Top > Sport > 2004 > September > 2004-09-06

SOUNDERS/A-LEAGUE PLAYOFFS

SEATTLE -- Ben Somoza is on the outside looking in -- and he couldn`t be happier. The Seattle Sounders midfielder has changed positions, and, in his own way, helped change the team`s fortunes during a late-season surge into the A-League playoffs. ``They want me to get the ball and go at guys and make something happen,`` said the 25-year-old Somoza, a lifelong inside midfielder who has moved to outside mid. ``They want me to use my speed to try to get the ball in. ``I like playing outside. I`ve always been an athletic guy and always been pretty fit, so that`s been a bonus that you can bring.`` The Sounders will be counting on Somoza to create some more of those offensive chances-- whether with his well-placed crosses or trademark long throw-ins -- today starting at 5 p.m. That`s when they kick off against the Portland Timbers at Qwest Field in Game 2 of their two-game, total-goals Western Conference semifinal series. The Sounders will start in a 2-1 hole, the result of last Wednesday`s opener at Portland`s PGE Park. At the very least, Seattle must win to force 30 minutes of golden-goal overtime to decide the series. A victory by two or more goals would give it to the Sounders without the OT. A tie or a Portland victory sends the Timbers to next weekend`s conference finals. ``They`re a team we know well, and it`s a team we really want to beat,`` Somoza said prior to the opener. Somoza has been part of the last three games against Portland, including a 4-3 double-overtime loss to the Timbers at Qwest on July 17 in which he made his first start as a pro. He didn`t see any action during the first two contests against the Timbers. In fact, he didn`t see any action at all for the first 15 games of the season. But as injuries piled up during May and June, Somoza found himself going from no time to full time. He played the final 17 minutes of a 1-0 victory against Edmonton on July 7, and also subbed in for the next two games. He has been a starter ever since that July 17 game against Portland. In the final 13 games of the regular season, Somoza contributed two goals, two assists -- and numerous other pretty passes that went unfinished. From the time he became a starter, the Sounders went 6-3-1 and fended off Milwaukee for the fourth and final playoff spot in the West. ``You`ve just got to get in there, and if you`re confident enough, you`ll keep your position,`` Somoza said. ``It`s just adjusting to the different players around you and getting used to their habits.`` Somoza, who joined the team midway through the 2003 season (he got into five games as a reserve), said he never doubted his time would come. ``It`s been very difficult. But at the same time, you have to learn to be patient in life,`` he said. ``I knew I was good enough to play. I just had to wait for my time. ``I got a break, and took it.`` PORTLAND AT SOUNDERS What -- Game 2 of the two-game, total-goals A-League Western Conference semifinals. When -- Today, 5 p.m. Where -- Qwest Field. On the air -- No TV. The game will be broadcast live on KKNW 1150 AM with Thom Beuning calling the action. It also will be broadcast live in Spanish on KXPA 1540 AM. Team records -- The Sounders finished the regular season 13-11-4 with 43 points, fourth in the Western Conference. Portland won the West and had the best record in the A-League at 18-7-4 with 58 points. Last game -- The Timbers won the opener last Wednesday at PGE Park, 2-1. The Sounders scored in the 17th minute when Jonathan Bolanos chipped the ball into the box for Kevin Sakuda, who headed it inside the far post. Portland tied it in the 52nd minute as Byron Alvarez re-directed a shot to the near post, then won it in the 82nd minute on a penalty kick by former Sounders midfielder Andrew Gregor. The PK was the result of Sounders defender Marco Velez throwing an elbow into the face of Alvarez. Velez was red-carded and will serve a one-game suspension today. Overall series -- Seattle leads, 10-8-1, including Wednesday`s playoff game. Portland has won four of the five games this year, with a 9-7 advantage in goals. Stats and such -- The Sounders went 7-4-3 at home this season. Portland was 9-3-2 on the road, including a sweep of the two games at Qwest. ... The Timbers now have an unbeaten streak of 11 games (8-0-3). Their last loss was July 24 at home against Seattle, 2-0. ... Alvarez` goal on Wednesday gives him 17 for the season, the same as teammate Alan Gordon, who led the A-League with 17. ... The Sounders defeated Vancouver in last year`s conference semifinals, prevailing in a penalty-kick tiebreaker in the second game, 6-5. Next game -- The winner will take on the Vancouver-Minnesota winner for the conference championship next weekend. The Whitecaps won the opener of that series on Friday at home, 2-0. The second game is today at Minnesota.