Sebastien Le Toux of the Seattle Sounders was named USOpenCup.com Player of the Round for the round of 16 after scoring twice and assisting once in a 3-1 victory over Chivas USA of MLS. Le Toux is in his first season in Seattle after playing five years in France, with Rennes of Ligue 1 and L’Orient of Ligue 2. After receiving the award, Le Toux sat down with USOpenCup.com to offer his opinions on soccer in the US, his performance, and a preview of the quarterfinal against the Colorado Rapids.
USOpenCup.com: Tell me about the match against Chivas. Going behind a goal early, the set-ups from Roger Levesque, the feeling of knocking off an MLS side and advancing to the final eight of our country’s equivalent to La Coupe de France.
Le Toux: After the goal they scored all the team wanted to do was come back to equalize. I scored the first goal at the end of the first half in a good combination with Roger Levesque and Leighton O’Brien. The second half the supporters got into the match and the goal instilled confidence in the team and we scored two more goals to win match. We are very proud to advance in the cup and get another match against an MLS team.
USOpenCup.com: What drew you to playing in the United States, given that you had played a number of seasons in the top two divisions of France? If you could, please compare USL1 to Le Championnat and Ligue 2 in terms of style of play and competitive level.
Le Toux: I had an opportunity to come to the United States and I was without contract in France. During my first travels in the USA I really liked the lifestyle and the spirit here. I’m very happy to be able to play here now. Comparing the leagues is difficult because there are less teams in the USL First Division than in the second division in France. The level here is a bit lower than in Ligue 2. I think that every year it is getting better. There are a lot of really good players in the USA.
USOpenCup.com: I understand you were on trial at FC Dallas prior to the 2007 season. Given your background, could you tell me why you didn’t end up making the squad and then chose to join Seattle?
Le Toux: The coach of Dallas FC didn’t really want me to sign with the club. I had another tryout in Seattle and I played well in this tryout and the coaches wanted to sign me. Now I play for the Sounders and really like to play with this club.
USOpenCup.com: Preview the match against the Colorado Rapids. What type of match are you expecting (gritty, direct, fast, etc.)?
Le Toux: I think it will be a hard game. They are a very good team and play in MLS. It’s just one game so we have our chance to win. So does Colorado. In the cup, every time in France and in USA there are lots of surprises. Maybe we can provide another surprise in this cup.
USOpenCup.com: You play your home matches at Qwest Field, best known as the home stadium of the Seattle Seahawks of the NFL. Give our readers some perspective on playing in such a large venue and how it provides the Sounders a home-field advantage.
Le Toux: It’s good to have a big stadium, because there can be more people to come see us play. There is always room for more supporters to come. In Europe, where soccer is the best sport, it is more important to have a big stadium. In the future, more people in the USA will come to see soccer games. there’s an evolution in this sport in the USA.
