After slow start to year, Sounders' Montero filling up nets
DON RUIZ
Fredy Montero was six games into this MLS season without scoring a goal.
Don’t worry, the Sounders said, after he scores one, they’ll come in bunches.
Looks like they’re right.
Montero scored a long-distance goal May 2 against Los Angeles. And now, less than three weeks later, he has caught David Estrada for the team lead with four.
“Forwards are streaky, and they get on streaks for some reason where they can’t find the net, and other streaks where they find the net all the time,” coach Sigi Schmid said. “… I was always confident Fredy was going to get goals, as long as he was getting chances, creating chances, getting close to the goal – and I think he was doing that.”
Montero’s latest changed an outcome. With the Sounders trailing Vancouver 2-1 in the 90th minute, he took a pass from Eddie Johnson just outside the penalty area, turned, took a touch to his right, and knocked the equalizer into the upper far corner.
The goal earned the Sounders a point in both the MLS standings and the Cascadia Cup rivalry. It also sent Montero to his accustomed spot atop Seattle’s goal totals, where he has finished each of his first three MLS seasons: 12 goals in 2009; 10 in 2010, tied Steve Zakuani; and 12 in 2011.
“Fredy’s a special player,” Johnson said. “He scores nice goals. If you look at the four goals he’s had this year, I think he hit one from 40 yards out at home in the upper corner, he had two nice goals in Dallas, and another individual goal this past weekend. He’s a special player. We’re very fortunate to have him.”
Johnson scored Seattle’s first goal Saturday – his third with the Sounders.
Meanwhile, the game marked Estrada’s first non-start of the season. He played 18 minutes as a sub.
“He’s a player who can still play up top for us some,” Schmid said. “… The minutes are there for him because there are still a ton of games.”
CUP CHANGES?
The date of the Sounders’ 2012 U.S. Open Cup opener next week is expected to change. And the game site could too.
The match had been scheduled for May 29 against the winner of a match tonight between two Georgia-based teams.
However, Sounders FC is trying to get the game moved to May 30, regardless of opponent. The club also is trying to persuade the second-division Atlanta Silverbacks to play at Starfire Sports Stadium if they defeat the fourth-division Georgia Revolution, which would be obligated to visit Tukwila.
ADDED TIME
Midfielder Brad Evans (calf) is likely to be available when Columbus visits CenturyLink Field on Wednesday, but Schmid said defender Leo Gonzalez (quad) is day-to-day. Goalkeeper Michael Gspurning (hip), though improving, and defender Patrick Ianni (back) remain unavailable. … D.C. United’s Dwayne De Rosario was MLS player of the week after three goals in two games.
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