Sounders blank Railhawks, win two-game series

For the fourth time this season, the Sounders had Carolina's number: zero.

And this time, it was enough to send Seattle into the second round of the USL First Division playoffs. Seattle, having shut out the Railhawks in their previous three meetings, did it again Sunday night at Qwest Field.

Leighton O'Brien's penalty kick before the end of second-half stoppage time gave the Sounders a 1-0 victory in the final leg of the two-leg, total-goals series in front of 3,640 fans.

Seattle, which took the first leg Friday in North Carolina 2-0, won the series three goals to none.

"They were not going to let us get into any sort of rhythm whatsoever," Sounders coach Brian Schmetzer said. "We played hard, we fought hard, the opposition was tough."

The Sounders head into the semifinals — another two-leg, total-goals set — against the Puerto Rico Islanders. Game 1 is Friday in Puerto Rico, and Game 2 is Sunday at Starfire Sports Complex in Tukwila. Tickets for Seattle's home game go on sale 10 a.m. today.

Against the Railhawks on Sunday, the Sounders played as if they were the team that had to come from behind. Seattle scored on O'Brien's penalty kick about four minutes into the five minutes of stoppage time.

The penalty kick was awarded after Kenji Treschuk was taken down in the box by Carolina's Joey Worthen on a 2-on-1 Sounders breakaway. O'Brien sent his shot into the back right corner.

Carolina goalkeeper Chris McClellan, who ranked second to Seattle's Chris Eylander in saves during the regular season, made eight saves on 17 Seattle shots.

The Sounders had four chances in the first half to put the series out of reach, only to be denied each time by McClellan.

The Railhawks, after being kept on their heels by the Sounders through the first 20 minutes, started to attack. Eylander saved two well-struck shots — one by Jonny Steele from about 25 yards away in the 29th minute, and one by David Stokes from the top of the arc midway through the 30th minute.

From team reports.

SOUNDERS 1, RAILHAWKS 0

Carolina	0 0 — 0
Seattle	0 1 — 1

First half — None. Second half — 1, Seattle, Leighton O'Brien (pk), 90th minute. Shots — Carolina 14, Seattle 17. Saves — Carolina (McClellan) 8, Seattle (Eylander) 7. Corner kicks — Carolina 4, Seattle 5. Offsides — Carolina 3, Seattle 2. Fouls — Carolina 27, Seattle 10. Cautions — Carolina, Worthen, 45th; Dombrowski, 77th; Stokes, 84th; Worthen, 90th. Seattle, Gardner, 17th; O'Brien, 27th; Treschuk, 52nd; Alcaraz-Cueller, 77th. Ejections — Carolina, Stokes, 85th; Worthen, 90th. A — 3,640.