Seattle Sounders 0 : 2 Chelsea (Full Time)

Chelsea’s Class Shows in the Summer Sunshine

Two first half goals ensured a winning start for Carlo Ancelotti as Chelsea manager before 65,289 in the Seattle sun. Sturridge and Lampard netted the goals but Sounders did not disgrace themselves against one of the top clubs in the world.

The Sounders organisation and fans put their best face forward on the first chance for the new franchise to show an international partner how far it has progressed. The 65,289 attendance is a Seattle Sounders record, and they packed into Qwest Field in brilliant sunshine as Chelsea started off their 2009/10 campaign with this friendly. Both sets of fans created an electric atmosphere with a good contingent backing the away side. Daniel Sturridge was selected by Ancelotti in his first Chelsea line up, and otherwise, the Blues started with some very familiar names, including John Terry, Petr Cech, Frank Lampard and Michael Ballack. Osvaldo Alonso made his first start of the month for Seattle.

The game began at a reasonable tempo Nate Jaqua and John Terry were having quite a battle and from one initial battle that Jaqua comprehensively won, James Riley was able to swing in a dangerous cross that forced an early corner. Deco crunched into Montero in seven minutes, but it was more a matter of the Portuguese not quite having found his timing yet, rather than any malicious intent. Montero, perhaps buoyed by a reported interest from Chelsea’s next door neighbours Fulham, was looking lively and very connected in the early stages.

Ljungberg was having a great time, clearly relishing the memories, the increased standard of opponent, but maybe most of all, not being kicked as much as usual. In the eighth minute Kasey Keller slipped, after receiving a hospital backpass from Tyrone Marshall, and Dan Sturridge nearly took advantage, but Kasey did enough to keep the game scoreless. Ten minutes in and Montero took a tame drive from long out, but the game was snappier than could have been expected in a pre-season friendly, and both sides seemed driven on by the crowd noise.

Eleven minutes had elapsed when Daniel Sturridge opened the scoring, and his Chelsea account, after turning Tyrone Marshall comprehensively in the area and screwing a well placed shot accurately just inside the right hand post. It was an incisive and decisive piece of finishing by the former Manchester City forward, and augurs well for his future at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea ramped up the both the pressure and the tempo thereafter, and soon James Riley had to be sharp to head a cross out for a corner, as opponents eagerly awaited the ball over his right shoulder.

With 16 minutes gone Deco showed a nice touch to put Nicholas Anelka clean through. The Frenchman hesitated and took one touch, perhaps even two, too many and Keller was able to smother. Sturridge should have made it two after Deco found him hurtling clear through just before the twenty minute mark, but this time shot wide of the mark.

Nate Jaqua and John Terry continued to have an epic battle, with the Oregonian frequently coming off well. Steve Zakuani beat compatriot Jose Bosingwa on the right in the ‘Battle of the Congo’, but Ljungberg and James Riley looked Seattle’s most effective combination when Riley got forward. James was looking as classy as any American player on the pitch at that point.

Alex proved Chelsea’s saviour on 31 when he was the only defender, as a cross slid into the six yard box with more Sounders than Blues waiting patiently. Cech was called into action for the first time when Ljungberg chipped a free kick directly on goal. Sounders were really proving competitive matching Chelsea blow for blow at this point, but a body blow lay just around the corner.

Chelsea doubled their lead through Frank Lampard in 35. Sturridge found Nick Anelka on the right and his perfect cutback found Frank Lampard in plenty of space for Chelsea’s second. It was a neat goal but one that the home side, further into the season than their opponents shouldn’t have allowed. Zakuani came right to combine with Riley to win a corner, and Sounders enjoyed more spells of pressure as they were territorially the better side.

Ljungberg produced Petr Cech’s second save of the match as he went to ground to make a leg save, and it was clear his sharpness was progressing nicely as the start of the competitive season approached. Alonso’s follow up was deflected for a corner, which Cech had to push behind for another corner in the last action of the first half.

A raft of half time substitutions saw just Ballack and Lampard left on. Schmid replaced Keller, Peter Vagenas, Alonso, Tyson Wahl and Nate Jaqua with debutant Terry Boss, Stephen King, Nathan Sturgis, Zach Scott and Seb Le Toux. Zach Scott unusually went up for a corner and got a header on a Ljungberg corner, but directed it wide. Roger Levesque, Jon Obi Mikel, and Sanna Nyassi came on as the number of substitutions rose to 17.

Gambian Sanna Nyassi’s pace caused a problem just before the 70th minute as he hared down the left scattering defenders, but there was no end product to match. Chelsea’s replacement keeper Hilario fired a clearance against Le Toux but the ball deflected wide of the goal for a goal kick. Nyassi again charged free down the left but his chip over Hilario went just over and slightly wide in the 73rd. It was probably Sounders best chance of the match so far, and ended up being the closest the home side came to scoring.

Zach Scott made a heroic tackle to deny Franco Di Santo, after he had chipped an outrushing Terry Boss 11 minutes from time. Scott was an even bigger hero three minutes later, when a clash between Di Santo and Boss favoured the forward and the ball was trickling – towards an unguarded goal – at the feet of the Argentinian.
Scott appeared from nowhere to deny Chelsea again, starring in his new role at centre half. He then cut out a direct pass which Frank Lampard had made over the heads of the back four, to the returning Shevchenko as it became the Zach Scott show.

Terry Boss chipped over a long range drive as Chelsea finished stronger before Sanna Nyassi left Juliano Beletti flat on his rearguard but the Gambian’s cross was intercepted before it could reach Levesque. Shevchenko produced another save from Boss, as the game maintained its high tempo until the end. Another Sounder making his debut, Lamar Neagle had Seattle’s last chance after turning Di Santo, but fired over.

As the final whistle was blown, Chelsea players graciously acknowledged the crowd’s enthusiasm and numbers. A stark reality had dawned on the locals too. A surprisingly large proportion of the seats occupied by non season ticket holders on the Upper Bowl, were not occupied, as had been expected, by Chelsea fans, but by Sounders fans. There may be an even greater potential here than had been recognised. Sounders lost the match 0-2, but may have found something even more valuable in the long run – 30,000 untapped spectators.

Sounders: Kasey Keller (Terry Boss 45′); James Riley (Evan Brown 70′), Jhon Hurtado (Lamar Neagle 70′), Tyrone Marshall, Tyson Wahl (Zach Scott 45′); Freddie Ljungberg (Michael Fucito 74′), Osvaldo Alonso (Stephen King 45′), Steve Zakuani (Sanna Nyassi, 62′); Peter Vagenas (Nathan Sturgis 45′) Nate Jaqua (Seb Le Toux 45′), Fredy Montero (Roger Levesque 62′)

Chelsea (first half) Petr ÄŒech; Ashley Cole, Jose Bosingwa, John Terry, Alex; Frank Lampard, Deco, Michael Ballack, Florent Malouda; Daniel Sturridge, Nicolas Anelka,

Chelsea (second half) Hilario, Branislav Ivanovic, Juliano Belletti, Salomon Kalou, Ricardo Carvalho, Franco Di Santo, Claudio Pizarro, Scott Sinclair, Frank Lampard, Michael Ballack (Mikel 62′), Floriant Malouda, Andrei Shevchenko, Sam Hutchinson

Attendance: 65,289

Referee: Alex Prus