Seattle Sounders 0 - 3 San Diego Flash
Renton Memorial Stadium, Renton, WA

20' SD: Hetherington (Dumitru)
38' SD: Farias (PK)
86' SD: Phillips (Dumitru)
 
Seattle: Preston Burpo; Bernie James, Craig Waibel, Jason Annicchero, Kieran Barton (Shan Gaw 67); Ralph Robertson, Randy Mann, Peter Hattrup, Ian Russell; Erik Storkson (Viet Nguyen 45), Mark Baena.

San Diego: Kevin Rueda; Michael N'Doumbe, Jamie Munro, PJ Brown; Nate Hetherington (Shandley Phillips 76), Eric Chaisongkram (Anthony Farace 73), Kevin Legg, Jerome Watson (Noah Gins 58), Carlos Farias (Mauricio Allegre 67); Mugurel Dumitru, Chugger Adair.
 

There were several critical close calls in the match, and the Sounders came up short on every one of them. Seattle had their best chances negated by offside calls, as San Diego was playing an offside trap expertly. And the penalty kick was unfortunate because the ball appeared to be unintentionally handled by Randy Mann.

Best quote during the match was Mark Coker yelling to ex-Sounder Chugger Adiar, "Hey Chugger, we've got a Mann wearing number 19 now!"

First Half

The Sounders were outclassed the first half, mustering just a pair of long shots by Ralph Robertson and Craig Waibel, both sent well over.

For the first 20 mintues, San Diego didn't have much more success, though. Eric "Chai" Chaisongkram put the match's first shot on goal at 14', and Preston Burpo dove for the save at the near post, with James slide tackling to clear the rebound.

20' Hetherington (Dumitru). From near the right corner flag, Mugurel Dumitru crossed in the air to the 6-yard line. Hetherington was the only head seen rising for the ball, and he headed it past Burpo inside the near post for what would prove the match winner. SEA 0 - 1 SD.

Farias had his first good chance from a free kick at the arc and sent the shot just over the top left corner.

37' Farias (PK). The ball hit Mann in the arm when he moved around Jerome Watson to get to a ball on the end line 12 yards left of the left post. The fans thought it was unintentional, but referee Javier Padilla whistled and pointed to the spot. Burpo guessed right and almost made the save of Farias' penalty kick, but the shot was too perfect and went in off the lower left post. SEA 0 - 2 SD.

San Diego had one more good chance at the end of the half when Dumitru was sprung down the right side for a shot, but Burpo came out from his line and got enough of his hands on the shot to deflect it wide for a corner.

Halftime: Seattle 0 - 2 San Diego
 
Seattle looked like a different side at the start of the second half, perhaps awakened by a halftime chat. In the opening minute, Mark Baena's low cross into the goal area was just in front of Ian Russell. Baena soon earned a shot from inside the area, sent just over the bar.

For the Flash, Farias' 30-yard blast was aimed at the top left corner but Burpo leaped sideways to make the save.

Back in Seattle's favor, Mann's low, far-post shot from a broken throw-in play was pushed away by a diving Kevin Rueda. Robertson's shot from the arc just missed the left post. Peter Hattrup's 25-yarder up the middle was saved by Rueda on the first bounce. Shan Gaw's forward pass missed Baena, but took a lucky bounce off the defender and gave Baena a quick shot, which he curled away from the far post.

Mauricio Allegre, on for Farias, took a long shot from a free kick and was just wide of the far post.

Robertson's 20-yard low shot from an indirect free kick play just missed the lower left corner. Waibel ran in to head in substitute Viet Nguyen's far-post cross, but a close offside call pulled the ball out of the net.

Perhaps frustrated, James slid in behind Allegre near the right corner flag and knocked Allegre's feet out from under him. Allegre toppled onto James and as they got up, James threw an elbow at Allegre. Padilla sent James off for the foul or the elbow or perhaps the sum of the two.

86' Phillips (Dumitru). Phillips received from Dumitru and got around Annicchero to go in with only Burpo to beat. In spite of being tugged on by Annicchero, Phillips shot accurately past Burpo to close the scoring. SEA 0 - 3 SD.

Phillips and Allegre each had 20-yard chances in the final minutes, but Phillips blasted over the bar and Allegre's shot was saved by Burpo.

Final: Seattle 0 - 3 San Diego

Statistics:
Shots: SEA 10, SD 16
Saves: Burpo 5; Rueda 2
Corners: SEA 6, SD 5
Fouls: SEA 12, SD 15
Offside: SEA 5, SD 1
 
Misconduct:
59' Mann (SEA) cautioned for knocking down Hetherington
62' Waibel (SEA) cautioned
81' James (SEA) sent off for sliding in under Allegre
81' Adair (SD) cautioned

Referee: Javier Padilla; Asst. Ref: Danny Rhee, Kevin Boisen; Fourth Official: Terry Finch
Attendance: 1,943