Sounders 3 : 0 Seattle Wolves

Sounders FC scored twice in the first thirteen minutes as they beat the Seattle Wolves 3-0 in a truncated friendly earlier today. Pat Ianni, Sanna Nyassi and Mike Fucito scored the goals. This encounter provided a stern test for the Wolves, who are preparing for their final tournament of 2009; the bizarrely named Copa Washington. This exhibition match was played in front of over 2,000 Sounder fans, as the club celebrated its summer soccer camps by allowing camp participants and their family members to take in the contest.

The Sounders fielded some regular starters such as Freddy Montero, Steve Zakuani, and Pat Ianni, as well as fringe performers such as Mike Fucito and Lamar Neagle.

Like the Wolves, the Sounders used this friendly to hone their abilities prior to a crucial fixture this coming weekend. With only a handful of regular season matches remaining, Seattle’s match with Toronto FC is pivotal in the club’s race to the MLS playoffs.

Early on both teams exchanged counter attacks, as Montero pushed forward for the Sounders, while Wolves striker Alex Chursky nearly headed a right-sided cross past Sounders goalkeeper Terry Boss. Wolves midfielder Pedro Batres sprung the offside trap minutes later and found himself through on goal, only for the ball to be collected by Boss at the top of the 6-yard box.

At the other end of the pitch, Sean Conlon displayed considerable talent in the Wolves’ goalmouth, rebuffing Zakuani as the winger burst through the 18-yard box. However, in the 10th minute of play Sounders defender Pat Ianni pushed a deflected ball past Conlon to score and put the Sounders ahead.

Three minutes later Montero began a menacing run down the left flank and crossed the ball to Nyassi. The Gambian midfielder made quick work of the cross; heading the ball past Conlon’s outstretched arms to increase the Sounders’ lead.

Nevertheless, the Wolves continued to retain possession in the middle of the park and created consistent build up through their flanks. Fullbacks Sterling Flunder and Adam West both pushed forward and created numerous scoring opportunities, while Chursky delivered his typically fiery performance. Former Seattle Wolves forward Lamar Neagle came on for the Sounders after the restart, and the UNLV graduate impressed throughout the remainder of the match.

First-year midfielder Michael Fucito added a third and final goal for the Sounders, as the Harvard University star converted a precise pass from Nyassi. Former Sounder John Fishbaugher nearly pulled a goal back for the Wolves in the dying moments of the contest when the midfielder blasted a shot inches over the Sounders’ crossbar.

Sounders manager Sigi Schmid congratulated Alex Chursky on a fine PDL season, while Sebastian Le Toux and Zach Scott exchanged pleasantries with former colleagues Noah Merl and John Fishbaugher.

The Wolves played another friendly against the Sounders in March at Qwest Field prior to the 2009 Premier Development League season, while the two sides collaborated in training at Starfire Sports Complex throughout the summer months.

The Sounders square off against Toronto FC at home on Saturday afternoon at 1:00 PM, while the Wolves begin their Copa Washington tournament at Starfire Stadium at 6:30 PM.

Sounders: Terry Boss; Pat Ianni, Tyson Wahl, Taylor Graham, Zach Scott; Steve Zakuani, Stephen King, Pete Vagenas, Michael Fucito; Sanna Nyassi, Fredy Montero

Wolves: Sean Conlon; Adam West, Justyn Scholze, Noah Merl, Sterling Flunder; Pedro Batres, Nick Besagno, John Fishbaugher, Mark Conrad; Gabe Sturm, Alex Chursky