SEATTLE — Steve Zakuani stole the spotlight for Seattle Sunday night as new designated player Blaise Nkufo made his Major League Soccer debut.
Zakuani scored twice in the first half as the Seattle Sounders FC held on for a 2-1 win over the slumping Colorado Rapids in front of 36,333 fans at Qwest Field.
With the Freddie Ljungberg era apparently nearing its conclusion, Seattle unveiled Nkufo, the team’s new addition from Dutch side FC Twente, paired up front with striker Fredy Montero.
Still working himself into match shape and, obviously, getting to know his new mates, Nkufo wasn’t much of a factor, but still drew loud cheers when he was subbed off in the 70th minute.
Zakuani proved a much more dangerous factor as the second-year winger provided both Seattle (6-8-4 overall) goals to help the team earn its first winning streak of the season.
The game-winner came in the 17th minute when Montero chipped a beautiful pass over the defense to Sanna Nyassi, who was making just his fourth start of the season. Nyassi carried the ball deep into the Colorado box, eventually slipping a pin-point pass by Colorado goalkeeper Matt Pickens to Zakuani’s foot for the tap-in and his team-leading seventh goal of the season.
“I think the team showed a lot of grit and determination,” Sounders head coach Sigi Schmid said. “Right now we need to get points and sometimes that means rolling up your sleeves and the team did that.”
Zakuani scored his first goal in the eighth minute after collecting a loose ball in the box. Montero was dispossessed attempting to take on multiple defenders, but Zakuani alertly took a touch and fired through two Colorado defenders.
The ball beat Pickens, but struck the post before smacking Pickens in the back and bouncing into the goal for a 1-0 Seattle lead. Zakuani was credited with the goal, but it could be changed to an own goal after the MLS reviews the game tape this week.
“There was a bit of ping-pong in the box and the ball fell to me and it’s just about getting a quick release,” Zakuani said. “I was just happy to get both goals.”
Colorado (6-5-5) forward Omar Cummings responded within 15 seconds when he earned acres of space on the right flank. Cummings made a cut, put the ball on his left foot and curled a strong effort around the outstretched arms of Seattle keeper Kasey Keller to tie the score at 1-1.
Keller’s quick reaction earned him several big saves, including one on a Conor Casey header in the 19th minute that he tipped over the crossbar and again in the 61st minute when he dove to his left to stop a Jamie Smith redirection.
“I think Colorado really put us under a lot of pressure in the last 20 minutes and I think maybe eight games ago we would’ve drawn that game 2-2,” Keller said. It shows that the steps are being made and the team is coming around.”
A strong start to the season for Colorado is currently mired in stagnation as the Rapids are now 0-2-4 in their past six matches.
On the opposite end, the future is hopeful for a Sounders team that started slow, but is building momentum with a new player and a two-game winning streak.
Nkufo, who tallied 20 or more goals in his past three seasons in Holland and played for Switzerland in the recently-completed FIFA World Cup, thinks it’s just a matter of time before he is fully match fit.
“The match was difficult, as I had expected, but we won and that’s the most important,” Nkufo said. “For me, its what the team does. We needed points tonight and for me, I just build up my condition and hopefully in one or two weeks I’ll be fit.”
“We need to get used to him a little bit more,” Schmid said of Nkufo. “He did everything I needed of him, he’s just going to get better as he gets fitter, as he gets stronger.”
Notes
Midfielder Pat Noonan, who was expected to start, was pulled out after an adductor strain suffered in training. … Defender Zach Scott made his second start on the left side of the defense because normal starter Leo Gonzalez was forced to miss the game due to yellow card accumulation. … Montero’s assist on the second goal put him in a tie with San Jose’s Bobby Convey for second in the MLS with eight assists. … Sounders FC face El Salvadoran champion Isidro Metapan at 7 p.m. Wednesday in Seattle as part of the team’s home-and-home CONCACAF Champions League qualifier.
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