Win in Seattle improves record to 2-2
SEATTLE The Impact evened its MLS record to 2-2-0 with a 1-0 win over the Seattle Sounders on Saturday before 39,469 spectators at CenturyLink Field.
Jeisson Vargas gave the Impact a 1-0 lead when he scored in the 60th minute. Vargas was six yards out when he took a pass from Ignacio Piatti, who drew the defence to him and then dropped a pass across the box to Vargas.
Impact goalkeeper Evan Bush made three saves for the shutout. He didn’t have to make his first save until the 68th minute.
“A lot of times, guys with that (quiet) type of personality aren’t great on the field, but he has been fantastic for us,” Bush said of Chilean native Vargas, who is in his first MLS season. “I came in here and said congratulations to him and he was laughing and smiling just like a kid.
“His personality and enthusiasm and playful attitude he has to play the game, it’s infectious and you can sense that.”
The Sounders were forced to play a man short after Kelvin Leerdam was shown the red card in the 40th minute after a collision with Daniel Lovitz. Leerdam backed into the Montreal player as he went up into the air to head a ball. Lovitz went down hard and referee Ismail Elfath sent Leerdam off for violent conduct after reviewing a video replay. Lovitz shoved Leerdam as they argued after the incident and he was handed a yellow card for unsportsmanlike conduct.
The Impact had the best scoring chance in the first half when Ken Krolicki won a free kick from just outside the box. Vargas launched a right-footed kick that appeared headed to the top corner before Seattle goalkeeper Stefan Frei dived to his right and deflected the shot with his right hand. Vargas had another free kick in the 31st minute, but this effort was blocked by the wall.
“I’m quite pleased with the results and I’m quite pleased with the way we played the game,” Impact coach Rémi Garde said. “We went under pressure in the second half, even though we were a man up. We knew Seattle was a good team, especially in home games. We have these two games in a row, so we’re going to try to keep this momentum.”
The Sounders have struggled since losing to Toronto FC in the MLS final last season. They are 0-3 in MLS play and are still looking for their first goal.
“While we had some good moments — we had a couple of sequences where we were able to keep possession in their field, win the ball back, stuff like that — it’s not as good as we would have liked,” Sounders coach Brian Schmetzer said. “I thought the chances we created with 10 men were pretty decent. Some of those set pieces we were dangerous on.”
While striker Will Bruin returned to the Seattle lineup after passing the MLS concussion protocol. Jordan Morris is out for the season with an injury and Clint Dempsey missed Saturday ’s game because he was serving a suspension.
The Impact’s next game will be Friday against the New England Revolution in Foxborough, Mass.