MLS: Keller retires after Seattle's ouster

Sounders goalkeeper Kasey Keller applauds the fans in Seattle after a 2-0 win over Real Salt Lake on Wednesday night. The former U.S. soccer team member retired after the game. (TED S. WARREN / Associated Press)

The Inquirer Staff

Posted: November 04, 2011

Kasey Keller took one final lap of appreciation around Seattle's home field after the Sounders' 2-0 win over Real Salt Lake on Wednesday, clapping and giving thumbs up the entire way to the fans.

The career of arguably American's most influential goalkeeper had ended with a victory that turned out to be a loss.

Osvaldo Alonso and Lamar Neagle scored five minutes apart early in the second half, but Salt Lake advanced to the Western Conference final in the MLS Cup playoffs on aggregate goals by a 3-2 margin over Seattle.

"It's a weird, weird feeling thinking this is the last time," said Keller, who announced earlier that he would retire at the conclusion of the season.

Salt Lake moves on to the conference final to play either New York or Los Angeles, with a trip to the MLS Cup final at stake. It's the second trip to Major League Soccer's final four in the last three seasons for Salt Lake.

Marquez suspension extended. Major League Soccer extended the suspension of New York Red Bulls defender Rafael Marquez to three games.

Marquez, the Mexico national team captain, was given a red card Sunday for firing a ball at the Los Angeles Galaxy's Landon Donovan following the teams' first-leg MLS Cup playoff game.

Marquez missed Thursday's second leg with the automatic one-game suspension. The league said that Marquez attempted to head-butt and punch Galaxy forward Adam Cristman and that he struck Cristman and then simulated he had been hit in the face.

Any suspension not served this year would carry over.

Fire hire new coach. Frank Klopas was picked as the Chicago Fire's head coach, five months after he got the job on an interim basis.