MLS Seattle Sounders FC

Sounders FC News & Notes

Published on February 22, 2010 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Seattle Sounders FC News Release


Sounders FC to Play for Fifth in La Manga Cup

Countering its first loss of the preseason, Sounders FC found its legs in a Group A consolation on Sunday against Norway's Stabaek IF, with a 2-0 shutout victory at the La Manga Cup II in La Manga, Spain. Goals from Fredy Montero and Roger Levesque, both set up by Freddie Ljungberg, were the difference.

The tournament concludes with crossover matches to determine final placement on February 25 and 26. Seattle will contend for 5th place against SK Brann Thursday, February 25 at 6 a.m. PT with live blogging available at SoundersFC.com. FC Nordsjaelland will play Molde FK for the Cup title on Friday, February 26.

Seattle had faced off last Thursday against its first opponent, Norwegian champion Rosenborg BK, in the opening Group A match. In blistering winds and rains, Sounders FC fell 3-0 to the defending tournament champion.

Seattle opened preseason competition by coming from behind to defeat the Vancouver Whitecaps FC, 3-2, on February 11 in Casa Grande, Ariz.

La Manga marks the club's second overseas excursion. Prior to the inaugural 2009 season, Sounders FC played and trained in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

The MLS regular season begins March 25 with Sounders FC hosting Philadelphia Union in the MLS First Kick 2010. The game will be televised live on ESPN2 and ESPN Deportes. Kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m.

Upcoming Training Schedule, February 22-24 (times are local & subject to change):

Monday, February 22 - No Training

Tuesday, February 23 - Training at La Manga, 10:30 a.m.

Wednesday, February 24 - 60 minute Training Game vs. FC Midtjylland at La Manga, 10:30 a.m.

Upcoming Competition Schedule (All times Pacific)

Thursday, February 25, 6 a.m.- SK Brann, La Manga, Spain (La Manga Cup II)

Saturday, March 6, 4 p.m. - at Vancouver Whitecaps FC, Swangard Stadium, Burnaby, B.C.

Thursday, March 11, 6 p.m. - Portland Timbers, Xbox Pitch at Qwest Field, Seattle

Friday, March 19, 6 p.m. - at Colorado Rapids, Dick's Sporting Goods Park, Commerce City, Colo.

The Three Roster Players Not in Spain

Midfielder Brad Evans is with the U.S. National Team, which plays El Salvador on Wednesday, February 24 in Tampa. Forward Nate Jaqua (lower abdominal pain) and goalkeeper Terry Boss (ankle) are recovering from injuries and remain in Seattle. Among the non-roster invitees traveling are Derby Carillo (GK), Michael Fucito (MF), Patrick Lane (GK), Lamar Neagle (MF), Jeff Parke (DF) and Tye Perdido (FW).

La Manga Cup Breakdown

The eight-team field for the La Manga Cup II is split into two groups. Joining the Sounders FC in Group A is first-round opponent Rosenborg BK, FC Nordsjaelland and Stabaek IF. Group B consists of Molde FK (Norway), FC Krylia Sovetov (Russia), FC Midtjylland (Denmark) and SK Brann (Norway).

A Scandinavian power, Rosenborg is the winner of a record 21 Norwegian league titles and nine domestic cups. Rosenborg won 13 straight championships from 1992 to 2004. It begins defense of its 2009 title on March 13. The Norwegian season, similar to MLS, runs through November. Rosenborg gained notoriety in 2004 by reaching the group stage of the UEFA Champions League and has played in Europe four of the last five seasons.

FC Nordsjaelland, located in Farum, Denmark, is preparing to resume its Danish Superliga schedule. Nordsjaelland was eighth in the table going into the winter break, which began on December 1. The second half of the season opens March 7. U.S. international defender Michael Parkhurst, 26, plays for Nordsjaelland after spending four seasons (2004-2008) in MLS with New England.

Stabaek IF, the other potential second round game for Seattle, placed third in Norway last season after winning the title in 2008 and taking second in 2007. Midfielder Mikkel Diskerud, 19, has represented by Norway and the USA at the U-20 international level. Diskerud's mother is from Arizona.

Tournament Results

Quarterfinals:

Stabaek IF 0-1 FC Nordsjaelland

Rosenbork BK 3-0 Seattle Sounders FC

SK Brann 1-1 FC Midtjylland (5-6 penalties)

FC Krylia Sovetov 0-2 Molde FK

Places 5-8:

Seattle Sounders FC 2-0 Stabaek IF

SK Brann 3-1 FC Krylia Sovetov

5th place - Seattle Sounders FC vs. SK Brann - Thursday, February 25, 6 a.m. PT (3 p.m. local) kickoff

7th place - Stabaek IF vs. Krylia Sovetov - Thursday, February 25

Places 1-4:

Rosenborg BK 3-3 FC Nordsjaelland (6-8 penalties)

Molde FK 2-0 FC Midtjylland

1st place - FC Nordsjaelland vs. Molde FK - Friday, February 26

3rd place - Rosenborg BK vs. FC Midtjylland - Friday, February 26

Sounders FC to Visit Vancouver

Sounders FC will visit the Vancouver Whitecaps FC for a preseason match on Saturday, March 6, at Swangard Stadium in Burnaby, B.C. First kick is at 4 p.m. PT.

All tickets for the match will cost $15, plus applicable service charges. Tickets will be available to the public on Wednesday, February 17, at 10 a.m. PT. Tickets will be available online at ticketmaster.ca or by calling 604.280.4400.

Sounders FC Host Timbers in Preseason Community Shield Match

The Sounders FC will host the Portland Timbers in the club's inaugural "Community Shield" match on Thursday, March 11. Kick-off is at 6 p.m. on the Xbox Pitch at Qwest Field.

General Admission tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for youth (6-17). Children under the age of six are free. Tickets are available at www.SoundersFC.com, by calling 800-745-3000, all Ticketmaster outlets and the Qwest Field Box office.

Proceeds from the match will benefit the team's four community partners: Boys and Girls Club of Washington State, Save the Children, Seattle SCORES and Washington Youth Soccer. Following the match the teams will sign autographs from the field.

Seattle Sounders FC 2, Stabaek IF 0

Fredy Montero and Roger Levesque scored first-half goals within a 12-minute span, giving the Seattle Sounders FC a 2-0 win over Norway's Stabaek IF in the second round of the La Manga Cup II on Sunday afternoon in La Manga, Spain.

Freddie Ljungberg set-up both goals and Seattle reaped the rewards of some training work on quicker passing and more off the ball movement. The Sounders FC will meet either Norway's SK Brann or Denmark's SonderjyskE (sic) on Thursday. Those teams meet on Monday.

A stiff, predominantly cross-field breeze was a welcome improvement over the heavy winds and rain which plagued Thursday night's loss to Rosenborg. Seattle also appeared to have made the adjustment to the travel and nine-hour time difference, showing sharpness from the onset.

In the opening minute, Levesque found Osvaldo Alonso for a 20-yard drive which narrowly missed the right post, and in the 7th minute Levesque linked with Ljungberg, who got around on the ball for snap shot past the left pipe.

In the 30th minute, Montero put the Sounders FC on the board for the first time in Europe. Ljungberg first wrestled control at midfield then, moments later, took a feed from Alonso and cut it to Montero for a one-touch, near-post finish from 8 yards.

Ljungberg, again from Alonso, turned and almost found the left post three minutes later. In the 42nd minute, his corner kick helped make it 2-0. Ljungberg's driven ball from the left flag was met by Levesque's head at the near post, and the ball flashed past Stabaek keeper Jon Knudsen and into the net.

Sigi Schmid shuffled his lineup to begin the second half, removing four starters. Still Seattle moved the ball crisply around the pitch. A backheel by Ljungberg gave rookie David Estrada a clear first-time blast from 20 yards out on the right, albeit straight to the hands of Knudsen.

James Riley and Peter Vagenas helped Kasey Keller preserve the shutout with timely challenges in the box in the second half. Fifth in Norway last season, Stabaek gave Keller his only difficult save in the 79th minute, with substitute Jan Tommernes forcing the keeper to the ground from 15 yards.

Five more Seattle starters were lifted in the 60th minute and, without any remaining substitutes, Sounders FC played a man down for nearly eight minutes when Levesque was forced off to receive treatment on an injured ankle.

Shortly after Levesque's return, Tyson Wahl forced Knudsen to tip his left-wing cross over the bar for a corner. In the 77th minute, rookie Tye Perdido missed the goal by inches after latching on to a far post cross from Steve Zakuani.

Defending tournament champion Rosenborg, up 3-0 before pulling most of its starters in the second half, succumbed, 5-3, to Denmark's Nordsjalland in the first semifinal.

Scoring Summary

SEA-Montero (Ljungberg, Alonso) 30'

SEA-Levesque (Ljungberg) 42'

Seattle Sounders FC Lineup (4-4-2): Kasey Keller; James Riley (Zach Scott 60, Tyrone Marshall (Jeff Parke 46), Jhon Kennedy Hurtado (Jamel Wallace 60), Leo Gonzalez (Tyson Wahl 46); David Estrada (Steve Zakuani 60), Osvaldo Alonso (Stephen King 60), Nathan Sturgis (Peter Vagenas 46), Roger Levesque, Freddie Ljungberg (Lamar Neagle 60), Fredy Montero (Tye Perdido 60).

Stabak Lineup (4-4-2): Jon Knudsen; Vegar Hedenstad, Morten Skeonsberg, Kristian Onstad (Daniel Nannskog 45), Bjani Eiriksson, Mikkel Diskerud (Tor Marius Gromstad 46), Palmi Palmason, Henning Hauger (Diogo 46), Pontus Farnerud, Espen Hoff (Jorgen Skjrlvik 68), Veigar Pall Gunnasson (Jan Tommernes 68).

Seattle Sounders FC 0, Rosenborg BK 3

Reigning Norwegian champion Rosenborg BK capitalized on two early opportunities en route to a 3-0 defeat of the Sounders FC in the opening round of the La Manga Cup II, a match which ended in a wind and rainstorm on Thursday night.

Rosenborg, also the defending tournament champion and a three-time La Manga winner, scored twice in the first 18 minutes, then added a third midway through the second period.

The Norwegians, backed by a hundred or so traveling supporters, pounced on their first opportunity, coming 67 seconds after the first kick. A quick exchange between Rade Price and Garrard Aaren near the top of the box freed Morten Moldskred on the right side and Moldskred beat Kasey Keller with a low, 15-yard drive to the left post.

Fredy Montero launched the first Seattle shot in the 7th minute, striking a 25-yard ball which keeper Daniel Orlund stopped at the right post. Six minutes later, Montero nearly equalized by pressuring Orlund, who had the ball at his feet. Orlund's attempted clearance was blocked by Montero and caromed wide left.

Prica was unable to take full advantage of a Tyrone Marshall slip in the 10th minute but in the 18th Per Ciljan Skjelbred made no mistake. Jhon Kennedy Hurtado lost his footing on an attempted clearance and Skjelbred collected the loose ball and looped a 25-yard shot off a defender and into the upper right corner, making it 2-nil.

Sounders FC, playing two days after a 26-hour trip from SeaTac to southern Spain, stayed in contention, thanks to two stops by Keller. The keeper made a diving stop of Prica from 12 yards in the 30th minute and another on a Prica side-foot volley from an Aaren corner during first half stoppage time.

Rain began to fall late in the half and within the first 15 minutes of the second half it became a driving rain with a gale force wind coming off the Mediterranean and into Seattle's attacking face. By the 60th minute all of the Sounders FC starters had been lifted and Rosenborg's starters remained.

Prica finally got his goal in the 67th minute. Chris Eylander, who had replaced Keller in goal at the half, was unable to punch clear a left-wing cross from Aaren and Prica easily slotted home the rebound.

Seattle's reserves applied pressure on a consistent basis. Roger Levesque levied three shots near or on the target in the second half, the closest skipping inches wide of the left post in the 82nd minute.

Scoring Summary

ROS-Moldskred (Aaren) 2'

ROS-Skjelbred 18'

ROS-Prica 67'

Seattle Sounders FC Lineup (4-4-2): Kasey Keller (Chris Eylander 46); James Riley (Zach Scott 60, Tyrone Marshall (Patrick Ianni 46), Jhon Kennedy Hurtado (Jamel Wallace 60), Tyson Wahl (Leo Gonzalez 60); Sanna Nyassi (David Estrada 46), Osvaldo Alonso (Stephen King 60), Peter Vagenas (Nathan Sturgis 46), Lamar Neagle (Rayner 46); Freddie Ljungberg (Roger Levesque 46), Fredy Montero (Tye Pardido 46).

Rosenborg BK Lineup (4-4-2): Daniel Orlund, Mikael Lustig, Vadim Demidov, Kris Stadsgaard, Mikael Dorsin, Morten Moldskred, Gerrard Aaren, Per Ciljan Skjelbred, Anthony Annan, Steffen Iversen (Abdeu Traore 65), Rade Prica (Mushafa Bahinga 78).

Seattle Rallies to Edge 'Caps in Preseason Opener

Seattle scored three times in the second half, coming from two goals down to defeat the Vancouver Whitecaps FC, 3-2, in its first preseason training game, played February 11 in Casa Grande, Ariz.

Sanna Nyassi scored twice, including the game-winner in the 88th minute. Lamar Neagle also scored for Sounders FC.

Down 2-0 entering the second half, Neagle knocked in a Josh Gardner corner kick in the 49th minute and Nyassi charged the net and knocked one past Vancouver keeper Jay Nolly in the 50th minute to quickly pull Seattle level.

After having an earlier goal called back for offside, in the final minutes Nyassi took a pass from Nathan Sturgis and blasted it into the net to seal the comeback.

Cornelius Stewart got the Whitecaps on the board first in the 36th minute, knocking in a rebound to give Vancouver a 1-0 lead. Then they doubled that lead in the 39th minute when Ansu Toure blasted a shot from the left side of the box.

That score held until halftime, but the Sounders FC came out with a new lineup to start the second half and the fresh legs paid off.

Sounders FC starters: Chris Eylander, Zach Scott, Patrick Ianni, Tyrone Marshall, Eric Winblad, Gao Leilei, Peter Vagenas, Osvaldo Alonso, Jacob Lousky, Roger Levesque, David Estrada.

Sounders FC second half starters: Derby Carillo, Tyson Wahl, Jamel Wallace, Taylor Graham, Brad Evans, Josh Gardner, Nathan Sturgis, Stephen King, Lamar Neagle, Jarrod Smith, Sanna Nyassi.

Preseason Training List

The following players are currently training with Sounders FC in Spain: Goalkeepers (4): Derby Carillo*; Chris Eylander, Kasey Keller, Patrick Lane*; Defenders (11): Taylor Graham, Leo Gonzalez, Jhon Kennedy Hurtado, Patrick Ianni, Tyrone Marshall, Jeff Parke*,James Riley, Zach Scott, Nathan Sturgis, Tyson Wahl, Jamel Wallace#; Midfielders (7): Osvaldo Alonso, Michael Fucito*, Stephen King, Freddie Ljungberg, Sanna Nyassi, Lamar Neagle*, Peter Vagenas; Forwards (5): David Estrada#, Roger Levesque, Fredy Montero, Tye Perdido*, Steve Zakuani.

#SuperDraft selection

*invitee

Throw-ins

Tyson Wahl will turn 26 on February 23...Ivory Coast midfielder Felix Ettien will not be able to train or play with Sounders FC after taking ill on Saturday...Brazilian trialist midfielder Rayner Michael, who joined the tean in La Manga, is no longer training with the team...Sunday marked the first appearance of Steve Zakuani, who was cleared to play with a brace on his surgically repaired right shoulder. Central defender Jeff Parke saw his first action, playing the second half...Seattle will play a 60-minute training game with Danish club FC Midtjylland on Wednesday morning.

Check out the Seattle Sounders FC Statistics

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Major League Soccer Stories from February 22, 2010


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