Sounders say they’re playing well at right time
Here’s some of what the Sounders had to say after their 3-0 win over Vancouver on Wednesday, which put them through to the CONCACAF Champions League semifinals:
LAMAR NEAGLE
On playing a part in all three goals:
“My teammates. That first goal was unbelievable. I was yelling because I was so excited, and then [Chad] Barrett played me a great ball. The first goal and the second goal.”
On his legs after resting on Saturday:
“They felt good. We knew it was going to be a crazy game so we knew we had to bring the pressure, and I think all the guys worked for each other. We pressured them a lot, we won the ball back in good areas and we had good possession for a lot of the time – it was a good game.”
On the finish on his first goal:
“It was a great ball and the ball came right to my feet. I knew I had to get in front of the defender a little bit and get a small touch on it.”
On the confidence boost of scoring the brace:
“Absolutely. After having nine goals last year and not having nine goals this year yet, it’s nice to get two in a game, especially in a game as important this one. And especially after we went up there and I wasn’t able to go up to Vancouver, and we were able to score three goals against them. It was nice to be able to do the same thing at home.”
CHAD BARRETT
On tonight’s victory and advancement:
“It’s good, it’s big – it’s nice we were able to field such a good team tonight. If you look, it’s a lot of the starters from last year. We haven’t been able to put out that type of lineup [in SCCL]…It was good to have so many healthy guys because this was important. It’s important to be able to go to the next stage. It was nice to be able to take something from Vancouver after they’ve beaten us twice; they’ve come to our house and beaten us twice. It sends the message that we are playing well at the right time, and that’s important.”
On playing through the ups and downs of a long season:
“Yeah, it’s tough. It’s a 10-month season – you’re going to go through your dry spells and your good spells. You can’t get on that roller coaster – you just have to know it’s going to come back around. Now is a good time to be playing really well, and Vancouver might be feeling a little bit of pressure we felt last year when we were trying to win the Supporters’ Shield. It’s not easy…and I commend them. They’ve had a great year. They’re going to the playoffs and they are going to be a formidable team. They are probably resting their players because they are eying the Supporters’ Shield.”
On tonight’s lineup stepping up:
“I think, if anything else, it’s good to go through, but it’s good for the first-tier guys – the guys that are starting on the weekend – to be able to see that if they slip up, we are ready to go. The guys behind them are ready to go. That is going to push them to do more…We are getting shutouts again, we are scoring again and that’s going to build competition within us, and that’s going to put a better product on the field come playoffs.”
NELSON VALDEZ
On playing a part in all three goals:
“The truth is that I am really happy. The important part is that the team won and we passed to the next phase, and I am happy that I was able to participate in all three goals.”
On the status of his leg:
“I think it’s good. I feel much better. I know that the adrenaline is strong and is kicking in, but I feel well and I hope it continues like that.”
On adapting to the new team and new league in a new tournament:
“Being a professional player, you have to adapt to the team and adapt to the league. I had the opportunity to participate in all three goals, the team won and now we advance to the next phase.”
This story was originally published September 24, 2015 at 12:33 AM with the headline "Sounders say they’re playing well at right time."