|
|
to SEATTLE SOUNDERS - WINNERS of the PACIFIC DIVISION CHAMPIONSHIP!!
 |
Sunday, August 27, 2000, 12:00 a.m. Pacific
Sounders
Seattle takes division with double-OT win
by Matt MasseySpecial to The Seattle Times
This time the Seattle Sounders weren't clicking, but they kept on kicking. Greg Howes tallied a rebound shot in the 107th minute, as the Sounders scored a come-from-behind, 4-3 double-overtime victory over El Paso to clinch the franchise's first Pacific Division title in front of 2,945 fans last night at Memorial Stadium.
The Sounders (17-6-3) finished their home schedule undefeated for the first time in seven seasons with the A-League and 17 seasons as a professional franchise. Seattle, which leads the Pacific with 81 points, extended the A-League's current-best win streak to eight games and finished 12-0-2 at home.
"It's nice to win those kinds of games," said Sounder Coach Neil Megson. "El Paso came to defend and they countered us well. We just made some mistakes at the back.
"That was one of the most exciting games I've been associated with since I've been with the Sounders."
Howes, a rookie from Tacoma, put away the game-winning goal from 3 yards out after Sean Henderson headed the ball off goalkeeper Dimitar Popov's hands, regained possession and then passed to a wide-open Howes.
The Sounders missed an opportunity to take a 4-3 lead in regulation when Viet Nguyen's rebound header from 3 yards out sailed over the crossbar in the 90th minute. Nguyen headed the ball after Popov knocked the ball away on a free kick from Howes. Seattle, which finishes the regular season with road games at Bay Area on Saturday and Vancouver, boosted its record to 12-1-1 in the last 14 games.
I bet they had such fun! Can't wait for the next postcard! :)