Sounders suffer first MLS defeat

SEATTLE – Davy Arnaud drilled a 35-yard shot into the back left corner of the net off backup goalkeeper Ben Dragavon in the 80th minute on Saturday night as the Kansas City Wizards handed the 10-man Seattle Sounders FC their first MLS defeat, 1-0.

The Sounders (3-1-0) won their first three games, the best start of any expansion team in league history. Goalkeeper Kasey Keller was the primary reason for that fast start, posting three shutouts.

But the former U.S. national team star was given a red card and ejected in the 29th minute for using his hands outside the penalty area to stop a shot, leaving the Sounders with 10 men for the final 61 minutes.

Kansas City’s Herculez Gomez broke toward the top right corner of the box with the ball, and Keller came rushing out to meet him. He slid to block the shot, but was beyond the 18-yard box when he blocked the ball with his hands, resulting in an automatic ejection.

Arnaud snapped the scoreless tie when he took a short pass from Jack Jewsbury and launched his shot from the right side toward the far post that flew in off the hands of Dragavon for his team-high third goal.

Kansas City (2-2-0) now has won two straight after losing its first two of the season.

The straight red card means Keller will have to sit out next Saturday’s game at CD Chivas USA.

Dragavon is officially an “emergency goalkeeper,” one who can be assigned to any team by the league as needed, although he does train regularly with the Sounders.