Seattle Sounders goal keeper Chris Eylander produced another top quality performance punctuated by a penalty save that preserved a 1-0 victory for Seattle over the Rochester Raging Rhinos at Paetec Park in Rochester Tuesday night.

Sounders forward Sebastien Le Toux capitalized on an error by Rochester goal keeper Chase Harrison for the matches only goal which earned the Sounders their first victory in Rochester since 1996.

Seattle came out of the gates quickly with Le Toux creating space in the 18 yard box within the first minute. Harrison did some brave work to take the ball off Le Toux’s foot and draw a foul in the resulting collision.

Three minutes later Kenji Treschuk put his head on a Hugo Alcaraz-Cuellar corner kick but couldn’t direct the effort on target.

Seattle pressure limited Rochester’s early chances to 25 yard or longer attempts at Eylander’s goal.

The match opened up in the 25th minute and started to produce end to end action between the two squads with Rochester’s Johnny Menyongar and Sounders forward Greg Howes exchanging opportunities.

Rochester pounded forward creating chances , but failing to breach the Sounders defense. In the 33rd minute forward Matthew Delicate bravely threw himself at a ball served into the box and collided with a fearless challenge from Sounders defender Zach Scott. Delicate left the pitch with a jaw injury and was replaced by Michael Ambersley.

Scott limped off the pitch under his own power a moment later, bringing the Sounders new signing Taylor Graham off the bench to warm up.

Rochester took advantage of Scott’s absence to create two corner kick opportunities, but the Sounders defense scrambled just enough to clear the danger.

Scott returned to the pitch and Graham’s return to the Seattle Sounders was delayed.

Seattle pinned Rochester deep in their own third of the field for the last few moments of the first half and both minutes of stoppage time, but were unable to find the right combination to unlock Harrison’s goal.

The second half began in much the same manner as the first with Seattle taking the initiative. Le Toux ran onto an open ball eight yards in front of goal in the 47th minute, but was unable to put a shot on target.

Sounders midfielder Josh Gardner saved the day defensively for the Sounders at the hour mark when Rochester sent an open cross along the top of the six yard box. The play led to Rochester’s first sustained pressure of the second half.

Seattle endured and opened the match up again for ten exciting minutes of play in the middle of the field.

Rochester substitute Rey Angel Martinez produced a quality strike from 18 yards in the 70th minute, but Eylander was equal to the task with a fine sprawling save to push the ball just wide.

His heroics were further rewarded for the Sounders a minute later when Rochester keeper Harrison lost concentration on his way out handle a long ball from the Sounders side of the field, only to see Le Toux step through the his weak challenge and slot the ball into an empty net for his team leading forth goal of the season.

The goal ignited the Rhino’s attack and forced Eylander into two more quality saves, displaying the same exceptional form that earned three points for Seattle in the second half of the Miami match less than a week ago.

Seattle weathered the initial storm and earned enough of a break to introduce Graham to the match in place of Alcaraz-Cuellar in the 77th minute.

John Ball struck a ray of hope for the Rhinos in the 82nd minute when he crumbled under the faintest of challenges from Sounders midfielder Roger Levesque in the 18 yard box drawing a spot kick opportunity for the team to pull level.

Menyongar stepped to the penalty spot and provided the required ball for Eylander to continue his dominating performance with a superb save to preserve the Seattle lead.

The Sounders tried, mostly in vain, to slow the tempo of the match and allow time to wind down. The Rhinos pushed through the last ten minutes with single minded intent to find an equalizer.

Their lack of fluid passing and continued quality play from Eylander allowed Seattle to survive the final efforts of the home team and earn the valuable three points on the road.

Rochester dropped their second consecutive match in their home stadium and fell behind Seattle in the standings.

The Sounders vaulted into second place in the USL First Division Table with the victory.

Next up for Seattle is an exhibition match against Tacoma FC at Curtis Field on Saturday night at 7 PM.