Seattle Sounders scored a vital 4-2 victory over New York Red Bulls in front of more than 46,000 fans on Thursday night.
A late Roger Levesque did the damage for the Sounders at CenturyLink Field (formerly Qwest Field), who skipped away to a two-goal lead inside the opening 15 minutes, before the Red Bulls managed to equalise prior to the hour-mark.
Swedish midfielder Erik Friberg produced a brilliant opener in the 11th minute when he controlled the ball on the edge of the area from a Red Bulls clearance, cut back onto his right foot and curled a shot in through a pack of players and past NY keeper Greg Sutton.
Less than two minutes later, Osvaldo Alonso hit a neat left-footed volley from the right edge of the area to make it before 2-0 before the visitors hit back through Dane Richards's spectacular 38th minute floater.
A deflected own goal from Sounders defender Zach Scott from a Jan Gunnar Solli cross in the 58th minute got the Red Bulls back on level terms but enter super sub Levesque who came off the bench to score with a glancing header in the 68th minute before he grabbed a second, with help from goalkeeper Sutton's error, with 12 minutes remaining.
The win put Seattle to second on the Western Conference table as New York remained top in the East.
Seattle Sounders: 4 (Erik Friberg 11', Osvaldo Alonso 13', Roger Levesque 68'/78') New York Red Bulls: 2 (Dane Richards 38', Zach Smith (og) 58') CenturyLink Field, Seattle, WA - 46,065
In other midweek MLS matches, Sporting Kansas City held Philadelphia Union to a scoreless draw in Phillie as Real Salt Lake did the same at Chicago Fire.
