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Sounders looking to end slide vs. Earthquakes

Apr 24, 2009 - 10:08 PM By Dan Pieringer Stats Writer

San Jose (1-2-2) at Seattle (3-2-0), 10:30 p.m. EDT

SEATTLE (AP) -- The expansion Seattle Sounders FC couldn't have played much better in their first three matches. Their performance over the last two weeks, however, has been more indicative of a first-year franchise.

The Sounders look to rebound from consecutive shutout losses as they host the San Jose Earthquakes on Saturday night.

Seattle (3-2-0) didn't play like a new team in its first three matches, recording shutout victories in each while totaling seven goals. The undefeated start is the best in MLS history by a club in its first season.

The Sounders, however, haven't had the same offensive chemistry in their last two matches. They fell 1-0 at home to Kansas City on April 11 before losing 2-0 on the road to Chivas USA last Saturday night.

"We're missing our ability to sustain the attack," coach Sigi Schmid said. "It felt like once our attack ended, we had to go all the way back into our defensive third before we could attack again."

Seattle has also been suspect defensively, allowing three goals in the last 100 minutes following the spectacular start, but Schmid is more worried about the lack of offensive production.

"That doesn't concern me as much as not scoring goals in the last two games," Schmid said when asked about the defensive lapses. "When I look at our team over the last 180 minutes we've only really conceded I would say maybe four chances, five chances.

"It's not like we're getting chance upon chance created against us and we're struggling to hang on."

San Jose coach Frank Yallop has the opposite problem. The Earthquakes (1-2-2) have given up eight goals over their last four matches and were outshot 12-7 in a 1-1 draw with Los Angeles last Saturday night.

"A lot of our guys are not playing as well as they can," Yallop said. "Especially defensively. We seem weak and scared to make a decision. ... We're working hard to make it right. The players have to take some responsibility and play better. I think we're playing nervously and apprehensively. We're not like that."

This is the second road match of the year for the Earthquakes, who lost their first 2-0 to Kansas City on April 5.

Seattle, meanwhile, has won two of three at Qwest Field, which has been sold out for all three matches.

The Sounders should have a good chance to improve their record at home with goalkeeper Kasey Keller returning from a one-game suspension. Keller was issued a red-card ejection in the 29th minute of Seattle's loss to Kansas City and earned an automatic suspension for last week's match. He hasn't allowed a goal in four games, going 3-0-0 with 11 saves.

Keller could make it tough for San Jose, which has started slowly after finishing tied at the bottom of the Western Conference during its expansion 2008 season.

"I think we have to learn how to win," Earthquakes forward Pablo Campos said. "... It's a team rhythm we have to work on. It's the communication, the passion to win games. We're missing passion and communication."