Originally published May 24, 2007 at 12:00 AM | Page modified May 24, 2007 at 2:02 AM

Le Toux's goal powers Sounders

Moving Sebastien Le Toux from midfielder to forward has paid off for the Seattle Sounders. That was the reason the third-year pro was brought...

By Matt Massey

Special to The Seattle Times

Moving Sebastien Le Toux from midfielder to forward has paid off for the Seattle Sounders.

That was the reason the third-year pro was brought in from his native France.

Le Toux, playing his first match as a true forward, scored his second goal of the season as the undermanned Sounders held off the expansion Carolina Railhawks 1-0 in a heated United Soccer Leagues First Division match Wednesday in front of 1,991 fans at Qwest Field.

"[Le Toux] likes to go forward, so playing up front gives him more freedom to attack more," Sounders coach Brian Schmetzer said.

Le Toux blasted a 14-yard shot into the upper-right corner of the net in the 57th minute, helping Seattle (2-4-3, 9 points) win a match that saw many tempers flare.

"We were desperate to get a win," Schmetzer said of what contributed to the emotional contest. "For this group of guys, this was their best game. First, because it was three points. Second, I think you'll see a more bonded team, because it was a gutty performance."

It was Seattle's first meeting with the Railhawks (2-2-3, 9 points), the expansion club based in Cary, N.C., and it was a hot-blooded encounter featuring 27 fouls, six yellow cards and a red card.

The Sounders won despite playing a man down and without starting goalkeeper Chris Eylander for the final 25-plus minutes after his retaliatory shove to Carolina's Chad Dombrowski.

The ejection forced the Sounders to play the rest of the match with second-year pro Ben Dragavon in goal for his first pro action. He made three saves.

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