photo by Greg Pierce
SEATTLE – Arlo White said it best, ‘Who is writing the script for Kasey Keller?’
The legendary goalkeeper’s final regular season home game could not have had a better ending Saturday night.
In front of a MLS record 64,140 Sounders fans, who came to honor America’s best goalkeeper, Keller, did not disappoint turning away seven shots while the Sounders once again won in comeback fashion with two late goals to edge the San Jose Earthquakes 2-1.
A defensive lapse by Jhon Kennedy Hurtado led to a break-away goal by San Jose’s Chris Wondolowski in the 24th minute.
From there Keller put up the wall, denying the Earthquakes with four saves in one exhilarating sequence that had the crowd chanting, “Kasey Keller!”
In the 65th minute, Sounders defender Patrick Ianni rolled a soft pass back to Keller that Earthquakes forward Khari Stephenshon charged on. Keller beat him to the ball and knocked it out to Wondolowski who took a shot off the rebound that Keller had to dive to make a foot-save to the right side of the box. Simon Dawkins then hit the rebound from the top of the box and Keller dove to his right to bat it away with his right hand. Wondolowski had another chance to get to the ball but Keller dove and slapped the ball away in time to keep the Sounders down a goal.
A couple Seattle substitutions in the second half made an impact coach Sigi Schmid was hoping for.
Maruo Rosales, playing in his first game back after missing five games due to injury, assisted on the first goal with a long pass over the Earthquake defense to rookie midfielder Sammy Ochoa. He hit it off the second bounce past the goalie for the equalizer.
Then came Fredy Montero to the rescue in the 85th minute for the game-winner.
Keller said after the game his final home game in Seattle was the most nervous he has ever been since his last World Cup appearance in 2006. If he was nervous, nobody noticed as Keller played composed and brilliant as always.
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