2003 May 28

Friendly:
Seattle Sounders  0 - 0  San Jose Earthquakes 
Seahawks Stadium, Seattle, WA

Goals:
none

Seattle: Rich Cullen; Danny Jackson, Scott Jenkins, Ryan Edwards (Zach Scott 46'); Jason Farrell, Andrew Gregor, Viet Nguyen, Alex Bengard, Sean-Michael Callahan; Marco Velez (Craig Tomlinson 76'), Kyle Smith. Substitutes not used: Ryan Wittstruck, Kevin Sakuda, Darren Sawatzky, Matt Hulen, Shawn Percell, Greg Foisie.

San Jose: Josh Saunders; Craig Waibel, Eddie Robinson, Chris Roner, Todd Dunivant (Johanes Maliza 66'); Ian Russell (Nelson Santana 46'), Patrick Fisher, Kapono Low, Arturo Alvarez; Jamil Walker, Brian Ching (Brian Mullan 25', Manny Lagos 73'). Substitutes not used: Jon Conway, Frank Yallop.


Match report by Ron Stickney:

It was an enjoyable match, even though the friendly ended nil-nil. This was the fourth friendly between MLS San Jose and the Seattle Sounders, and all four have been scoreless draws! Goalkeepers Rich Cullen (Seattle) and Josh Saunders (San Jose) made no mistakes in earning shutouts, with Saunders forced to make the more difficult saves.

San Jose have three ex-Sounders on their roster, and all three started this match: Craig Waibel sweeping, Ian Russell in the midfield, and Brian Ching up front. Missing from San Jose's match roster were national team regulars Landon Donovan and Jeff Agoos.

First Half

The match started strong, with 5 saves in the first 5 minutes. There would be just 5 saves in the remaining 85 minutes, though. Ex-Sounder Ching had the first shot when he won the race to a cross from out wide, volleying from the top corner of the goal area, with Cullen at the near post to catch it.

For Seattle, Sean-Michael Callahan's cross/shot from the left was saved by Saunders, but the rebound was a sitter in front of goal and Saunders slid in to block as Marco Velez arrived to shoot. Then Kyle Smith forced another save with a shot up the middle aimed at the far post.

For San Jose, a 20-yarder from the left by Jamil Walker was covered by Cullen for a save. In the 5th minute goals seemed inevitable.

Seattle's Smith looked sprung from near the halfway line, but Waibel pulled him down and received a lecture from referee David Simon. Soon Viet Nguyen whipped in a diagonal ball for a Velez header from 15 yards, but he couldn't reach all of it and the shot was a yard or two high.

San Jose's Russell had a chance when Seattle's Scott Jenkins missed a clearance attempt and the ball fell in front of Russell, but he skied the shot. Ching fought off Ryan Edwards in the 18th to turn and shoot from15, but he missed by two yards.

The other way, Nguyen fired from the right side of the penalty area, and Saunders caught it at the near post. Alex Bengard was yards high from 20. Nguyen's long cross past goal found its way through to Bengard in close, but he couldn't trap it and was left holding his head.

Last chance of the half for San Jose when Jason Farrell gave it away to Brian Mullen, on for the injured Ching, and Cullen dove to save Mullan's shot.

Halftime: Seattle 0 - 0 Vancouver

Early in the second half, Nguyen's cross from the right went through the goal area to Callahan, who could only hit it wide of the near post.

San Jose substitute Nelson Santana got around the left for a try, and Cullen dove for a save.

Three quick shots for Seattle came in the 58th. Nguyen laid it off for Velez, whose shot from 12 yards was saved, the try from the rebound was blocked, then the third try put the leftovers on goal but off a defender's back for a corner. Smith got free in the 64th for an 18-yarder up the middle, but Saunders slid out halfway to snag the shot.

After 15 minutes with no good chances, San Jose took their second shot of the half, skied by Walker.

Bengard sent a Seattle corner kick through the crowd to Nguyen, collecting garbage, but the shot went into the near side netting. Seattle were done with their chances.

Santana got around the left for a sharp cross, snared by Cullen. Arturo Alvarez took San Jose's third and last shot of the half, another skied attempt. In the 90th, San Jose had one last chance with a 35-yard free kick, but it didn't generate a shot.

Final: Seattle 0 - 0 San Jose

Statistics:
         Seattle   San Jose
Shots:      14         7
Saves:       4         6
Corners:     7         2
Fouls:      13        13
Offsides:    5         2

Misconduct:
37' SEA - Jackson cautioned after a marginal foul when he got the ball while sliding under an opponent at the halfway line, but it was probably for what Jackson said.
71' SJ - Maliza cautioned for a trip from behind near the halfway line.
77' SEA - Farrell cautioned for a reckless challenge 40 yards from goal.

Referees: David Simon; Mohammed Zarrabi-Kashani, Mark Matthews; Sandy Hunt.
Attendance: 3,250