May 21, 1999
The Pacific division-leading San Diego Flash (6-1, 25) secured a berth in the U.S. Open Cup after knocking off Seattle, a supreme challenger to their division crown, 2-0 in an A-League match Saturday evening at Douglas Stadium before 2,785 spectators.
San Diego won its sixth consecutive match (club record is nine) after a season-opening loss to Orange County behind goals from Carlos "Chile" Farias and Nate Hetherington. The pair has combined three times to score in the same match in the first quarter of the 1999 season. The Flash now has a nine-game home win streak and has scored in 28 consecutive matches dating back to last season.
Seattle, playing in its second match in two days, played a physical match committing 25 fouls against San Diego. Flash head coach Papo Santos expected the bigger and more physical Sounders to be a tough challenge, as he changed his lineup to accommodate the bigger team. "It's always a concern (Seattle's size), we made some changes and I thought we were pretty well prepared," said Santos. Inserted into the starting line-up for his first start was six-footer Anthony Farace, replacing the smaller Mauricio Alegre in midfield.
Farias converted a penalty kick in the 15th minute to give San Diego the lead. Seattle defender Bernie James was called for a handball in the box to set up the kick. Farias, the A-League's leading scorer, is a perfect five-for five on penalty kicks this season.
The goal allowed him to break the club record for the most consecutive matches with a goal, five. Farias (9g, 3a, 21 pts) also tied the club mark for most consecutive matches with a point with five.
The Sounders were forced to play two men down for the remaining 23 minutes after both Jason Annicchero (63') and Randy Mann (67') were ejected for receiving their second caution cards each. San Diego's insurance goal came in the 67th minute on a Hetherington rebound goal from 20 yards out, the low line drive shot beat Seattle goalkeeper Preston Burpo. Hetherington is on a pace to surpass last year's total of 19 points, after seven matches he has 12 points (5g, 2a).
Flash goalkeeper Kevin Rueda recorded his second consecutive shutout and compiled his fifth victory of the season. The defense held the potent Sounders' attack to only three second-half shots on goal. San Diego has now kept opponents scoreless for 271 minutes.
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