Despite heat and humidity an enthusiastic sellout crowd of 18,755 turned out June 27 to watch host Philadelphia score a 3-1 triumph over  Seattle as the Union’s new stadium in suburban Chester, PPL Park, was inaugurated.

Philadelphia visited Seattle March 25 in another inaugural, that of the season’s first game, as the Sounders scored a 3-1 win.

After the World Cup break, the word from the Sounders training site in Tukwila was that the team was refreshed and ready to approach the second half of the MLS campaign with confidence and optimism.

Those positive sentiments dissipated as the second meeting of the teams produced a totally different result, but with a first half that was reminiscent of earlier Sounders games.  The Sounders had played possession football in games that had produced disappointing losses and frustrating ties.

For a time it looked as if the Sounders might have good fortune on their side as, despite numerous Philadelphia chances falling short and being dominated in time of possession, a quick breakthrough produced a 1-0 Seattle lead.

The game’s as well as PPL Park’s initial goal came at the 44-minute mark.  Steve Zakuani made a run up the left flank.  He played a ball to Fredy Montero in the box. Montero flicked the ball on to Noonan, who poked it past the keeper with his right foot.

Noonan scored two firsts with his goal.  Along with the aforementioned distinction of becoming the first player to score at PPL Park he also secured his initial MLS goal as a Sounder.

The assist by Montero added to his team leading total, bringing it to five.

Despite going into the locker room on top by a goal, a nervous feeling dominated that unless the tone of the match changed and the Sounders moved out of a listless mode while Philadelphia demonstrated enthusiasm and dominated in time of possession, the tide was destined to turn.

Former Sounder Sebastien Le Toux secured an equalizer in the 54th minute following a foul in the box called on Tyrone Marshall against Alejandro Moreno.

The steady pattern established early in the match continued.  Philadelphia steadily attacked while Seattle never found a rhythm.

Playmaker Freddie Ljungberg, a superb attacker from his familiar right wing  known for quick movements into opposition territory, never had a chance to achieve momentum since he received precious few touches with the Sounders consistently playing defense.

Minutes later the Sounders got a chance to move in front via penalty kick after Fredy Montero was fouled.  Many thought that Montero would deliver the kick.  It was entrusted instead to Patrick Noonan.  His effort failed as Union goalkeeper Chris Seitz made an excellent diving save.

The home team secured the lead in the 79th minute.  Le Toux whipped a cross that skipped in front of the goal and landed at the feet of Fred at the back post, who booted home the score.

Philly put the game away with a third tally in the 84th minute despite a valiant effort by goalkeeper Casey Keller.  Danny Mwanga took a ball from Le Toux and fired a shot on goal from close range.

Sounders Captain Keller hurled himself into the air and brought down the ball short of the net.  While he lay on the ground Mwanga nudged the ball into the netting on the rebound with no Seattle defenders in the area.

Keller was a bright spot for Seattle on what was otherwise an outwardly sunny but inwardly bleak afternoon in Chester.  He secured a season high of seven saves on Philadelphia’s 14 shots.

While the Sounders have been a possession team used to garnering advantages in shots, such was not the case against the Union.  The home team fired 14 shots with 13 on goal along with eight corner kicks.  Seattle had six shots, four on goal, and four corner kicks.

Heading into this match, the concern was that Seattle had become too erratic a team, hovering at or slightly below the break even mark.  Now the increasing concern is that unless a precipitous fall can be broken, Coach Sigi Schmid’s team could be headed for a severe lower division finish.

The loss left the Sounders losers of four of their last five MSL contests with a record of 4-7-3 and 15 points.  This puts Seattle in the Western Conference’s number seven position.

The win put Peter Nowak’s Philly team at 3-7-1 with 10 points and a tie for the seven spot in the Eastern Conference.  Considering that the Union had been on a steady diet of road games to this point with a new stadium in its final completion stages, it now receives a second half boost with more games at home in the friendly confines of PPL Park.

Forward Nate Jaqua saw his first action of the 2010 season after having been removed from the Disabled List June 24.  Jaqua replaced Steve Zakuani in the 72nd minute.

Philadelphia native Michael Seamon, a recent Villanova University graduate, made his MLS debut in the 66th minute, subbing for Peter Vagenas.

It is imperative for Seattle to regroup fast since it faces two challenges this week.  On Wednesday the Sounders open defense of the U.S. Open Cup with a third round match at Portland, a northwest rival that will make its MLS debut in 2011.

That will be quickly followed by a July 4 road contest against the Los Angeles Galaxy, the team with the MLS’ leading record.

Seattle’s next home game is July 11 against FC Dallas.

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