The Seattle Sounders are one of the best teams in MLS. Chivas USA is one of the worst. That should make for an easy Sounders in, right? Nope. The Goats went up a goal, made the Sounders play catch up and only an 89th minute goal by Eddie Johnson earned the home side a 2-1 win on Saturday at CenturyLink Field.
Seattle Sounders Vs. Chivas USA, 2012 MLS: Eddie Johnson Strikes Late
Chivas went in front when Shalrie Joseph slipped a nice ball in for Nick LaBrocca in the eighth minute. LaBrocca settled and finished well to give the visitors a shock early lead.
It took 20 minutes for Seattle to get level, but they did thanks to Johnson. The striker was able to raise up high and meet a Christian Tiffert free kick then nod past Dan Kennedy to get the Sounders level.
Seattle pressured for much of the second half, but they wasted several chances. None was worse than Brad Evans' miss from three yards out with a gaping goal that saw him hit the post. And when the Sounders did find the frame, Kennedy was there to deny him.
But just when the match looked destined for a draw, Fredy Montero got loose down the left in the 89th minute. He outran Joseph on the wing before delivering a pinpoint cross for Johnson in front. Once again, Johnson's head was there for the finish and Seattle claimed all three points.
With the win, the Sounders moved into second place in the Western Conference. Also, the Chivas loss clinched a playoff spot for the Earthquakes, making them the first team in MLS to cling a berth in the postseason.
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