Here’s some of what coach Sigi Schmid had to say tonight after his club’s 4-2 win over FC Dallas”

On the game: “Obviously a good game for the fans—exciting game. You never want to squander a two-goal lead, but we knew they were dangerous on set pieces. We lost our mark on the first one and obviously Michel hits a great ball on the second and Michael [Gspurning] got tied up. The timeliness of our third goal was really vital and…we continued to get opportunities. The red card I think was justified—if you saw Leo [Gonzalez]’s eye, you would know …

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The only shadow over the upbeat Sounders’ postgame tonight was uncertainty over the injuries that sent Osvaldo Alonso and Leo Gonzalez out of the game.

Here’s what coach Sigi Schmid had to say about each:

On the severity of Alonso’s groin injury: “Don’t really know. It’s a left adductor strain. We’ll just have to see. Right after the game you can’t tell, it’s usually a day or two later that you can assess it and determine how long it will be.”

On the severity Gonzalez’s facial injury: “Don’t know. They’re stitching him up right now…the reason we made the sub …

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Sounders FC more than passed its test against the top-ranked team in Major League Soccer.

Seattle ran its unbeaten streak to six games with a 4-2 win over FC Dallas before a crowd of 38,979 tonight at CenturyLink Field.

The Sounders’ first goal came in the 16th minute, when Osvaldo Alonso got his head on a goal kick around midfield, sending it back toward the Dallas end. Eddie Johnson ran it down between two Dallas defenders and finished. (Alonso later left the game with a groin injury.)

Lightning struck again in the 30th minute, when Lamar Neagle got behind the Dallas back line and ran onto a pass from Brad Evans. Once inside the box, Neagle dribbled past Dallas goalkeeper Raul Fernandez and rolled the ball into an open net, increased Seattle’s lead to 2-0.

Dallas erased it in a span of about seven minutes. In the 54th minute, Kenny Cooper steered a header inside the right post in the 54th minute. Then Michel curved a corner kick over Seattle keeper Michael Gspurning and into the goal.

However, Seattle reclaimed the lead a minute later, when Johnson ran onto a pass rolled in front of the Dallas goal. With only Fernandez to beat, Johnson bought space with a faked shot and then finished into an open net.

Already up a goal, Seattle went up a man in the 73rd minute, when Dallas’ Blas Perez received a straight red card after an apparent elbow sent Sounders defender Leo Gonzalez to the bench with blood streaming down his face. He eventually was replaced by Zach Scott.

Seattle settled things in the 83rd minute, when Obafemi Martins scored after a saved Johnson shot was recovered by Evans, who got the assist.

Combined with the 4-0 win over San Jose the week before, this marked the first time the Sounders had scored four goals in back-to-back games. Eight goals over two games matches a club record.

Seattle returns to action May 26 at Los Angeles.

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This just in from the club:

The Sounders FC announced today all the game day activities in honor of Armed Forces Day during the Sounders versus FC Dallas match on May 18. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. and gates open at 6 p.m.

In addition, fans are encouraged to plan ahead in light of the complete closure of SR 99 between Valley Street and the south end of the Battery Street Tunnel. There are plenty of transportation options for fans to access CenturyLink Field by visiting the team’s transportation guide at www.soundersfc.com/matchday/transportation/guide.

Service members from the Washington

…

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What probably projects as the game of the day in Major League Soccer will play out tonight at CenturyLink Field.

Here’s our preview from today’s paper, which deals with just how tough this Western Conference race could be this season. And below, some basics:

FC DALLAS (7-1-3; 24 POINTS)
AT SEATTLE SOUNDERS FC (3-3-3; 12 POINTS)
7:30 p.m., CenturyLink Field.
TV: Channel 5. RADIO: 97.3 FM.
HEAD TO HEAD: The Sounders lead the series 4-1-4 overall, 2-1-1 in Seattle, and won the series last season 2-0-1. The teams will meet again Aug. 3 in Seattle and Oct. 19 at Dallas.
NOTES: Dallas has the best record in Major League Soccer. The Hoops are on a nine-game unbeaten streak (6-0-3), while the Sounders are unbeaten over their last five (3-0-2). Seattle hasn’t allowed a goal in four of those five games. … Dallas is 1-1-2 on the road; Seattle is 1-1-2 at home. … Six Dallas players have scored game-winning goals this season, tops in MLS. Dallas is second in the league in goals, goals average, goal differential and fouls suffered, while forward David Ferreira leads the league in fouls suffered. … Ferreira (hamstring) and midfielder Andrew Jacobson (hamstring) are listed as questionable, while defender George John (knee) of Shoreline is out. Seattle midfielders Mauro Rosales (shoulder) and Steve Zakuani (abdomen) are questionable. … The referee is Mark Geiger.
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This just in from the club:

The Seahawks and Sounders FC license plates were revealed today following the official bill signing ceremony with Washington State Governor Jay Inslee. The preliminary Seahawks plate is dominated by a 12 flag highlighted by a fading blue backdrop while the Sounders FC plate features the team’s signature rave green color with an iconic team scarf held by a fan. Both plates feature the individual team logos. The plates will be available to order by registered car/vehicle owners in January 2014.

The preliminary license plate designs were submitted utilizing templates provided by the Department of Licensing (DOL). The DOL will work with law enforcement to ensure readability. The designs will be finalized sometime this summer or early fall.

“The license plates are a distinctive way Seahawks and Sounders FC fans can display their passion and support local non-profits,” said Seahawks and Sounders FC president Peter McLoughlin.
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Here’s what Sounders forward Eddie Johnson had to say today when asked about played in Seattle while wearing the colors of the U.S. national team

“It would be an honor,” he said. “I believe every chance you get an opportunity to represent your country — and especially in from of the fans here. You know, we have the best fans in the league when we play here week in and week out. It’s going to be an honor and a priviledge. If that opportunity comes, I’m delighted.”

Here’s the news from the club:

Seattle Sounders FC forward Eddie Johnson has been called into the U.S. National Team for three 2014 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers next month against Jamaica, Panama, and Honduras. CenturyLink Field will host the June 11 match versus Panama.
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U.S. Soccer has announced that Seattle Sounders FC will open the 2013 U.S. Open Cup against the winner of the Tampa Bay Rowdies (NASL) at VSI Tampa Bay (USL PRO) match that will be played Tuesday in Plant City, Fla.

This is when and where the Sounders would play:

51. Seattle Sounders (MLS) at Tampa Bay Rowdies (NASL)
Al Lang Stadium; St. Petersburg, Fla.
Wednesday, May 29, at 7:30 p.m. ET

OR

VSI Tampa Bay (USL PRO) at Seattle Sounders (MLS)
Starfire Sports Complex; Tukwila, Wash.
Wednesday, May 29, at 7 p.m. PT

Here is the release from the club:

Seattle Sounders FC will begin its run at a fourth Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup championship on May 29 with a third-round match against the winner of the Tampa Bay Rowdies (NASL) at VSI Tampa Bay (USL-PRO) match.

Sounders FC would either visit the Tampa Bay Rowdies at 4:30 p.m. PT at Al Lang Stadium in St. Petersburg, Fla., or host VSI Tampa Bay at 7 p.m. PT at Starfire Stadium in Tukwila, Wash.

The Tampa Bay Rowdies visit VSI Tampa Bay on Tuesday, May 21 at 4 p.m. PT at Plant City Stadium in Plant City, Fla. The Rowdies received a first-round bye while VSI ousted the Orlando City U23s in a penalty shootout following a 1-1 draw on May 14.

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