Parke's header propels Sounders to win over Kansas City

Despite the rocky start to the Seattle Sounders' 2011 MLS season, they have now moved into the second spot in the Western Conference with their 1-0 win over Sporting Kansas City on May 21.

Toward the end of the game, it seemed like the Sounders were on their way to another draw, something that has become a pattern for them in the 2011 season. Luckily for the Sounders, defender Jeff Parke nodded the ball past Jimmy Nielsen in the 90th minute, securing the win for his team.

After the game, Parke was excited about his first goal in almost seven years. Parke told reporters: "It was definitely a little bit of an out-of-body experience, because I don't score that often, I kind of looked over and was watching it and it skipped, and I'm like, 'Come on, get in there.' My other one was in San Jose in the old stadium. But this goal was way better when it's in the 90th minute and you need the points."

Veteran goalkeeper Kasey Kelley has been a big part of the Sounders' wins this season and the May 21 encounter with Kansas City was no different. Keller made a couple of heroic saves that kept the Sounders in the game and gave them an opportunity to steal the win in injury time.

The Sounders should be proud of the way they have rebounded after losing their first two games in the 2011 MLS season, but they still have a lot of work to do on the offensive side of things. Playing at home against the worst team in the MLS' Eastern Conference, I expected a little more offense from the Sounders, even with a few injured players.

Right now, the Sounders have no time to get complacent since they will need to continue playing well if they want to keep their position in the Western Conference standings. They are currently tied for the second spot in the West with FC Dallas and the Portland Timbers, and only four points ahead of the eighth-seeded San Jose Earthquakes.

The next match for them will be at home against Dallas, an excellent opportunity for them to distance themselves from the rest of the pack.

David has been a fan of the Seattle Sounders for the past 2 years.

Sources:

Associated Press," Parke lifts Sounders past Kansas City"

Player and game information from espn.com