Sounders striker Eddie Johnson’s heady play boosts team’s offense

Seattle, WA, United States (4E Sports) – Eddie Johnson not only helped the Sounders to 2-1 win over Chivas USA Saturday at CenturyLink Field, but the Seattle striker’s two goals enabled him to set the club’s single season record.

Johnson scored in the 29th and 89th minutes, helping the Sounders (13-6-8) extend their unbeaten run to four games.

In the 29th, the 6-foot Johnson elevated above a group of player before nodding home the equalizer from the top right corner for the 6-yard box off a nifty feed from Christian Tiffert.

The home side persevered and would get three more goal-scoring chances before halftime and early in the second half, but could not shatter a 1-1 deadlock. The Sounders are just 0-6-4 on the season when they allow the first goal coming in Saturday’s match.

Seattle got its first comeback victory when Alex Caskey ignited the winning-play with a short, crisp pass to Fredy Montero on the attacking left side. Montero wiggled his way past two Chivas defenders before launching a left-footed cross in front of the Goats’ goal.

Johnson, selected to the MLS All Star team for 2012 and scored the game-winner as the MLS All-Stars topped Chelsea of the EPL 3-2, was there to met it eight yards in front of net and headed it past ‘keeper Dan Kennedy, who got a piece of the ball, for the go-ahead goal.

It hiked Johnson’s season tally to 13 goals, a Sounders single-season mark. Johnson notched ten of those goals via headers.

Johnson was selected on Feb. 18, 2012 by Montreal Impact via allocation process a day after he signed with MLS. He was then shipped to Seattle in a trade for Mike Fucito and Lamar Neagle.

The 28-year-old Johnson has made his offensive impact with the Sounders by scoring his first two goals in clashes against the Chicago Fire and the LA Galaxy.

His successful headers have provided a new dimension to the potent offense of the Sounders (13-6-8), who now moved to second place in the Western Conference, six points of the first-place San Jose Earthquakes.

Meanwhile, Chivas (7-12-7), which came in nine points out of the final playoff spot, occupied by Vancouver, has its postseason bid dashed anew as it lost three of its last four. The Goats, who are second from the bottom in the West, are winless in their last six league contests.

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