Sounders Season Comes to Bittersweet End, Keller Goes Out on Win
Photo by lempel_ziv via Flickr.
This season ended much the way last year's and the year before that's did, with a loss in the Western Conference semifinals. In 2011, attendance records were shattered at CenturyLink Field, the Sounders had an overall record of 18-8-9, they advanced to the playoffs for the third year in a row, but the Sounders' rapid fan base was left disappointed once again, their team seemingly unable to overcome their postseason hurdle.
However, amid the disappointment over a promising season cut short, there was still an air of celebration following last night's game. Kasey Keller, one of the most well-known and respected American goalies, played the last game of his career on Wednesday, and his contributions to the game of soccer, and the Sounders franchise in particular, were honored by those fans who stuck around after the whistle blew. He went out the best way he could manage: with a win and a shutout.
The Sounders went into last night's game against Real Salt Lake with a mere ghost of a chance of advancing to the next round. Last Saturday, they were routed by the squad in the first of two games in the Western Conference Semifinals 3-0. That meant that in Game Two, not only did the Sounders need to win, they needed to overcome the goal differential, and digging themselves out of that hole seemed daunting even to the most hardy of optimists.
Seattle came out swinging. In response to being outplayed on Saturday and to their season's life being on the line, the Sounders dominated last night's game with 18 shots on goal. Two went in, but the goals by Osvaldo Alonso and Lamar Neagle were not enough to overcome the goal differential, which meant in spite of the eventual victory, the team ultimately lost.
We don't have answers as to why the Sounders can't quite seem to make it past the opening round of the playoffs. What we do know is that they have the talent, the backing of an incredible fan base, and the ability to break through that wall one of these days. So, in the words of hopeful fans everywhere: Sounders, next year is going to be your year.
