Sounders FC: Giving Cards for Mother’s Day.

Well, I guess if you hold a soccer match on Mother’s Day, everyone should expect a card, right? On the Xbox Pitch, there were plenty of them handed out — red and yellow ones to be exact.

Head referee Tim Weyland handed out nine cards during the 90 minute match, including a damaging red card to Sounders FC defender James Riley in the 57th minute.

If you’re a Sounders FC fan, you’re already familiar and probably sick of discussing the officiating, and frankly, I don’t know enough about soccer to even pretend to have an informed opinion. However, the general consensus was that Weyland was in a bit over his head during the match, and he did the unforgivable in terms of officiating — he became the center of attention instead of the on-field arbiter.

Little did anyone know during the national anthem that Weyland (far right) would have a controversial afternoon.

(Nikon D3, Nikkor 24-70mm/f2.8 lens @ 24mm, ISO 200, 1/1000th sec.,f4.0)

Check that. Seattle coach Sigi Schmid did say after the game that he’d vetoed having Weyland on his games back when Schmid was coaching in college, so at least one of the 29,000 folks at Qwest Field had an idea of what might be coming.

Seattle sought to contain Galaxy forward and U.S. National Team star Landon Donovan, as Sounders FC defender Nathan Sturgis showed in the first half.

(Nikon D3, VR 200-400mm/f4.0 lens @ 200mm, ISO 200, 1/1000th sec.,f4.0)

Without David Beckham, the star power was concentrated on Donovan and Seattle’s Freddie Ljungberg.

(Nikon D3, VR 200-400mm/f4.0 lens @ 360mm, ISO 400, 1/2000th sec.,f4.0)

The Sounders took the lead when Sebastien LeToux knocked in a wide-open goal after a nifty pass from Nate Jaqua.

(Nikon D3, VR 200-400mm/f4.0 lens @ 310mm, ISO 200, 1/1000th sec.,f4.0)

Weyland held his whistle just before halftime after Jaqua was taken down in the penalty box by Los Angeles’ Dema Kovalenko.

(Nikon D3, VR 600mm/f4.0 lens, ISO 400, 1/1000th sec.,f4.0)

(Nikon D3, VR 600mm/f4.0 lens, ISO 400, 1/1000th sec.,f4.0)

That non-call earned the officiating crew a lusty booing as they went to the dressing room.

(Nikon D3, VR 600mm/f4.0 lens, ISO 400, 1/1000th sec.,f4.0)

In the second half game seemed to get out-of-control as both sides took the physicalness to a higher level. Tempers reached a peak in the 57th minute when Seattle’s James Riley cuffed Los Angeles’ Mike Magee behind the head after Magee and two other Galaxy players scuffled with Riley after a foul.

(Nikon D3, VR 200-400mm/f4.0 lens @ 240mm, ISO 400, 1/2000th sec.,f4.0)

Head referee Weyland initially issued a yellow card, then upgraded it after conferring with one of his linesmen.

(Nikon D3, VR 200-400mm/f4.0 lens @ 270mm, ISO 400, 1/2000th sec.,f4.0)

After the ejection, the teams seemed more content to play soccer. Playing a man down for the third time this season, the Sounders were forced to apply all their energy on preserving a draw or sneaking in a potential game-winner.

Seattle goalkeeper Kasey Keller was stellar again, as he leaped high over Magee for a save.

(Nikon D3, VR 600mm/f4.0 lens, ISO 400, 1/2000th sec.,f4.0)

Action was fierce when (l-r) Seattle’s Tyrone Marshall, Los Angeles’ Alan Gordon, Seattle’s Nate Jaqua and Los Angeles goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts all battled for a service into the goal area in the second half.

An excellent chance for Sounders FC game when Nate Jaqua was inches from a goal, only to have Los Angeles’ Stefani Miglioranzi get a foot on it at the last possible second as goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts closed in.

With the 1-1 draw complete, Freddie Ljungberg traded jerseys with Donovan, which he wore backwards and inside out in his haste.

(Nikon D3, Nikkor 24-70mm/f2.8 lens @ 32mm, ISO 200, 1/640th sec.,f4.0)

Seattle coach Sigi Schmid and Donovan chatted briefly after the match near midfield.

(Nikon D3, Nikkor 24-70mm/f2.8 lens @ 58mm, ISO 200, 1/500th sec.,f4.0)

As he left the pitch, local fan favorite LeToux reached over to shake some hands as he made his way to the locker room.

(Nikon D3, Nikkor 24-70mm/f2.8 lens @ 324mm, ISO 200, 1/500th sec.,f4.0)