AP Photo
On a magnificent night in Seattle, Torrance’s Sigi Schmid coached his Sounders past the expansion Philadelphia Union 2-0 Thursday before a record MLS crowd of 36,241 at Qwest Field in the league season opener.
It was a spectacle on and off the pitch, with frenzied fans undaunted by the steady rain (the first time it had rained on a MLS soccer game in Seattle I was told) and chanting their city’s name with a Kop-like passion.
“It hasn’t lost its luster,” Schmid told the Seattle Times. “This is still almost a dream sometimes, every time I step on the field.”
The opening goal was a thing of beauty, the entire Sounders forward line getting involved and giving MLS a touch of class between Freddy Montero, Freddie Lungberg, Steve Zakuani and, ultimately, Brad Evans.
Incidentally, Chivas USA’s Sacha Kljestan tweeted after the game:
Stoked to see the MLS season start tonight… congrats to my boy Brad Evans for the game winner! Ima try to be like you tomorrow night..
Chivas open their season Friday at Home Dept Center.
