Tuesday, November 20th 2012 by Stephen Brashear
The Seattle Sounders FC in in the 2012 MLS Western Conference Final match against the L.A. Galaxy on XBox Pitch at CenturyLink Field. The Sounders won the game 2-1, but lost the playoff series.
Another deluge at CenturyLink Field and another playoff series ending in disappointment for the Sounders. The match against the L.A. Galaxywas quite anti-climatic to start with, since the Sounders came into the match three goals down. Shooting home and away playoff series are not much fun since the winners can lose the final match but win the series. I’m not a big fan. The officiating was a mess as was the trophy presentation. The Sounders were an offsides call and a penalty kick away from tying up the series. I cannot blame the Galaxy for wanting to get off the field as quickly as possible. I think they knew they got really lucky. Two photos after the break, including a photo of the confrontation between Osvaldo Alonso and the referee.
The Seattle Sounders FC in in the 2012 MLS Western Conference Final match against the L.A. Galaxy on XBox Pitch at CenturyLink Field. The Sounders won the game 2-1, but lost the playoff series.
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Thursday, February 2nd 2012 by Stephen Brashear
Alex Morgan, Abby Wambach and Megan Rapinoe celebrate as they defeated Canada 4-0 Sunday January 29, 2012.
I had the opportunity to cover the CONCACAF Women’s Olympic Qualifying tournament at BC Place in Vancouver BC. Vancouver is a great city. As expected the heavily favored U.S. team won tournament, not allowing a goal and scoring a whole bunch. It was a lot of soccer, but fun to photograph. Here are a bunch of my favorite pictures from the tournament.
Canada defeats Costa Rica 5-1 in a 2012 CONCACAF Women's Olympic Qualifying match Monday Jan. 23, 2012 at BC Place in Vancouver, BC.
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Saturday, November 5th 2011 by Stephen Brashear
Seattle Sounders FC midfielder Erik Friberg and forward Lamar Neagle react to a miss during play against Real Salt Lake in a Major League Soccer Wester Conference Semifinal match at CenturyLink Field in Seattle Wednesday November 2, 2011. The Sounders won the match 2-0, but lost the series.
The Sounders FC had to score three goals in their playoff game at home against Real Salt Lake. This because the first rounds of MLS playoff are a two game series in which goals from both games are aggregated to determine the winner of the series. The first game, for whatever reason, was played on the lower seed’s home field. The Sounders lost that game in Salt Lake City 3-0. It was a bit strange to photograph a playoff game in which the team that won the game was eliminated. The Sounders had more than their fair share of chances to score enough goals. For a while it looked like they were going to be able to do it, but could not get the third goal. Oh and did I mention it rained.
Real Salt Lake defender Chris Wingert, left, hugs goalkeeper Nick Rimando after playoff match against the Seattle Sounders FC at CenturyLink Field in Seattle Wednesday November 2, 2011. The Sounders won the match 2-0, but lost the series.
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Wednesday, October 19th 2011 by Stephen Brashear
A pair of Seattle Sounders FC fans show their appreciation for goalkeeper Kasey Keller before play between the Seattle Sounders FC and the San Jose Earthquakes at CenturyLink Field in Seattle Saturday October 15, 2011. The Sounders FC won the game 2-1. The game was Keller's last regular season home game.
Kasey Keller played his final regular season home game at CenturyLink Field. In legendary fashion, Keller made at least three, if not four, saves in quick succession. If nothing else, it tells me how much the Sounders will miss his play moving on next season. Here are a few pictures from the night, which, by the way, was a win for the Sounders against the San Jose Earthquakes. The night wasy most emotional during the game as there were several confrontations between Sounders FC and Earthquakes players. Those photos are after the break and one last photo of Kasey Keller. I am particularly fond of the photograph of Lamar Neagle and Fredy Montero celebrating goal. I like the emotion and that it is layered with an out-of-focus Osvaldo Alonso also celebrating in the background.
during play between the Seattle Sounders FC and the San Jose Earthquakes at CenturyLink Field in Seattle Saturday October 15, 2011. The Sounders FC won the game 2-1.
Seattle Sounders FC goalkeeper Kasey Keller holds up a golden scarf against the San Jose Earthquakes at CenturyLink Field in Seattle Saturday October 15, 2011. The Sounders FC won the game 2-1. The game was Keller's last regular season home game.
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Monday, October 10th 2011 by Stephen Brashear
Philadelphia Union midfielder, Brian Carroll, left, and midfielder Freddy Adu celebrate Carroll's goal during play between the Seattle Sounders FC and the Philadelphia Union at CenturyLink Field in Seattle Sunday October 8, 2011. The Union won the game 2-0. Both Adu and Carroll scored.
It seemd like all the action happened at the other end of the field. During the first half all the action was in Sounders end of the field and in the second, most of the action was on the Union side, except for two goals. Decent action was hard to come by. Days after winning their third consecutive U.S. Open Cup, they were flat and they were without Fredy Montero. Though I felt better about getting some photographs of celebration at my end of the field, including one shot with feature both goal scorers in the same frame: Freddy Adu and Brian Carroll.
Philadelphia Union midfielder Freddy Adu, left, forward Sebastien Le Toux, center, and defender Gabriel Farfan celebrate Adu's goal and Farfan's assist during play between the Seattle Sounders FC and the Philadelphia Union at CenturyLink Field in Seattle Sunday October 8, 2011. The Union won the game 2-0.
Seattle Sounders FC forward Pat Noonan, left and Philadelphia Union midfielder Brian Carroll battle for the ball during play between the Seattle Sounders FC and the Philadelphia Union at CenturyLink Field in Seattle Sunday October 8, 2011. The Union won the game 2-0.
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Friday, October 7th 2011 by Stephen Brashear
From left Seattle Sounders FC players Osvaldo Alonso, Fredy Montero and Alvaro Fernandez celebrate winning their third consecutive U.S. Open Cup during play between the Seattle Sounders FC and the Chicago Fire in the U.S. Open Cup Final at CenturyLink Field in Seattle Tuesday October 4, 2011. Seattle won the game 2-0.
Shortly after photographing the Amanda Knox press conference, which on time and very brief, I was off to the CenturyLink Field to shoot the Sounders FC and the Fire in the U.S. Open Cup Final. I arrived just before kick off. The Sounders played in and won their third consecutive U.S. Open Cup Final. Unfortunately, I was at the opposite end of the field for first goal the Sounders scored. Nonetheless, I like the photograph I made for the first goal, albeit from a long ways away. The celebratory photos at the end were also nice. I was able to get both goal scorers in one photo after the game.
Seattle Sounders FC players celebrate a goal by forward Fredy Montero, far right, during play between the Seattle Sounders FC and the Chicago Fire in the U.S. Open Cup Final at CenturyLink Field in Seattle Tuesday October 4, 2011. Seattle won the game 2-0 to win its third U.S. Open Cup.
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Tuesday, August 30th 2011 by Stephen Brashear
Columbus Crew midfielder Tom Heinemann and Seattle Sounders FC defender James Riley battle for the ball during play between at CenturyLink Field in Seattle Saturday Aug. 27, 2011. The Sounders FC won the game 6-2.
The Seattle Sounders crushed the Columbus Crew. Here are the pictures.
Seattle Sounders FC forwards Mike Fucito, right, and Lamar Neagle celebrate a goal against Columbus Crew at CenturyLink Field in Seattle Saturday Aug. 27, 2011.
Columbus Crew forward Emilio Renteria, left, and Seattle Sounders FC defender Jhon Kennedy Hurtado battle for the bal in front of the goal during play at CenturyLink Field in Seattle Saturday Aug. 27, 2011. The Sounders FC won the game 6-2.
Columbus Crew forward Emilio Renteria, left, is tripped up Seattle Sounders FC defender Jhon Kennedy Hurtado during play at CenturyLink Field in Seattle Saturday Aug. 27, 2011. The Sounders FC won the game 6-2.
Thursday, August 18th 2011 by Stephen Brashear
Comunicaciones fans and cousins Enrique Lolden, left, of Seattle and Pablo Santos walk into the CenturyLink Park during CONCACAF group play at CenturyLink Field in Seattle Tuesday Aug. 16, 2011
I ended up photographing a CONCACAF match for a Guatemalan newspaper. Unfortunately, the Guatemalans lost the match. a red card and a few disputed calls made for a rough night. On the other hand, the Sounders played well in CONCACAF play. Here are some photographs from the match.
Comunicaciones players Jairo Arreola, second from left, Edgar Martinez second from right, and Fredy Thompson plead with referee Paul Delgadillo during CONCACAF group play at CenturyLink Field in Seattle Tuesday Aug. 16, 2011.
Carlos Ramirez of Comunicaciones and Patrick Ianni during CONCACAF group play at CenturyLink Field in Seattle Tuesday Aug. 16, 2011.
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Wednesday, June 29th 2011 by Stephen Brashear
Seattle Sounders FC forward Roger Levesque goes up for a header as he is surrounded by New England Revolution midfielder Shalrie Joseph, left, defender AJ Soares and defender Kevin Alston during play at CenturyLink Field in Seattle Sunday June 26, 2011. The Sounders won the game 2-1.
Afternoon games at CenturyLink (formerly Qwest) Field can be tough. Shooting at lower ISO is always welcome. However, the artificial turf on the field puts off a crazy amount of heat waves for a day in the mid-70s. I think the problem is exacerbated by the fact that I like to shooting into the sun during the day, because I get nice even light with the faces in shadow, the background is dark and the players have a nice rim light that helps them to pop from the background. However, on warm days with heat waves it makes it really difficult to focus.
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Monday, June 27th 2011 by Stephen Brashear
Seattle Sounders FC forward Roger Levesque celebrates his second goal by somersaulting backwards off a reader board during play against the New York Red Bulls at Qwest Field in Seattle Saturday June 23, 2011. The Sounders won the game 4-2.
I’m not sure how he did not injure himself. There is not soft landing on the other side of the reader boards and occasionally photographer will lean a camera with a long lens and monopod back there. I’ve read a few blogs saying this by far was the best MLS celebration thus far this year. The goal itself was quite exciting. Levesque stole the ball from the goalkeeper to score his second goal. It was quite win for the Sounders below and after break are a bunch of collisions from that game.
Seattle Sounders FC midfielder Mauro Rosales goes to the ground after colliding with midfielders Joel Lindpere and Teemu Tainio during play at Qwest Field in Seattle Saturday June 23, 2011. The Sounders won the game 4-2.
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