Seattle gives up goal in last minute

TUKWILA — Seattle Sounders coach Brian Schmetzer warned his team about a team hungry for its first goal and first win of the season.

That team was the Rochester Rhinos, who played their fifth consecutive road match to open the 2008 United Soccer Leagues (USL) First Division season.

Be wary to the final minute was the word. The words didn't sink in.

Rochester defender Scott Palguta ruined the Sounders' evening with a loose-ball volley into the upper left corner of the net in the 90th minute to forge a 1-1 tie in Wednesday's game at Starfire Sports & Entertainment Complex in front of 1,861 fans.

Palguta's 13-yard shot off a ricocheted shot ended the Sounders' chance to send Rochester home scoreless for the season.

"It couldn't have been any more disappointing," said Seattle defender Zach Scott, who put his team up 1-0 in the 76th minute. "Three points is all you want. A goal is a goal. We had some opportunities. That's where we're struggling. That's what coach is getting on us about is doing something creative. Don't be afraid do something in the final third."

Scott banged in an 8-yard header in the 76th minute on a corner kick from Josh Gardner for Seattle's short-lived 1-0 edge. The goal ended the Sounders' scoreless streak at 190 minutes.

The Sounders (1-1-3, 6 points) hadn't allowed a goal in 284 minutes until Palguta's boot and missed a chance to jump from seventh to fourth in the USL First Division standings. The Rhinos (0-3-2, 2 points) took 450 minutes to notch their first goal this season.

Roger Levesque nearly tucked away a header in the ninth minute, skidding a shot just off the fingertips of Rochester goalkeeper Scott Vallow and outside the left post. In the 16th minute, Leighton O'Brien forced Vallow to dive for a save after sending a 30-yard free kick through a wall.

Sounder Sebastien Le Toux missed a 1-on-1 chance in the 72nd minute, drilling a 12-yard shot wide left.

Notes

• Starting forward Andre Schmid suffered what could be a broken nose in Monday's training session, and was out of the starting lineup.

• Rookie midfielder John Fishbaugher, a product of Seattle University, got his first career start when Hugo Alcaraz-Cuellar was scratched with an injured right ankle.