Sounders lead late, settle for a draw

For the third consecutive game, the Seattle Sounders missed out on a chance to get a positive result by giving up a late second-half goal.

The team's patience is wearing thin as a result. Mauricio Salles spoiled the fun this time as the Puerto Rico Islanders, a second-year club, rallied for a 2-2 tie against the Sounders in last night's United Soccer Leagues (USL) First Division match in front of 3,527 fans at Qwest Field.

From the middle of the field, Salles cracked a wide-open 33-yarder into the upper right corner of the net over the outstretched arms of Sounders goalkeeper Preston Burpo in the 74th minute to tie it 2-2.

"Kevin Sakuda and I were talking on the way in [to the locker room after the game] and saying, 'What is it going to take?' " said Sounders defender Ryan Edwards of getting a win. "We created opportunities until the end. I hope things will turn around."

The Sounders fell to 0-1-5 in their last six outings. With two wins in those games, Seattle would have locked up a playoff berth for the 11th time in 12 seasons.

"You go through spells where it's just bad luck," coach Brian Schmetzer said. "We're just not getting any good luck."

Seattle (9-4-11) missed an opportunity to move one step closer to clinching a top-six finish in USL First Division and a spot in the playoffs. The Sounders gained a point in the standings and moved into a fourth-place tie with the Richmond Kickers at 38 points. Puerto Rico (7-9-8, 29 points) kept its slim playoff hopes alive in a tie for eighth.

Less than two minutes after Puerto Rico tied the game at 1-1, rookie Brent Whitfield gave the Sounders a 2-1 lead on an improbable goal from a tough angle on the left side. Whitfield's seventh goal of the season — fifth in USL play — bounced off the underside of the crossbar and into the right corner after Roger Levesque sent a pass back to him.

Kevin Sakuda scored his first goal of the season on a running 15-yard shot up the right side off a feed from Whitfield in the 11th minute for a 1-0 Seattle lead.

Puerto Rico pelted the Seattle goal with two good shots in the 32nd minute — the last by Delgado cleared off the line by Edwards.

The Islanders cashed in on a penalty kick by Salles for a 1-1 tie in the 34th minute. The PK was set up when Levesque fouled Caleb Norkus in the penalty area.

Seattle was on the attack in the 13th minute as Edwards headed a shot at the right post off a corner kick by Leighton O'Brien, but Islander defender Noah Delgado shouldered and elbowed the attempt off the back line.

"That was a two-goal swing," Schmetzer said of the PK, which he questioned, and a hand ball that wasn't called on Edwards' header.

Sub Chad Brown almost gave Seattle a 3-2 lead in the 87th minute, banging a 13-yard open-net shot off the bottom side of the crossbar with Puerto Rico goalkeeper Dan Kennedy drawn out.

SEATTLE 2, PUERTO RICO 2

Puerto Rico Islanders	1 1 — 2
Seattle Sounders	2 0 — 2

Goals — Sea: 1, Kevin Sakuda (Brent Whitfield) 11:00; 2, Whitfield (Roger Levesque) 36:00.PR: 1, Mauricio Salles (penalty kick) 34:00; 2, Salles (unassisted) 74:00. Shots — PR 21, Sea 12. Saves — PR (Dan Kennedy) 4, Sea (Preston Burpo) 7. Fouls — PR 13, Sea 10. Offsides — PR 7, Sea 3. Corner kicks — PR 4, Sea 5. Ejections — PR (None), Sea (None).

A — 3,527.