Sounders, Red Bulls

After the excitement of the driving test what better than following it up with a first ever Sounders game for Tracy, Harry and Toby?? Harry and Toby had managed to behave since Sunday so we were good to go. Plus I’d already bought the tickets and it seemed a shame to waste them!

Kick-off was at 7pm so we set off over to Seattle at just after 5pm to avoid the rush. We parked at the stadium, which was ridiculously expensive but also explains why the tickets were so cheap, and set off for a mooch about and to find some food.

The atmosphere was building nicely, as it always does at a Seattle game – I think they are the best supported team in the MLS, and it turned out that the final attendance for this game would be a Sounders record with over 46,000 people there. I’m glad it was a record attendance because Toby had wanted to know if this was the most famous Seattle game ever, which I had reassured him that it was. So by being a record attendance I feel justified in saying that it was!

The team band (Soundwave) helped build the atmosphere nicely outside the stadium by the giant soccer ball. It’s not the best quality video but hopefully it gives a flavor. If nothing else it helped Harry and Toby dance their way all the way to their seats!

httpv://youtu.be/TyLNtcq7RAU

As we were up in the third tier of the stadium we had a pretty good view of the city and the dock area when we were on the outside of the stadium. Since having our furniture shipped half way round the world (or however far it is) in a little red container Tracy has turned into a bit of a container geek. I think she would have happily spent the evening with a glass of wine watching containers in the port!

We grabbed some food (Seahawk dogs for the boys and fish and chips for Tracy and I) and headed to our seats. They were a long way up. It made my legs go a bit funny sitting up there but at least we still had a good view of the pitch.

Based on my experience of previous games I was fearing the worst – both games to date have been awful! However this was a cracker! Within about 15 minutes Seattle were winning 2-0 and comfortable. Then, in what I have found out to be a Seattle sporting trait (and somewhat similar to England/the UK) they normally find a way of mucking it up. With this in mind after about 10 minutes into the second half it was 2-2 and all going horribly wrong. Harry, being the loyal fan he is, was predicting a New York win and I couldn’t help agreeing with him.

For once though it all had a happy ending! Seattle scored a third:

httpv://youtu.be/ECWVsNjPX-8

And then a fourth went in and Harry and Toby got right into the swing of singing and chanting (once Toby had clarified exactly what they were saying):

httpv://youtu.be/j7V-_Vw2WAw

So it all finished with a 4-2 victory and high fives all round. Next trip back to the Qwest stadium is when those dirty Mancs (Manchester Utd) come over for a pre season friendly. Can’t wait!

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