Ljungberg voted MLS Player of the Month

Ljungberg recorded four assists while leading Seattle to a 3-0-0 record during the month, and a berth in the 2009 MLS Cup Playoffs.

RENTON, WASH. – Seattle Sounders FC midfielder Freddie Ljungberg was voted Major League Soccer’s Player of the Month for October. Ljungberg recorded four assists while leading Seattle to a 3-0-0 record during the month, and a berth in the 2009 MLS Cup Playoffs.

Seattle entered the final month of the season with a 9-7-11 record and balanced precariously on the playoff bubble. With Ljungberg leading the charge, the Sounders rallied for nine points finished as the third seed in the Western Conference bracket. Ljungberg is the first Swedish player to win MLS Player of the Month. As it is a regular-season honor, this is the last MLS Player of the Month in 2009.

After defeating the Columbus Crew 1-0 on Oct. 3, the Sounders traveled to Kansas City on Oct. 17 in need of a victory. Down 2-1 early in the second half to the Wizards, Ljungberg led a Sounders attack that netted two goals in the final 25 minutes of play to capture the win and put Kansas City’s slim playoff hopes to bed. Ljungberg found a streaking Nate Jaqua in the middle of the penalty box in the 76th minute for the game-winner.

Seattle hosted FC Dallas on Oct. 24 in a do-or-die game for the Texas club. FC Dallas struck first when Atiba Harris fired a shot from 22 yards out that gave Dallas a 1-0 lead. With the home crowd behind them, Seattle rebounded for two goals in the second half. First Ljungberg wriggled out of pressure on the left flank and sent a cross to Fredy Montero, who slid to dish to Nate Jaqua for a tap-in goal. In the 85th minute, Ljungberg, the Swedish star recorded his second assist of the game when he found Brad Evans at the near post for a close range strike that sealed the victory.

Seattle finished the season 12-7-11 with 47 points and will face the Houston Dynamo on Thursday night at 10 p.m. ET (ESPN2, ESPN Deportes) in Game 1 of a Western Conference semifinal series. Ljungberg, who finished the regular season with two goals and nine assists, will look to break through a Dynamo defense that allowed a league-low 29 goals this season. Ljungberg has recorded one assist in his three previous meetings with the Dynamo. Kickoff for the first game of the home-and-home series is tonight at 10:25 p.m. ET at Qwest Field.

The Major League Soccer Player of the Month is selected following the last regular season game of each month by a panel of journalists from the North American Soccer Reporters (NASR). The group consists of members of print, television, radio and online media. More information and membership guidelines can be found at http://www.soccerreporters.com/.

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FOLLOW FREDDIE ON TWITTER!!!

I'll admit I have been looking for ages for Freddie on facebook & twitter & it seems now here he is! His name/handle is: TheRealFreddie

He has 602 follwers now, but I'm sure it won't be that way for long!!! He even blogged about signing for the Swedes when I was at the game! Side note, the game tonight against Houston will be on ESPN2 at 10PM eastern time. GO SOUNDERS!!!

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ESPN Soccernet and Freddie agree on a co-operation

Here's some exciting Freddie news straight from his agent Claes Elefalk. Freddie has agreed a writing deal with ESPN Soccernet, which is officially launched today with the publishing of Freddies first column on ESPN Soccernet. PRESS RELEASE Freddie Ljungberg Joins ESPN Soccernet.

Soccernet.com today announced that internationally renowned soccer star Freddie Ljungberg will join host Derek Rae, and analysts Tommy Smyth and Janusz Michallik,as a regular guest on ESPNSoccernet Press Pass. This exclusive program, which is aired five days per week since August 13th, gives millions fans across the world a chance to stay up to date on the latest global soccer news and expert opinion’s leading up to the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa. In addition, Freddie will also be sharing his opinions and knowledgeable by writing a column, which is rare and unique among top players in the world, twice per month for the site.

Currently playing in the U.S. for Major League Soccer’s Seattle Sounders FC, Ljungberg’s 15-year career in soccer will add invaluable contributions to the latest news on the pitch. He began his professional career playing for Halmstad BK before joining Arsenal FC where he won the award 2002 Premier League Player of the Year and became a key player on the undefeated team that went on to capture the 2004 EPL title. The Swedish native also participated in the 2002 and 2006 World Cup tournaments and the Euro 2000, Euro 2004 and Euro 2008 for his home country’s national team.

His experience with fame and popularity as a model, fashion icon and product endorser, will also add new dimensions to discussions about the lives of players off the pitch as well. Read Freddie’s column on ESPN Soccernet

Goal.com's MLS Player Of Week 31: Seattle's Freddie Ljungberg

Freddie Ljungberg is Goal.com's Major League Soccer player of the week for matchday 31.

Oct 19, 2009 5:33:11 PM

Battling back from injury and low blood sugar, Freddie Ljungberg showed in week 31 exactly why Seattle Sounders FC made him the club's first ever designated player. A 3-2 win over the Kansas City Wizards ensured the expansion side will take part in the postseason and Ljungberg had a hand in every Sounders goal.

"Freddie did the job for the Sounders - made all the right plays to get them into the playoffs," said chief editor Andrea Canales.

In the first half, a crafty corner by Ljungberg caught out the Wizards' defense, allowing Tyrone Marshall to volley home a loose ball. After KC hit up Kasey Keller for two goals and the lead in the second half, the Swede took the game upon himself. Another corner in the 69th minute found Roger Levesque at the far post for the equalizer and, seven minutes later, the 32-year-old harried Matt Besler until the defender coughed up the ball, allowing Ljungberg to slide in the game-winning assist to Nate Jaqua.

"In a seesaw battle against the Kansas City Wizards, the Sounders went down 2-1 in less than 10 minutes early in the second half," said Seattle correspondent John Zielonka. "Ljungberg stepped up and assisted on the two goals that gave the Sounders the win and catapulted them into the playoffs. His leadership and tenacity were not only evident in this match but throughout the 2009 season."

While Ljungberg's play has proved valuable throughout the MLS season, Steve Cronin has languished in the USL. With a goalkeeper injury crisis, D.C. United brought in the former Los Angeles Galaxy shot-stopper on a short term loan. Cronin followed the footsteps of Josh Wicks, another LA goalkeeper who rejuvenated his career in the nation's capital, by putting on a quality display between the sticks against the Columbus Crew.

"Cronin stepped into a chaotic situation when he signed on loan from Portland (USL-1) on Monday and performed admirably in dire conditions at R.F.K. Stadium," explained MLS columnist Kyle McCarthy. "Cronin's composure and his six saves made Luciano Emilio's early goal stand up as United kept its playoff hopes alive with a 1-0 victory over Columbus."

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I MET FREDDIE!!!!

First I have to say, I have been a HUGE fan of Freddie's now for years... I have followed him from Arsenal to West Ham to Sounders & even put the Sweden games on DVD! So after the game, a group of fans were waiting with a huge Sweden flag & Freddie ran over to them & signed & took some pictures, after a few minutes had passed he ran onto the field to head over to the tunnel when I called out & held up my Sweden jersey for him to sign. He ran over & really was so friendly & he even laughed when he saw my "Mrs. Ljungberg" tee shirt! He signed my jersey & even signed my tee shirt & took a few photos with me. It truly was an amazing experience & after a pretty rough year, he couldn't realize what a few moments of his time meant to me.

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What an experience!!!

Hi everyone, I'm back from Columbus. It was a long drive both ways & unfortunately I caught a pretty bad cold right after the game, so I've been in bed for a couple days recovering. I'm feeling better & back at it now, so here are some highlights from the game!

Sounders FC ends Crew's home unbeaten streak

Levesque puts in a rebound off a Fredy Montero shot in the 35th minute, and Seattle makes it stand to boost its standings points total to 41.

By José Miguel Romero

Seattle Times staff reporter

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Losing was not an option if Sounders FC hoped to control its postseason destiny.

So Seattle donned the lucky blues, and the jerseys, in which the team has yet to lose in three games, worked like a charm.

The kits, in fact, had nothing to do with Sounders FC's gut-check 1-0 win Saturday over Columbus, which leads MLS's Eastern Conference. Roger Levesque had a lot to do with the victory, as did defender Tyrone Marshall. And so did a blown penalty kick by one of the league's best scorers, the Crew's Guillermo Barros Schelotto.

Levesque, a veteran forward making only his second start of the regular season, put in a rebound off a Fredy Montero shot on goal in the 35th minute, and Sounders FC made it stand to boost its points total to 41 with two games left. Holding on at Crew Stadium was the tough part after Seattle blew a 1-0 lead at New England last weekend and lost 2-1.

"Big three points," Sounders FC goalkeeper Kasey Keller said.

"If somehow we screw it up now, we only have ourselves to blame."

There was some luck and hustle involved. In the 24th minute and the match scoreless, Crew midfielder Eddie Gaven unloaded a long-distance shot that was headed for the corner of the net. Sounders FC defender Marshall redirected it ever so slightly, and the ball pinged off the sidepost and out of the net.

Levesque, the stringy-haired, mustache-sporting 28-year-old, was the hero. Again. He'd scored critical goals during the U.S. Open Cup tournament, including what proved to be the game winner in the final last month.

"I was just in the right place in at the right time," said Levesque, who started because Nate Jaqua was suspended because of yellow-card accumulation and Sebastien Le Toux was limited to reserve duty because of illness.

The key defensive play of the match came in the 70th minute, with Sounders FC trying to hang on to its lead and the Crew attacking. Steven Lenhart got an open look on net with Seattle goalkeeper Kasey Keller drawn out. Lenhart's ball was going in, but Marshall got back to get a foot on it before it crossed the goal line and bicycle-kicked the ball clear.

"We know it's getting down to crunch time, and this is the atmosphere it's going to be like in the playoffs," Marshall said. "This is like a rehearsal. This is what it's going to take."

In the 75th minute, midfielder Osvaldo Alonso, who seldom shoots for Sounders FC, got off a blast that hit the post and spun along the goal line and out.

Then, just when it looked as though Sounders FC would hold on, defender Jhon Kennedy shoved Gaven in the back on a run inside the box, and a penalty kick was whistled. Schelotto, with 12 goals this season, lined up for the PK in the 82nd minute

His shot went wide left. Sounders FC survived.

"This week we had good fortune on our side," Sounders FC coach Sigi Schmid said.

Seattle (10-7-11) broke the Crew's 22-match home unbeaten streak that dated to June of last season, when Schmid was head coach of the Crew.

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Sounders hope to make a point, if not three, at Columbus

SOUNDERS: Seattle wants to earn one point, if not three, from match at Columbus, a tough place to play.

Sounders FC needs points.

But the Sounders on Saturday will be in the most difficult place in Major League Soccer for visiting teams to find them: Crew Stadium in Columbus, Ohio.

Columbus has a 22-game home unbeaten streak (16-0-6) dating back to last season. And the Crew has won five consecutive home games, meaning no visiting team has left Columbus with even one point since D.C. United managed a 1-1 draw on July 4.

Even at that, Sounders coach Sigi Schmid – who led Columbus to the MLS title last season when the home unbeaten streak began – said his team won’t change its attacking personality in hopes of escaping Columbus with a draw and a point in the standings.

“We have to get points,” Schmid said. “The playoff race is very tight, and we need to get points. So we need to go in there and come out of there with three (points) if we can get them, and one if we can’t get three. We want to make sure we get something.”

The Sounders (9-7-11) rank seventh in the race for the MLS’ eight-team playoffs. However, they would be caught or passed tonight if New England gets a draw or a win at FC Dallas.

This whole idea of a playoff race is new to Sounders designated player Freddie Ljungberg, who spent his previous 10 seasons in the English Premier League. But whether it’s playing for a cup or for playoff position, Ljungberg said competitors should look forward to playing in important games.

“This is supposed to be fun,” he said Tuesday after training. “At the end of the season and the pressure’s on, you should cherish that opportunity. For me to play soccer at the beginning of the season when it doesn’t really matter, that’s quite easy. Now that it matters and you need to have your cool, I think people should look forward to it.”

And rather than concerning himself with all the ins and outs of the MLS playoff possibilities, he is taking the attitude that the only scoreboard the Sounders can influence is their own.

“In the past, I just look for the game I’m going to play, and I want to win every game,” he said. “I don’t care if it’s at Columbus or wherever it is. I think you always have a belief in yourself and your ability. If we play the football we can play and not fall into their game plan, I think we can win anywhere. It would be a big upset to win in Columbus, so that would be nice.”

*On a side note, I will be there supporting Freddie & the Sounders this Saturday! I am going to take a million pictures, hopefully some close shots of the man himself! GO FREDDIE!!!!

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