2004 Aug 22

Seattle Sounders 3 - 0 Puerto Rico Islanders
Qwest Field, Seattle, WA

Goals:
44' SEA - Somoza (Levesque)
52' SEA - Levesque (PK)
68' SEA - Tomlinson (Levesque)

Seattle: Preston Burpo; Danny Jackson, Marco Velez (Kyle Smith 73'), Ryan Edwards (Scott Jenkins 66'), Zach Scott; Kevin Sakuda, Jason Farrell (Chad Brown 62'), Sean-Michael Callahan (Darren Sawatzky 65'), Ben Somoza; Roger Levesque, Welton (Craig Tomlinson 35'). Substitutes not used: Danny Waltman, Jonathan Bolaños.

Puerto Rico: Michael Ueltschey; Rafael Ortiz, Luis Zuleta, Diego Deering, Alexis Rivera; Johanes Maliza, Juninho Da Silva, Carlos Astondoa (Isaac Nieves 72'); Martin Zapata, Mauricio Salles, Raul Diaz Arce. Substitutes not used: Eduardo Memendi, Joseph Toal, Alvaro Torres, Michael Mourelo.

Additional match reports: Seattle Times, Sounders.

Match report by Ron Stickney:

The Seattle Sounders got the job done at home with a 3-0 win over the far-travelling Puerto Rico Islanders. Ben Somoza scored the match winner just before halftime. Insurance goals were added in the second half by Roger Levesque, on a penalty kick, and Craig Tomlinson. Preston Burpo needed some good saves to earn the shutout.

First Half

Seattle dominated the early going, but couldn't score. Sean-Michael Callahan turned the corner on the left and fired a yard high and wide of the top near corner. Welton was sprung on the left from a long pass, and his shot was pushed wide by Michael Uelstschey for a corner. From Marco Velez' throw-in, Levesque centered for Welton, whose looping shot from 15 yards was just over the bar. Jason Farrell sent Welton up the left for a cross to Levesque on a near-post run, and the shot was deflected onto the post by Ueltschey, and the rebound in front of the goal mouth was cleared by a defender.

Puerto Rico's first good chance came in the 15th minute from Mauricio Salles' quick turn and shoot from 18, sent 2 yards over the bar.

For Seattle, captain Farrell blasted a cleared throw-in at the upper left corner from 25, and Ueltschey leaped to block it with his arms for a nice save. Welton netted a shot, but was offside on the play. Farrell tried another 25-yarder, but sent it right at Ueltschey.

Puerto Rico had a sequence of chances over 3 minutes starting at the half hour. Luis Zuleta's 30-yarder had to be touched over the bar by Burpo. Martin Zapata's 25-yarder up the middle was well aimed inside the left post, but Burpo was just able to push it wide for a corner. Carlos Astondoa just missed the top far corner from wide right.

Then referee Mohammed Zarrabi-Kashani had his hands full as it seemed to turn into garbage time with the score still 0-0. Puerto Rico were given a couple of yellow cards, and they knocked Welton out of the match, injuring him with a foul from behind.

44' Somoza (Levesque). Tomlinson, on for the injured Welton, won the battle for a ball sent up on the left. The ball ended up with Levesque in the middle, and he sent it right for an open Somoza, who cut back to get by Alexis Rivera and fired a left-footer that hooked inside the far post, hitting the post and going in. 1-0 Seattle.

Halftime: Seattle 1 - 0 Puerto Rico

52' Levesque (PK). Tomlinson was sprung on the left by Callahan and got into the penalty area, where he cut back to get by one defender and then was knocked down from behind by Alexis Rivera. A penalty kick was awarded, and Levesque put it to the right as Ueltschey guessed the other way. 2-0 Seattle.

Puerto Rico had a good opprtunity with an 18-yard free kick, but Juninho Da Silva sent it a yard wide of the near post.

For Seattle, Tomlinson won a long ball on the left and crossed back for a 10-yard diving header by Levesque, and Ueltschey was there for a good save.

Back to the Islanders, Da Silva missed by a yard from 25 on a corner kick play.

68' Tomlinson (Levesque). Somoza's corner kick from the right was headed along with a shot attempt by Danny Jackson, dummied by Velez, shot at goal by Zach Scott, and deflected towards the far post by Levesque. Tomlinson got a touch on the ball just before the diving Ueltschey could get it, and then Tomlinson back-heeled the loose ball inside the post with his back to goal a yard out. 3-0 Seattle.

Puerto Rico kept up the fight with several quality chances the rest of the way. Da Silva blasted a shot a yard high from a throw-in play in the 72nd. Salles' low 20-yarder from the left was taken by Burpo as he dove forward. A minute later, though, Salles was sent off when he earned his second yellow card for kicking Scott in the ankle.

For Seattle, Kyle Smith appeared to have a goal after Tomlinson got in close and dished it off, but it must have been Tomlinson flagged offside a few touches before the goal.

For Puerto Rico, Alexis Rivera aimed a long shot at the top far corner, and Burpo flew to push it wide for a corner. Zuleta from the spot volleyed a cross on goal, and Burpo dove to save.

Last chance was Seattle's, as Scott Jenkins' long pass put Tomlinson free and clear, but he misplayed a touch and ended up shooting wide of the far post when it seemed he ought to have scored.

Final: Seattle 3 - 0 Puerto Rico

Statistics:
         Seattle  Puerto Rico
Shots:      18        13
Saves:       5         7
Corners:     5         6
Fouls:      17        21
Offsides:   11         3

Misconduct:
35' PR - Zuleta cautioned for tripping Scott.
38' PR - Ortiz cautioned.
55' PR - Rivera cautioned for tripping Somoza.
68' PR - Salles cautioned.
76' PR - Salle cautioned for kicking Scott and sent off for the second caution.
81' SEA - Scott cautioned for a foul near the circle.

Referees: Mohammed Zarrabi-Kashani; Shahram Pourazari, Bryan Reich; Fred Mabbott.
Attendance: 2,911