Fire 1 - 2 Sounders
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Fire-Sounders Preview

Aug 27, 2010 - 9:49 PM By NICOLINO DIBENEDETTO STATS Writer

Chicago (6-6-6) at Seattle (8-8-5), 10:30 p.m. EDT

Freddie Ljungberg was a major reason for the Seattle Sounders FC's early success in MLS and his departure last month is still clouded in mystery.

Ljungberg makes his return to Qwest Field as the Chicago Fire attempt to snap the Sounders' six-game unbeaten streak on Saturday night.

The Sounders (8-8-5) made Ljungberg their first designated player in October 2008 ahead of the franchise's inaugural season. He had two goals and a team-high nine assists in 2009 as Seattle became the first expansion team to reach the playoffs since 1998 while also winning the U.S. Open Cup.

That success appeared to be fleeting as the Sounders started 2010 by going 4-8-3. Ljungberg struggled with three assists and didn't appear in another game for the club after a loss at Los Angeles on July 4.

Reports of a rift with the organization grew and the two-time All-Star midfielder was traded to Chicago (6-6-6) for two conditional draft picks on July 30.

The Fire (6-6-6) are 2-1-1 since then after losing 4-3 at Houston last Saturday. Ljungberg had two assists, giving him three with his new club.

"It's going to be weird," Ljungberg told the Fire's official website about heading back to Seattle. "I have a lot of friends there, so it's going to be weird in that way. But I've played against friends before - you just have to put your friendship away for 90 minutes and get on with it."

Sounders midfielder Peter Vagenas is expecting a warm welcome for the former Arsenal star.

"I'm pretty sure everyone's going to welcome him," he told the league's official website. "I'm sure he'll get a standing ovation - he deserves it, because he was part of something."

The Sounders, meanwhile, have turned their season around, going 4-0-2 since the defeat to the Galaxy to move into one of the four wild-card playoff positions.

Seattle played to a scoreless tie with Chivas USA in their most recent MLS match Aug. 14. The Sounders then had consecutive defeats in CONCACAF Champions League, including Wednesday's 2-0 loss to Mexico's Monterrey.

Fredy Montero will try to re-establish himself offensively after failing to find the net in three games overall. The forward had five goals and six assists in nine league games prior to the draw with Chivas.

He leads Seattle with eight goals and his nine assists are tied with two others for second in the league, two behind Los Angeles' Landon Donovan.

While Ljungberg is thriving with his new team, the Fire aren't having the same fortune with Nery Castillo, their other designated player.

The Mexican forward, who was acquired on loan from Ukraine's Shakhtar Donetsk last month, has been left in Chicago to work on his fitness. He's managed one shot while not playing more than one half in his first three games with the Fire.

The Fire and Sounders tied both meetings last year, including a scoreless draw at Seattle as Ljungberg was ejected.






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