Originally published Sunday, March 29, 2009 at 7:56 PM

Sounders FC one of only two perfect teams in MLS

Two games into Season One, Seattle Sounders FC is 2-0 with five goals scored and zero allowed. It is one of only two Major League Soccer teams with a perfect record after two weeks — Chivas USA is the other. Forward Fredy Montero is the league's leading scorer with three goals. So if Sounders FC and Montero didn't have targets on their backs before, they certainly do now.

By José Miguel Romero

Seattle Times staff reporter

Latest from the Sounders FC blog

Forward Fredy Montero is the league's leading scorer with three goals. So if Sounders FC and Montero didn't have targets on their backs before, they certainly do now.

Real Salt Lake's emphasis on trying to limit Montero was clear in Seattle's 2-0 win Saturday, even though Montero golfed in a long goal in the 77th minute. Real Salt Lake went after the 5-foot-9 Colombian, and if nothing else, Montero learned a lesson about the physical style of play in MLS.

"From the first kick they showed they were going to be stronger and more physical," Montero said in Spanish, "but obviously this is a matter of playing with an attitude and skill and continuing to ask for the ball, continue to try and make the plays."

Real Salt Lake commissioned defender Jamison Olave, Montero's countryman and former club teammate in Colombia, to rough up Montero. Olave fouled Montero three times and drew a yellow card for one.

"Obviously [Montero got] the league's attention, and also, the guy, Olave, knows him from Colombia. I'm sure he passed on that information to his teammates," Sounders FC coach Sigi Schmid said.

Schmid was satisfied with how the officials called the match, in terms of protecting Montero from excessive harm.

"The referee was pretty good about pulling yellow cards quickly and trying his best to protect Fredy," Schmid said. "That's part of the game. It's part of what Fredy's going to learn as a player as he matures, because no matter where you play, that's going to be a part of it.

"You have to learn when to hold the ball, when to release it, when to draw people in, when to run off the ball, so you can avoid those sorts of situations as much as possible."

Note

• The Sounders FC reserves defeated Gonzaga 2-1 Sunday at Starfire Sports Complex in Tukwila. Defender Tyson Wahl had a goal for Seattle.

José Miguel Romero: 206-464-2409 or jromero@seattletimes.com

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