Iconic MLS Moments: Montero’s second goal for Seattle

A Sounders moment: Montero’s second goal Colombian striker introduces himself, team to the league

Already up 2-0 over Red Bull New York, Fredy Montero and the Seattle Sounders had little else to prove in their debut MLS match on March 19, 2009. And they certainly had nothing to prove to the capacity crowd who delighted in Seattle’s dominance of the reigning Western Conference champions. So how better could Montero announce himself, and his team, to the rest of the league?
Opening night in Jet City

The moment the ESPN feed went live and the sea of Rave Green humanity was beamed into homes, bars and laptops across America, it was apparent the night was going to be special. More than 32,000 had assembled to bear witness to Seattle’s return to top-flight domestic soccer, and they had no intention of sitting down for the occasion. As the cameras panned across the teaming Quest Field, heads, hands and scarves filled the screen, letting it be known nationwide that these were fans of a different breed.

Down below on a different shade of green, the Sounders were ready for their close-up. As an expansion team, Seattle carried few expectations other than they would play soccer for around 90 minutes that night. And although New York was coming off of an appearance at MLS Cup 2008, there wasn’t necessarily an assumption the Red Bulls would win—it was just that Seattle was an unknown quantity.

But the mystery would be solved well before regulation. In the 11th minute, forward Fredy Montero, a 21 year-old Colombian making his MLS debut, scored the first-ever goal for the MLS Sounders and set off a near-riot of exuberance in the stands. John Harkes, who was in the booth for ESPN that night, had a hunch about Montero’s abilities. “It was a great start for Fredy,” Harkes said. “He was highly touted as one of the surprise signings of the season. The anticipation was high, and he did not fail to produce.”

But the Sounders—and Montero—were just getting started. In the 25th minute Brad Evans snuck past the Red Bulls backline and fired a shot through the legs of ‘keeper Danny Cepero for the second goal of the evening.

But the next goal capped off the night and sent a statement of intent to both competitors and league observers alike. The Goal

With the game slipping far from New York’s grasp, the final blow came almost unexpectedly. After failing to trap a square pass along the back, Red Bulls defender Mike Petke had his pocket picked by the opportunistic Montero. With nothing but the evening night between him and a near-frozen Cepero, the Colombian gave just a hint of a fake before striking the ball with power to the right of the keeper to send Quest Field into a frenzy. [WATCH].

“It was electric,” coach Sigi Schmid said. “It was electric all season in Seattle, but for that first game it was very special, particularly to the ownership group and the people that had put a lot of effort into getting professional soccer in Seattle.”

Schmid partially attributed Montero’s final goal to Petke’s misfortune. “Poaching” was the root of the night’s final goal, Schmid said. “I'm sure it wasn't something Mike Petke was happy about happening.”

And while luck may have started it, it was skill that finished it. “He showed clever finishing when he sat the goalkeeper down with the fake and then just buried it up high,” Schmid said. “It showed a little bit of villainy and a little bit of cool and calm at the end.”

Harkes was equally flattering of Montero and his exploits on the night. “It was a combination of luck, skill and his awareness of the pitch were the reasons for his goals,” Harkes recalled. “[He’s] a very good young player that possesses skill and vision.” The Aftermath

Following the match, the question on the minds of players, fans and pundits was clearly, “Where did these this guys come from?”

Not only were they asking about Montero and the Sounders, but about the fans, too.