Sounders fall to Battery

The Seattle Sounders' playoff hopes suffered a big blow Friday night. After substitute Jamal Sutton's assist gave the team a glimmer of hope, it faded in a flash.

Teba Knight's header goal stunned the Sounders in the 89th minute as the visiting Charleston Battery delivered a significant hit on Seattle's playoff chances with a 2-1 triumph in a United Soccer Leagues (USL) First Division match at Qwest Field.

"Nothing's done yet," Sounders coach Brian Schmetzer said. "It's a hit. We were almost desperate before tonight. I'm not going to sit here and forecast gloom and doom, because I'm not that kind of guy."

If the Sounders are unable to win their last two matches, they will likely sit home for just the second time in 13 seasons; it would be their first losing season under Schmetzer.

The loss left Seattle (10-12-4, 34 points) in sixth place and in the final playoff spot. Charleston (12-8-6, 41 points) moved into third place.

Seattle was hit early with an untimely yellow card to rookie forward Cam Weaver and then two non-calls when players were pulled to the ground in the penalty area.

"We didn't finish our chances, we gave up what I call two soft goals and the referees not only impacted the game, but our season," Schmetzer said.

Seattle, playing without suspended starting midfielders Leighton O'Brien and Andrew Gregor, lost despite outshooting the Battery 21-5.

"It certainly was a one-sided affair," Sounders defender Danny Jackson said. "We had the run of play. It puts us in a bad situation."

Ben Hollingsworth's 18-yard blast into the upper left corner of the net in the 54th minute gave Charleston a 1-0 lead.

Later, Maykel Galindo punched in a 4-yard shot at the right post on a beautiful feed along the right endline from Sutton, who entered in the 69th minute, tying it at 1-1.

But Knight sealed the deal for Charleston in the 89th minute, heading a long throw-in from Tim Karalexis along the right sideline.

Sounders midfielder Jake Sagare, making his first start of the season, suffered a fractured left forearm in the 26th minute. He was taken to Seattle's Virginia Mason Medical Center for X-rays.

 

Sounders summary

BATTERY 2, SOUNDERS 1

Charleston	0 2 — 2
Seattle	0 1 — 1

Scoring — Sea: 1, Galindo (Sutton) 76:00; Cha: 1, Hollingsworth (Romero) 54:00; 2, Knight (Karalexis) 89:00. Shots — Cha 5, Sea 21. Saves — Cha (Hudock) 9, Sea (Eylander) 2. Fouls — Cha 17, Sea 8. Offsides — Cha 6, Sea 2. Corner kicks — Cha 2, Sea 12. Cautions — Cha (Karalexis 58:00), Sea (Weaver 12:00). Ejections — Cha (None), Sea (None). A — 2,697.