nyarko crushed by RSL as he literally runs into a wall. Fire free kick and again eventually ends with McBride trapping and setting up Rolfe who misses again.
86min: Wow, Nyarko slips ball in the middle to Blanco, who dummy/bakcheels it forward to an onrunning Thorrington on the breakaway, who then dishes left to McBride who shoots from the left but misses goal low and wide right.
88min: McBride playing defense and slips the ball up the right to Nyarko, who lays it off to Thorrington, but lays it off in turn behind Blanco. Nyarko again on the move and same setup, except McBride receives the ball and can’t quite get it to Blanco on the left.

3 mins of stoppage time! McBride calling on Nyarko to cover his man during a throw-in. RSL with possession now. Section 8 full of red flares and Busch scoops up a weak RSL shot. So much smoke, Busch is telling Section 8 to stop. Amazing amount of smoke around Busch. Bushc punches out RSL corner from the smoke and Fire somehow win it with an onrushing Nyarko who is fed the ball and slips it to an onrushing Thorrington, who gets tangled up in RSL defenders in the box.

FIRST OVERTIME
1min: We’re back! RSL with possession, but Blanco on breakaway backheels it back to be sent forward to McBride. Nice touch!
4min: Conde on the sideline, looking to come in as RSL circle the Fire box.
5min: Woolard out, Conde in.
6min: Johnson fouls Nyarko on the breakaway and yells at the ref. Could the last sub we see be Banner or Mapp for the Fire? Blanco with a run in and stepover in the box on the left and tries to get a foul called in the box for grabbing but not happening. Espindola and Conde grabbing each other and having a little chat. 10min: YELLOW card for Beckerman. RSL on run forward and move ball back and Rimando walks out to shank the ball.
12min; Nyarko on the right with a nice slip past a defender on the goal line and sends it in for a deflection that Morales handles with his hand at the top of the box. Free kick at the top of the box.
13min: Blanco curls a shot over the wall and to the left that Rimando has to dive to save.
15min: Nice ball slipped to Nyarko, who runs it to the line and instead of a corner, it’s a goal kick. Looked like a bad call. Rolfe and Beckerman cramping a little.

SECOND OVERTIME:
1min: Section 8 chanting as RSL start with the ball. Busch catches the ball in the goal from a long hanging shot. Nyarko on the receiving end of the goal kick and a push from Wingert. Foul now by Fire on RSL. Getting sloppy/chippy as people are tired. McBride doing a lot of walking.
3min: CJ Brown stops a ball and a second with his face/head. Nyarko on the counter takes too long and ball gets slipped out but Fire ping it off RSL and win a corner. Nyarko recovers the corner and wins another.
4min: Rolfe out, Mapp in.
5min: Conde running around like a madman and strips RSL and the ball heads up top and now Nyarko taken down from behind by Johnson. YELLOW card for Will Johnson.
7min: Ball for Mapp and he misses it. Rusty? Ball in Busch’s hands after weak cross by RSL after stripping Mapp.
8min: RSL moving the ball around. Mapp not doing much defensively. Nyarko on the other hand slide tackles a ball away.
9min: Ball sent to Mapp but he isn’t fast enough to get to it. Nyarko on the ground, no one stopping play for a long time. Blanco is pissed that no one is stopping the game for Nyarko. Lots of players stretching as the game is on pause. Blanco gets a YELLOW card for spitting in the general direction of the ref and/or arguing. Nyarko with head wound. Wingert off as he was cramping. So both Nyarko and he have yet to re-enter. Nyarko has head bandage and new jersey and is on.
15min: Mapp with a dash up the left and his cross wins a corner. Nyarko with a cheeky backheel to Mapp, who goes flying, but with no call.

Robbie Russel off, Ned Grabavoy on. Mapp with a weak shot on goal.

PENALTY KICKS:
Blanco: Hits cross bar and down and in. FIRE 1 RSL 0
Mathis: Straight down the middle and fools Busch FIRE 1 RSL 1
McBride: Top right corner FIRE 2 RSL 1
Morales: Skies it and completely misses the box. FIRE 2 RSL 1
Conde: Just above Rimando and in. FIRE 3 RSL 1
Findley: Short quick shot in the middle. FIRE 3 RSL 2
Thorrington: Rimando punches it wide left. FIRE 3 RSL 2
Beckerman: Sends it hard left corner. FIRE 3 RSL 3
CJ Brown: light touch into left corner FIRE 4 RSL 3
Johnson: sends it in hard, FIRE 4 RSL 4
Pause: punched left by Rimando FIRE 4 RSL 4
Espindola: Skies it FIRE 4 RSL 4
Prideaux: Rimando punches it left FIRE 4 RSL 4
Grabavoy: goes left and Busch touches it but can’t keep it out of goal. FIRE 4 RSl 5

REAL SALT LAKE ARE EASTERN CONFERENCE CHAMPIONS AND HEAD TO MLS CUP TO PLAY THE LA GALAXY!

-Patrick Beatty

And we will be giving one away to who ever lives in Philadelphia, wants to cover the Union and sends us the best writing example.

Anyway, what do you think?

Classy?

Meanwhile, Preki may be taking the assistant US coaching position left vacant by John Hackworth, who has joined the Philadelphia Union as assistant coach.

What do you think? Like the move with a coach that has MLS and international experience? Is Vasquez a good replacement? Since Chivas USA is a blend of Mexican and many international players, is this the first of several shifts to a more Mexican-centric team? Is Preki making the right move? Is he a good fit for the national team? What does he bring to the table that can help Bradley and the USMNT?

-Patrick Beatty

McBride

Thorrington

Rolfe

Nyarko

Blanco

Woolard

Prideaux

Carr

Busch
/p>

What do you think? Surprised to hear players mention the turf in New England as a factor? Interested in academy players who may become first team one day? Happy to hear about Prideaux’s move to coaching? Happy to know that (like everywhere), the players really do appreciate the fan support from the stands during the game?

-Patrick Beatty

Media Advisory and Press Release 11/13/09

WHO: MLS Commissioner Don Garber, SSFC Minority Owner Drew Carey and other MLS Officials

WHAT: Supporters Summit Proper

WHEN:                       Saturday, November 21, 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

WHERE: Qwest Field West Club

You are invited to attend all summit events throughout the weekend. Several of the events will include national media personalities as well as Sounders FC and possible MLS players. Your MLS press credentials will get you in to the various events. For the events being held at Qwest Field you may download your parking passes from the Summit website. An overview of specific events are provided in the below text.

Specific events, details, times, locations etc are provided here: http://sounderscouncil.com/summit/

If you have any specific questions or folks that you wish to interview, please feel free to contact me directly. My contact information is at the bottom of this e-mail. At this point we are still in the process of working with MLS to see if specific individuals will be available for interviews etc. I will keep you posted on this.

Seattle, WA Major League Soccer fans and specifically, Supporters Groups of MLS clubs from across the U.S. and Canada will converge in the city of Seattle for the MLS Cup weekend, starting Friday, November 20^th and culminating Sunday Afternoon, November 22nd with the Major League Soccer Championship, MLS Cup 2009. This is Our Passion, these are Our Clubs and this is Our League. We will all be celebrating soccer that is live in 15 stadiums in the USA and Canada with supporters in full voice every week for nine months of every year.

The Supporter Summit will provide a unique opportunity for supporters of current and future MLS teams, to come together in a centralized location. In addition this event is a great opportunity to interact with league officials and provide solution-oriented feedback that contributes to helping improve MLS.

The Supporters 2009 planning team is delighted to announce that Seattle Sounders FC minority owner Drew Carey and MLS Commissioner Don Garber will be joining MLS fans and supporters by participating on Saturday, November 21st. Carey and Garber will be moderating a Q&A with questions from the fans for the Commissioner. In addition there will be an officiating and technical discussion panel with Joe Machnick and Alfonso Mondelo

Friday night, November 20^th, from 6PM – 8PM, Gorilla FC will be hosting an icebreaker to kick off the weekend activities at Fado Pub. Entertainment will be provided by the 89’s 90’s cover band, the Pop Offs from 10pm until close. The silent auction opens with autographed MLS items, Autographed Ken Griffey Jr. label wines, and more! Auction to benefit the club’s selected charities (Sounders are supporting Seattle Children’s Hospital) (Player appearances to be announced later in the week).

Below is the detailed schedule of the Saturday Summit event:

10AM – 2PM, Hosted at Qwest Field, West Club Lounge
($10 suggested charity donation, lunch provided)
9.45am to 10.15am
•Registration for Supporters Summit participants

10.15am to 11.00am
• MLS Commissioner Don Garber will give a state of the league address. Serious supporters won’t to want to miss these speakers, or the upcoming announcements!
• Q&A session with Commissioner Garber, moderated by Drew Carey

11.00am to 11.10am
• Break

11.10am to 12.15am
• Officiating and technical discussion panel with Joe Machnick and Alfonso Mondelo

12.15pm to 1.00pm
• Lunch provided

1.00pm to 2.00pm
• Supporters Shield history and presentation by Sam Pierron, Kansas City Wizards
• Raffle for some great gifts from MLS sponsors

At 6pm The Seattle Sounders FC Alliance Council will be hosting an event at Elysian Fields. This is will be an opportunity for folks that attended the summit to continue the days discussions with fellow supporters in addition, the event will be the last opportunity to get in your bids for the charity before the silent auction closes at 8pm. (Proceeds raised from the auction will benefit Children’s Hospital of Seattle) and goes until 9:00 pm (Player appearances and other special guests will be announced later in the week).

In addition to the summit proper, there are several attractive summit related events that will be taking place in and around Seattle, MLS Cup weekend:

Prost Amerika’s Sounders End of Year Party
Fox Soccer Channel’s Jeremy St Louis and Sounders FC’s Pete Fewing highlight the guest list.

Pioneer Pub Crawl hosted by the Sounder Supporter Groups
Pub crawl the soccer-friendly establishments in and around Qwest Field and continues the day’s discussions with fellow supporters while enjoying local drink/food specials at establishments such as Fado, Fuel, Elysian Fields, Swannies and F.X. McRory’s. There will be a silent auction with autographed MLS items and more, to benefit Seattle Children’s Hospital. Emerald City Supporters will present a special player of the year award to Sounders FC goalkeeper Kasey Keller, who will be in attendance to accept the award.

FIFA 2010 Tournament Hosted By Gorilla FC
Are you the best FIFA10 XBOX player? Winner takes home a large prize basket full of Sounders autographed swag and GFC’s favorite bars and stores gift cards. Benefit for the victims of Black October in Bolivia. Limited to 32 teams, so register today!

MLS Cup Finals Pre-Game Spaghetti Feed
Hosted by the North End Supporters at Swannies ($6/person: Meat & veggie spaghetti, salad, & bread) and joined by the Emerald City Supporters at Fuel. Game day drink specials will be available.

The summit and companion events are open to the public but seating will be limited. For the full schedule, times, details, registration and parking passes, please visit:

http://sounderscouncil.com/summit/