All the Sounders' Roger Levesque Does is Win

Photo via Wikipedia/Creative Commons

Roger "The 'Stache" Levesque did it again. The MLS washout and holdover from the minor-league Sounders scored yet another game-winning goal last night, diving to head a last-minute Fredy Montero cross just inside the near post to beat DC United 1-0.

In the 1940s, the Brooklyn Dodgers had a fiery second baseman named Eddie "The Brat" Stanky. An opposing manager said of Stanky: "He can't hit, he can't field, he can't run—all the SOB can do is beat you."

Translate into soccer terms, and that's Levesque. I recall seeing him first in '05 with the old Sounders, and immediately falling in hate. Even a soccer neophyte could recognize how slow Levesque was, that he often lost the ball under pressure, that his passes rarely hit their mark, and that he didn't have the skill to beat defenders one-on-one. Yet who scored the game's only goal? Levesque did.

Don't take my word for it, read what Coach Sigi says about Levesque: "Roger’s a hard working player who can play a number of positions and always gives you his best." You may notice certain words missing from that summation. Talent. Skill. Ability.

For this reason, Levesque was a long shot to make the MLS Sounders, and didn't start an MLS game until late in the season. The team has brought in several younger or more accomplished contenders to take Levesque's roster spot. But Levesque continues to produce, in a big way.

Levesque scored the game-winner in the Sounders US Open Cup win at DC United last year, and his game-winner at Kansas City clinched the Sounders a playoff berth. Now he's notched another goal for the Sounders, themselves now long shots to make the MLS playoffs.

Roger Levesque can't run, he can't dribble, he has limited skills, and he can't pass. All Roger Levesque can do is beat you.