Comments on: Drilling down on: at Seattle Sounders 2, L.A. Galaxy 1

By: Dan Haug

Dan Haug — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 21:24:33 +0000

You are factually incorrect on at least one point. Marcelo Sarvas was wide open on the far post about ten yards in front of the goal. Go watch the full replay.

By: tylerbetts

tylerbetts — Mon, 19 Nov 2012 18:44:42 +0000

If you’re that eager to get rid of Sigi, we’ll gladly take him back in Columbus. For all his faults, he’s one of the best MLS coaches. Ever.

By: dws110

dws110 — Mon, 19 Nov 2012 17:50:20 +0000

I think you’re completely wrong about both Zakuani and Montero. I’m a huge Zakuani fan, and it’s incredibly inspiring to see him back on the field already, but the guy has so much rust to shake off from not playing that he’s a liability right now. I stopped counting his turnovers and misplayed passes last night. I hope he tears up MLS next year after having a full preseason to sharpen himself mentally, but he was the wrong choice to start last night against LA. Rosales should have had the start over Zakuani.

Sigi pulling Montero early really should be just cause and grounds for firing Sigi in the tunnel immediately after the match. I really don’t understand the Montero hate this morning, I thought he had a great match. For every ball Zakuani turned over, Montero was back fighting to recover. He picked several pockets right inside the circle.

Yes, it was a handball all day long. This wasn’t the first (or the 100th) time Johansson’s arms have gone all loco in the box. It’s sort of a thing with him; if he gets spun, he gets a little loose when he recovers. $10 says Keane saw that on film and figured he could use it.

By: paladinvt

paladinvt — Mon, 19 Nov 2012 12:23:30 +0000

It seemed pretty obvious at the time the defender had his arms out from his side trying to make himself bigger and was depending on the “ball to hand” argument to keep from getting the handball called against him. “Making yourself big” is a deliberate act, and when the ball hits your hand while doing that, you have deliberately handled the ball. In the box, that’s a PK.

By: dfstell

dfstell — Mon, 19 Nov 2012 10:50:36 +0000

Geez…..it was a handball and a PK. It would help Seattle supporters to look in the mirror sometimes. I admire their passion, but in my visiting of all the relevant soccer websites, I don’t think I’ve seen a single “the better team won” comment anywhere. It’s all complaints over the handball, Johnson’s non-goal and how the playoff format didn’t reward them enough for their better regular season record.

They sound like Mexican National Team officials anytime we beat them: the field was crappy, we had hurt players, the referee was bad, the ball didn’t have enough air in it……ANYTHING but “we lost and congrat to the winners”.

By: term3186

term3186 — Mon, 19 Nov 2012 07:03:06 +0000

It was a good call. What in the world was Johannsen thinking?! His arms were moving like freaking tilt-a-whirls the entire time he was shadowing Keane inside the penalty area. He was practically begging for a penalty to be called. Credit to Geiger for not being afraid to call it.

By: eorlin1964

eorlin1964 — Mon, 19 Nov 2012 05:50:08 +0000

The handball call was technically right, but worng: Keane had no one open and was trying to earn a PK – it was a clear ball to hand: Johansson’s hand was away form his body, but parallel to it (meaning even if his arm was tucked against his body the ball would have hit it). Geiger bought into Robbie Keane’s act.

Disappointing that you chose to spend a lot of words in the main article on what is at any rate a judgment call, while relegating a clear botched call that cost Seattle a goal to a footnote. What is the game like if it is 3-3 on aggregate after 60 minutes?

By: ndnut

ndnut — Mon, 19 Nov 2012 04:54:16 +0000

Is that it for “Packaged For Takeaway?” you said that the handball skimmed his right but I couldn’t see it, as it appears that the ball takes no deflection and keeps going out. If the left arm is mentioned, I have seen that small of a violation ignored when it goes for a corner anyways, so I find that to be a borderline judgement call where I would give a player the benefit of the doubt, especially at home. Still, going down 3-0 is what really killed SSFC, but nobody wants to remember that after a great performance that looked like a Rave Green win was possible.

P.S. Can you explain what happened at the end with EJ, Ozzie, and Geiger? Does the red card carry over? (Gorilla FC summed it up beat on Tweeter: “What comes after red?”)

By: footballer4ever

footballer4ever — Mon, 19 Nov 2012 04:51:39 +0000

I am saddened SSFC did not make the final. SSFC should avoid making that handball a deciding factor. The thruth of the matter is they dug a hole for themselves in the first leg and they failed to score at least 3 goals. That’s the end of any “controversy”.