Sounders
Brown hits Sounders' winner in double OT

By Matt Massey
Special to The Seattle Times

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The Seattle Sounders couldn't have waited much longer. Thanks to a pair of second-half substitutes — Chad Brown and Darren Sawatzky — the Sounders are closer to the club's 10th playoff berth in 11 seasons.

Brown, a midfielder who entered in the 79th minute, headed home a 6-yard angle shot on a pass from Sawatzky for the game-winning goal as the Sounders topped Vancouver 2-1 in double overtime last night in an A-League match before 2,896 fans at Qwest Field.

Sawatzky, an 82nd-minute sub, crossed the ball from the right wing to a streaking Brown, who froze Whitecaps goalkeeper Alex Marques with a header into the left corner of the net in the 110th minute.

The dramatic win, which came with 55 seconds left in the second OT, allowed Sounders coach Brian Schmetzer to celebrate his 42nd birthday. After giving up a goal during stoppage time in the 90th and final minute of regulation, Seattle gave Vancouver at taste of their own medicine with the late double-OT winner.

The Sounders (12-10-4, 40 points) won the four-match season series over the Whitecaps 2-1-1 and moved within one point of second-place Vancouver (12-9-5, 41 points) in the Western Conference.

Brown collected his first points of the season with the game-winner.

Seattle improved to 5-1-1 in its last seven matches coming and hiked its win streak to four. Vancouver, which was denied clinching a playoff spot, remained winless in seven games with a 0-4-3 mark during that stretch.

The Sounders need just one win in their final two matches combined with one loss from Milwaukee Wave United (10-10-4, 34 points) in their final four contests to clinch a playoff spot from the Western Conference.

Welton put Seattle ahead 1-0 in the 50th minute on a juggle, juke and blast from 23 yards out. The Brazilian-born forward chested down a long pass from Kevin Sakuda on the right wing, juggled twice to the left of two defenders and half-volleyed a left-footed shot into the left corner of the net.

It was Welton's 10th goal of the season and his second in the last two matches, both against the Whitecaps. He leads the club with 20 points.

Copyright © 2004 The Seattle Times Company

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