Seattle Sounders 1 - 2 US Pro-40 Select
Renton Memorial Stadium, Renton, WA

Wilson (P40) 2
O'Brien (P40) 50
Waibel (S) 58

Seattle:  Preston Burpo; Scott Jenkins (Viet Nguyen 74), Jason Annicchero, Craig Waibel; Kieran Barton, Sean Henderson, Ralph Robertson, Oliver Heald (Peter Hattrup 77), Shan Gaw; Ian Russell, Alex Nouri.

P40:  Scott Vallow; Matt Chulis, Jimmy Conrad, Leighton O'Brien, Kirk Wilson; Lazo Alavanja, Caesar Alvarado (Mauricio Rocha 46), Jeff Bilyk, Guillermo Jara; Jesse Van Zaun (Francisco Gomez 46), Alen Kosic.

The Seattle Sounders were defeated by US Pro-40 Select, 2-1, before 2,246 at Renton Memorial Stadium on Sunday evening.  Federal Way native Leighton O'Brien scored the game-winning goal in the 50th minute on an assist by Lazo Alavanja.  Seattle countered, cutting the score to 2-1, with a goal from Craig Waibel in the 56th minute on a corner kick by Shan Gaw.  Pro-40 opened the scoring when Kirk Wilson scored in the second minute, assisted by Alan Kosic.  Pro-40 defeated Seattle earlier this season, 2-0, on June 11 in Seattle.  Pro-40 increases their lead in the Central Division of the A-League to 11 points over second place Minnesota.  Seattle remains in third place in the Pacific Division with 45 points, 21 behind first place San Diego.

Forward Alexander Nouri played in his first game as a Sounder, starting and playing the full 90 minutes.  Nouri was acquired on loan from Werder Bremen (Germany) earlier in July.  Randy Mann did not play because of an injured hamstring and Mark Baena was in California with his wife, who is about to give birth.

Match Highlights:
2'  Kosic's throw-in finds an unmarked Wilson at the right side of the penalty area. Wilson beats Burpo to the upper left corner.
12'  Gaw's pass into the penalty area finds Henderson running diagonally.  Vallow has no problem with Henderson's shot.
33'  Jara's low, hard shot cuts through the Sounder defense, forcing Burpo into a chest-high save.
44'  Henderson's free kick from 25 yards goes high and wide right.
50'  Alavanja finds space at the top of the penalty area and lays a pass off to an overlapping and unmarked OBrien.  His shot to the upper left corner beats Burpo and gives the visitors a two-nil lead.
58'  Gaw's corner kick from the right corner finds an unmarked Waibel, whose header beats Vallow.
59'  Wilson fires a hard shot from a tight angle that goes just over the top.
82'  Wilson gets through the Sounder defense, Burpo comes out the cut the angle, leaving Wilson to harmlessly cross the ball to two Sounders defenders in front of Burpo's net.
85'  Annichero's crosses to Waibel, who wasn't able to get off a hard shot.

Statistics:
Shots:  Seattle 10, P40 15
Saves:  Burpo (S) 5, Vallow (P40) 3
Fouls:  Seattle 17, P40 11
Offsides:  Seattle 2, P40 1
Corners:  Seattle 5, P40 1

Misconduct:
Cautions:  Kosic (P40) 55, Waibel (S) 79.

Referee: Mac Pinski; Asst. Refs: Jason Transtrum, Jeff Hoskins, Fourth Official: Jim Kokenos
 
Weather:  Sunny, 75 degrees
Attendance:  2,246

Post Game Quotes:

Pro-40 Head Coach Lothar Osiander:  Sorry to say, but soccer should not be played on turf, it makes for an unattractive event, but other than that we're happy to win, end of story.

Sounders Head Coach Neil Megson:  On the whole we matched them physically but they were a better team on the day. Complacency will not be allowed.

Sounders Defender Craig Waibel:  It's kind of bittersweet.  I scored today, but we lost.  I would trade the goal for a victory any day.

Sounders Forward Alexander Nouri:  I'm not used to the turf.  I hope I learn from the 1st experience and get better.  I thought I played okay today, but I need to get better.