A massive crowd of 64,140, the third largest standalone crowd in MLS history, came to pay tribute to the Sounders’ retiring goalkeeper Kasey Keller on Saturday and they were treated to a dramatic come-from-behind 2-1 victory for the Sounders over the San Jose Earthquakes.
Seattle overcame a plucky San Jose side and a 24th-minute strike from Chris Wondolowski, getting goals Sammy Ochoa and Fredy Montero in the 82nd minute and 87th minute, respectively. With his 15th goal on the season, Wondolowski, the 2010 Golden Boot winner, drew level with D.C. United’s Dwayne De Rosario for the lead in this year’s scoring race.
As if following a script, the comeback would not have been possible if not for the heroics of Keller. The 41-year-old goalkeeper made seven saves, none of which were bigger than a multi-save sequence in the 65th minute.
After Patrick Ianni’s poor pass, Keller was forced to come well off his line in order to beat the Quakes’ Khari Stephenson to the ball. Wondolowski then pounced on the loose ball and fired a shot from the left side which Keller staved off with a diving save. He then made a final block on Simon Dawkins’ follow-up before the defense finally cleared the danger.
The triple save inspired the Sounders and they finally got back on level terms in the 82nd minute when Rosales found substitute Sammy Ochoa with a long through ball. The summer acquisition forward beat Earthquakes goalkeeper Jon Busch to record his first goal since joining the Sounders.
Five minutes later, when most expected the match to end in a draw, the Sounders snagged the lead through Fredy Montero’s 12th goal of the season. Lamar Neagle found Montero, who barely beat the offside trap, and Colombian attacker calmly beat the defenseless Busch.
