Seattle Sounders 4 : 3 Carolina Railhawks

Swashbuckling Sounders Squash Dry Spell in the Pouring Rain Sounders Keep Their Heads above Water as Jolly Roger Nets One and Gardner Two in Goal Romp The Seattle Sounders returned to winning ways in style with a 4-3 victory over the Carolina Railhawks. Two offensive minded sides traded goals in a thrilling encounter that kept 2008 spectators enthralled till the final whistle. On a night of heroes, Josh Gardner claimed a brace as both Ciaran O'Brien and Yousuff Kante put pinpoint crosses on his head. Returning forward Roger Levesque looked fully fit for the first time since an injury kept him sidelined and much to the delight of the crowd put himself on the scoresheet again with a header. Seb Le Toux also returned to his scoring ways as Seattle showed an attacking flair they've been missing in recent weeks. But that's only one side of the story that unfolded tonight. Carolina's Hamed Diallo scored a hat-trick and became the first player to score three goals and lose against the Sounders since a pre season match against the Salem Surge in March 1996. Lively and threatening throughout, the Railhawks will lament their set piece defending which allowed Seattle so many chances to strike. Full Match report:

Seattle Sounders 0 0 Vancouver Whitecaps

Rain Falls but Sounders Resist Vancouver Tide Eylander’s Heroics Save Seattle Seattle Sounders can thank Chris Eylander for leaving Starfire Complex with a point tonight after the Vancouver Whitecaps dominated a scoreless tie. The visitors from the north were missing three key players in Jeff Clarke, Justin Moose and Eduardo Sebrango while Sounders had to manage without either O’Brien. Whereas the last sub par performance by Seattle had seen their opponents leave with all three points, Sounders did just about enough to scrape a draw although some poor Vancouver finishing assisted. They did however keep fighting till the final whistle and credit must be given to some players who are clearly struggling for form for their continued effort in the pouring rain. Full report: Seattle 0 0 Vancouver

Seattle Sounders v Vancouver Whitecaps Preview

Sounders Seek to Bounce Back against Title Chasing Whitecaps Always Welcome Guests Visit for the Penultimate Time Vancouver Whitecaps trail USL leaders Porto Rico by three points with a game in hand. That game is a Cascadia Cup encounter at Starfire this Wednesday with Northwest rivals Seattle Sounders. Unlike the rivalry with Portland, most Sounders fans look forward to friendly and sporting banter with their friends from the north and despite it being midweek, everyone concerned will welcome the appearance of a vociferous away support. There is one more visit for the Caps to Seattle on September 20th, but thereafter only a USL play off this year can guarantee another match. Vancouver Whitecaps are ineligible to enter the US Open Cup obviously due to being Canadian. Hopefully ways can be found to preserve this fixture though. Full story: Vancouver v Seattle August 20th

Kasey Keller Signs for Seattle Sounders

Trilingual Keller Impresses Press Pack But Vows “I’m Here to Play” An ambassador on and off the Pitch At a press conference held today at Qwest field, Seattle Sounders FC unveiled Kasey Keller as their second addition to the playing squad on a multi-year contract for next year’s MLS. Citing confidence in their defence as a key to attacking play, GM Adrian Hanauer announced Kasey Keller as the keeper for the Sounders FC. As a former U.S. National Team player coming into the League, Keller is subject to enter the League via the allocation rankings. As an expansion team in 2009, Seattle held the number one allocation ranking, which the club used to acquire Keller. This specifically means that the Designated Player option still remains open to the club. Full Story: Keller Comes to Seattle

Kasey Keller to Rejoin Sounders

An email has been sent out inviting fans to join Seattle Sounders FC in a special player announcement on Thursday, August 14th at Qwest Field. Gates will open at 2:00 PM. The purpose of the gathering will be to announce that former Team USA goalkeeper Kasey Keller is the player to be added to the squad. The 38 year old Lacey, Washington native has been playing in Germany with Borussia Mönchengladbach and was known to be keen on a return to the Pacific Northwest. Kasey has played 91 times for the USA National Men’s Team. Keller started his club career with the Portland Timbers and played as part of the US Under 20 program for three years before four successful years in London with Millwall. He moved onto Leicester City for whom he played 99 games. His next port of call was the city of Madrid where he played 51 games in La Liga for Rayo Vallecano. Full story: Kasey's Coming Home

Charleston Battery v Seattle Sounders

US Open Cup Semi Final Preview Is This Seattle's Biggest Game Ever? Battery Expecting a Charged Crowd The Sounders leave Minnesota for South Carolina where the Charleston Battery await them in what could be described as one of the most important games in Sounders history. Having won the bidding process for hosting rights to the final, Qwest field would see perhaps the biggest competitive soccer game in its history should Charleston be overcome. However that will be far from easy given the Battery’s outstanding home form. Sounders officials have been quick to point out that this is far from a foregone conclusion. Looking forward to the game, David Wittstock Sounders Media Relations Manager said, "We're obviously very excited to be hosting a potential cup final but Charleston are a very good team, among the best. This will be a very hard match.” Certainly their last meeting was very close with Sounders eking out a hard won 1-0 win at Starfire with a Seb Le Toux goal. Seattle's last trip to the Blackbaud was less successful, resulting in a 1-0 reverse. The goalscorer that day was Lazo Alavanja who will be suspended for Tuesday’s match. Full Report: Semi Final Special Report

Minnesota Thunder 3 : 1 Seattle Sounders

Three Points Lost as Sanchez Lights up Occasion Ricardo Sanchez was the difference between the sides as his two spectacular second half goals ensured Seattle left Minnesota empty handed. Two Sanchez free kicks in the 56th and 75th minutes sealed Seattle’s fate and it was no more than the 26 year old Mexican or his team mates deserved. Brian Schmetzer rang the changes as no fewer than eight players who started the Portland game were rested from the starting line up. Clearly the Sounders coach had an eye on Tuesday’s date with the Charleston Battery in the US Open Cup. For some players this presented a very rare opportunity to play from the start notably goalkeeper Ben Dragavon, defender Adam West and recent recruit forward Kevin Forrest. The season long injury crisis meant that most of the other players had featured fairly prominently already. Sounders had the best of the early exchanges with Hugo Alvaraz-Cuellar’s crosses from the right hand side proving a source of discomfort for the Thunder defenders. It was from one of them that the Sounders opened the lead in the 16th minute. Cuellar found space on the right and his delivery was played on by Andre Schmid, having one of his better games, into the path of Jason Cascio who put the visitors ahead. That seemed to energise Minnesota and the Sounders were back pedaling soon after. In the space of seconds, the fit again Taylor Graham headed off Ben Dragavon’s line, and shortly thereafter the referee ruled out the first of three disallowed efforts in the first half to deny the lively Alen Marcina. Full Report Minnesota Thunder 3 : 1 Seattle Sounders Three Points Lost as Sanchez Lights up Occasion

European Weekly's English Season Preview

A New Challenger For Sir Alex The European Weekly has a brand new soccer page where you will be able to read a weekly article about international soccer from a distinctly Seattle point of view. It will cover soccer in Seattle and worldwide. The first article in the series is a preview of the EPL season but next week will cover the Seattle Sounders historic US Open Cup run. Click on the headline above to read it.

US Cup Final Could Be Heading to QWest Field

The US Soccer Federation today announced the potential venues for the US Open Cup Final. If Seattle beat Charleston Battery on August 12th, the final will be coming to QWest Field no matter who provides the opposition. If DC United win, the final will be heading to QWest Field on September 3rd. If New England are victorious, QWest Field will see the final on September 15th. Charleston Battery would host New England on the 22nd but would have to travel to the nation's capital on September 3rd to play DC. Full Story Prost Amerika Seattle Sounders Soccer News

Portland Timbers v Seattle Sounders Match Preview August 6

Sounders Bid Farewell to Portland Long Awaited Return of Portland Bête-Noire Levesque Set to Spice it up Further? August 6 Feelings are sure to be running high as the MLS bound Seattle Sounders make their last regular season trip to PGE Park to face the Portland Timbers. Thursday night’s match could be the last of many memorable meetings between the two sides leaving bragging rights in one town for an eternity. Both sides need the points to stay competitive in the race for a USL play-off place. The Cascadia Cup is at stake. The sides are fierce local rivals. Then there is the lingering resentment in Oregon at the Sounders elevation to the MLS. But amazingly there's more. FOX are televising the game live nationwide and both sides have a chance to impress on a large scale. Well at least there are no personality issues! But wait! "What's that coach?" Brian Schmetzer displaying an incredible sense of drama may well have chosen Portland as the scene of the long awaited return of a certain Mr Roger Levesque. The Timbers Army can't be said to be terribly keen on any Sounders player but Full story: http://www.prostamerika.com/Sounders2008.html

Seattle Opera's Aida a Great Season Opener

Aida Seattle Opera by Victoria Rimoczi When Guiseppe Verdi wrote Aida in 1870, he created an opera written for the people. From the opening notes of the overture, the audience in McCall Hall was drawn into a world which is both far away and yet intimately familiar.

Aida is a story of the conflict of love and duty. The action takes place in Egypt in the midst of a war between Egypt and Ethiopia. Aida (Lisa Daltirus) has been captured as a slave by the Egyptians, unbeknownst to all as the daughter of the King of Ethiopia. She loves and is loved by Radames (Antonello Palombi), the hero of the Egyptian Army.

Were this not opera, the story would end here, but this being opera, we add Amneris (Stephanie Blythe), the Pharos daughter who is in love with (as you guessed) Radames to the mix. If you’re thinking this isn’t going to end well for our two lovers, you’re right. Aida’s father, Amonasro (Charles Taylor) convices Aida to use her feminine wiles to obtain state secrets thus leading us to our crushing denouement. Radames betrays his country for love and is condemned to be buried alive. Aida chooses to share his fate and the lovers die in grand, heart-wrenching operatic style.

The control Lisa Baltrius had over her voice as Aida was impressive, maintaining the tuning even in the highest register and producing a very beautiful lyric line. Her voice was the perfect contrast to the dramatic Amneris. Some of the intimacy of the “O Patra Mia” was diverted due to set staging, but the subtlety and sweetness in her voice made you really sympathize with her plight. Stephanie Blythe is the reigning Queen of the mezzo-soprano repertoire and her Amneris was a delight to the senses. The sheer size of her voice, the impeccable technique and the ease at which she was able to soar her voice over orchestra, chorus and small buildings in a single bound, had this reviewer looking for a cigarette. Her performance made one wonder if the opera should have been called Amneris instead of Aida.

Lisa Daltirus (Aida) and Antonello Palombi (Radames) Photo: © Rozarii Lynch

Antonello Palombi’s rich tenor voice portrayed both the strong, conquering hero as well as the tender lover with equal success. Radames was a man’s man and his betrayal by Aida was felt intimately. The final duet between Aida and Radames was a tender and magical moment on stage. Joseph Rawly as the King of Egypt brought the right nobility to the stage while bass-baritone Charles Taylor, is believable (if a bit young) as Aida’s father, Amonasro.

The High Priestess, Priti Gandhi provided a delightful contrast against the lush sounds on the stage at the end of the first Act. Special commendation must be made to the chorus for a truly beautiful performance. Though there were no elephants in the Seattle Opera performance, Speight Jenkins put his faith in Verdi and his faith was repaid. The rich orchestrations so brilliantly conducted by Riccardo Frizza, the colorful and triumphant sets by Michael Yeargan, brilliant choruses, dramatic arias and ensembles made Aida the perfect kickoff to a fantastic Season with Seattle Opera.

For more reviews of the arts in Seattle: http://www.prostamerika.com/EnglishMirrorPages/SeattleEventsEn.html

Sounders Tickets to be Won

Sounders Tickets to be Won

Free to enter, two pairs of tickets are available for each of three upcoming home games. Further details at: http://www.prostamerika.com/Competitions.html

Wagner Comes to Seattle

The International Wagner Competition finals will be held at Seattle Opera at McCaw Hall on August 16th. It is a forerunnner to the 2009 Festival of Wagner in Seattle. For more details see: http://www.prostamerika.com/Wagner.html

Sounders Bid for US Open Cup Final

Sounders Submit their Bid to Host US Open Cup Final

August 4th Seattle Sounders FC submitted their bid today to host the US Open Cup Final should they reach the final. The Sounders face Charleston Battery on August 12th in South Carolina in the semi final. Home advantage for the final which will be played on August 26th goes to the participant who wins a sealed bidding contest. The Sounders are guaranteed at least $60,000 for reaching the final. $50,000 for the achievement itself and another $10,000 for being the USL side that goes the furthest in the tournament.

Bart Wiley, General Manager of the Seattle Sounders, said ....

Full Story: http://www.prostamerika.com/Sounders2008.html