The Seattle Sounders faced two very important matches this week, meeting up with the Colorado Rapids at Century Link field and Chivas USA at the Starfire training grounds and coming away both times with a much needed win.  The league game on Saturday was particularly special, ending our winless nine game streak and seeing the return of Sounders hero, injured player Steve Zakuani, who’d had his leg broken facing the Rapids a year and a half ago.  Our Sounder-supporting gay4soccer contributors, Grant (@ducki98444) and Tom (@thepickupbear) sat down and talked about that match afterwards.

Forgiveness

Mullan and Zakuani share a hug post-game

What were you feeling before the game?  

(Grant) I was nervous. I mean it’s been 9 matches with no wins. Steve was in the 18. I really didn’t want to lose to the Rapids at home. Our defense has had lots of lapses recently. But I had a lot of optimism about what we could do.

(Tom) I was excited before this one.  I knew the rumors about Zak’s return, but figured Colorado was a risky time for the Sounders to sub him in…I was glued to my twitter feed before the game anyway to get a hint of the 18.

Did the history between the teams color your expectations of the game at all?  

(Grant) Well of course. With any team you’ve played before there are perceptions, expectations, and history. This matchup has become one with lots of emotions due to the idea of thug-ish physical play from the players. My mother would say that there’s a hair of bad blood there, I would say it’s a leg full of bad blood.

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