Sounders bust offensive slump against Carolina

TUKWILA — The Sounders got a needed pick-me-up on offense.

Seattle scored twice in two minutes in the second half to erase a one-goal deficit and take a 4-3 win over the Carolina Railhawks Sunday in front of 2,008 at Starfire Sports & Entertainment Complex.

Sebastien Le Toux scored the game-winning goal in the 65th minute, cleaning up a rebound after a free kick from teammate Ciaran O'Brien. It was Le Toux's 18th goal of the season, 11th in league play and first in five matches.

The offensive explosion by Seattle put its recent scoring futility — only one goal in 486 minutes — in the rearview mirror. Midfielder Josh Gardner added two goals, and O'Brien provided two assists.

"It was just a matter of time," O'Brien said of ending the scoring drought. "We've had chances in those recent games. We just came flying on offense tonight.

"I think we've been playing well. The final piece just came tonight."

The Sounders (14-9-9 overall, 9-8-9 league) moved into a tie for third place in the United Soccer Leagues First Division with Charleston at 36 points. Last-place Carolina dipped to 6-10-9 with 27 points.

Gardner pulled Seattle into a 3-3 tie in the 63rd minute with his second header goal of the match, knocking in a cross from the far side from Youssouf Kante. Gardner, who has six goals this season, came from the backside at the left post for the tally.

Hamed Diallo scored all three Carolina goals, marking the first time in Sounders history that an opponent had a hat trick and lost.

"You don't see the visiting team score three and lose very often," Sounders coach Brian Schmetzer said. "I watched their players walk off the field, and they were just gutted."

The Sounders' other goal came off the foot of Roger Levesque, on a corner kick from O'Brien in the 36th minute. Levesque, who had eight league goals in 2007, scored his first goal of 2008 after battling injuries and missing 18 games.

Before Gardner's tally, the Sounders hadn't scored since a 15th-minute tally by Jason Cascio in a 3-1 loss to Minnesota on Aug. 10.

Note

• Seattle has four regular-season matches remaining. The top seven teams qualify for the USL First Division playoffs, which start Sept. 24.