Tyrone Mears

Sounders finished the stronger and just pipped their ambitious visitors at the post. Was this their best? No. But it was good enough to beat one of the better sides in the East.

Stefan Frei 6: Very little to do in the first 45 but watch aghast as Lloyd Sam reacted quickest after a deflection off the wall. He handled everything else well, and had a couple big saves in the second half.

Dylan Remick 6.5: He showed initial great covering on Lloyd Sam. Still uncertain how to best distribute when he gets forward. Allowed Sam to get in front of him in 66 but Sam could not quite meet the Kemar Lawrence cross. This wasn’t his best game but it was above acceptable to be considered progress.

Brad Evans 7.5: (off in 73′) Evans does well to regain his position when beaten to a ball, so was rarely out of position. He, not Marshall, was guilty of a handball outside the box in a similar call to the one made on Houston’s Raul. He has to know better than do cavort around with an arm raised. From it came a goal. Evans made a wonderful goal saving challenge on 53 to deny BWP. Although the ESPN announcers said it was a penalty, it looked a good and even excellent challenge to us.

Chad Marshall 7: NY’s pace unsettled him a little early as did BWP’s presence. He delivered a great knock down header to Martins in 33 which the Nigerian made a pig’s ear of. Marshall was way to slow to react on the Red Bull’s goal and get between Sam and the ball. He looked a little unwell around the 50 minute mark. He rose well to win a Marco Pappa free kick but could not put the header on goal. Made several more key headers. His role in the NY goal coast him a 7.5.

Tyrone Mears 8.5: Mears and Roldan form an odd partnership for Seattle, but with NYRB opting to drive down the middle, Mears was relatively untested. Made a decent cross to far post on 47. He also made a terrific last ditch tackle in 61 to keep it at 1-0. He finished the game by delivering an awesome cross for Dempsey’s winner. This might’ve been his best game yet for Seattle.

Andy Rose 6: Good solid start and his balls into the box are getting more dangerous. In the first half when NY were dominating the territory of central midfield, one would have expected Rose to be giving out some stick. It never came. He still doesn’t seem to truly believe in his own ability.

Osvaldo Alonso 6: Alonso made a great defensive header early when Marshall had been drawn out of position. NY’s direct running into his zone confused him early. NYRB dominated the centre midfield area like few opponents have at CLink. He was booked in the 72nd for a needless midfield hack on Duvall. There were touches of the old Alonso but still looks like he’s struggling for his very best, and was a little overwhelmed with the Red Bull’s attack.

Marco Pappa 8.5: (off in 88′) He hauled down Chris Duvall needlessly and still got the free kick, an indication of a good day to come. Then he delivered a tasty cross but his forwards were too slow. A great delivery on a 52 minute free kick gave hope for better to come. It came on 69 and what a fine moment it was. He bamboozled Duvall going one way and then another before hammering a shot out of Robles’ reach. His saucy backheel over Lawrence was cute but it ran out of field. If he continues in this vein, he might make Sounders a better team for the neutral to watch than they have been.

Cristian Roldan 6.5: (Off in 63′) Great flick on header from an early set piece which forced Robles into a great save. Also a little slow to get into his position at the wall on the free kick. However, he is beginning to develop an understanding with Mears. He, Neagle and Pineda will have a battle for this slot and it looks about even now.

Obafemi Martins 4: He won a good free kick on 11 and it turns out being fouled was his best contribution. His first real chance on 27 saw him outfoxed by Damien Perrinelle. Tripped over his own feet the second time after Marshall’s great knock down. Started second half with awful mishit. However he collected the assist on Pappa’s goal. That saved him half a point.

Clint Dempsey 7: Out of the blue up, he pops with the winning goal although it seems the boffins eventually delivered it to Chad Barrett. He started the move himself and sauntered into the danger zone. Before that, it was nice to see some good early battling on an aerial ball. The hole in the wall at the free kick was in the zone he was supposed to be covering. It’s not what he’s in the team to do but he has to do it right. He sliced his best chance in 77. Then the goal. A simple tap-in which was compounded by a simpler one. How do you give this guy a mark?

Subs:

Lamar Neagle 6.5: (on in 63′): Neagle slipped into Roldan’s role in a like for like swap, to run at defenders.He won a corner off Perrinelle. His advanced width gave Sounders a new option.

Zach Scott 6: (on in 73′) Seattle had good possession from 73 on. Nevertheless, a safe pair of feet

Chad Barrett: 7 (on in 88′) He could have touched Dempsey’s goal in and acted unselfishly. It runs out he did though to the naked eye the ball was close to over the line. That gets him a mark.