July 17, 1998

Seattle Sounders  4 - 1  US Pro 40 Select
Memorial Stadium, Seattle
 
Jenkins (Sea) 6
Jenkins (Sea) 16
Beech (Sea) 23
Botello (P40) 52
Gelvezon (Sea) 66

Sea: Dusty Hudock; Bernie James, Jason Annicchero, Randy Mann; David Hoggan (77 Kei Kinoshita), Brandon Prideaux, Scott Jenkins, Dick McCormick; Mark Baena (30 Paul Gelvezon), Patrick Beech (82 Shannon Murray), Erik Storkson.

P40: Mark Simpson; Danny Care, Chad McCarty, Judah Cooks, RT Moore; Esmundo Rodriguez (52 Ramiro Corrales), Barry Swift (45 Juan Sastoque), Josh Keller; Jose Botello, Tony Kuhn, Andre Nunley.



Match report from Ron Stickney:
 
It was the Seattle Sounders' turn to give a lesson to the US Project 40 Select team, the team that changes from week to week and does not have a home. The team consists of players of college age signed by the MLS to a development program. These guys have a challenging soccer season, playing all 28 matches on the road.

This was a homecoming of sorts for Pro 40 defender Chad McCarty, who last year was co-captain of the University of Washington team with the Sounders' Brandon Prideaux. It was also welcome back for Esmundo Rodriguez, who was loaned from the San Jose Clash to the Sounders for several matches in the latter half of last season.

Seattle played without midfielder Fabian Davis, who was called up to the Jamaican National Team and is due back August 6. Davis has 35 caps for his country.

First Half

Seattle wasted no time, scoring three goals before the first half was half gone.

6' Jenkins (Baena). In a nice series, Jason Annicchero's throw-in from his corner was flicked on by Erik Storkson to Patrick Beech. Tightly marked, Beech one-timed a drop to Brandon Prideaux, who sprung Beech for a run up the right side. Beech sent a rolling cross into the area for the charging Mark Baena, whose shot from the spot forced a leaping save by P40 goalkeeper Mark Simpson, but the rebound went to Scott Jenkins who finished the goal with a header.

16' Jenkins (Storkson). Prideaux's pass into the area was flicked on by Storkson to the spot. Baena was marked tightly and couldn't get to the ball, but Jenkins ran in and fired the bouncing ball inside the right post to put Seattle up 2-0.

23' Beech (Baena). After Randy Mann was knocked to the ground, referee Oscar Myre let play continue, allowing Baena to send a pass over the defense. The offside line stepped forward a split second too late, putting both Beech and Storkson through against the keeper. Beech controlled the ball and took the shot himself from the 18, driving the ball over the sliding Simpson for Seattle's 3rd goal.

At 30' Baena came out with a hip pointer, replaced by Paul Gelvezon.

The Pro 40 team never really got into the match in the first half, taking just 4 shots, none of which threatened the goal.

Halftime:  Seattle  3 - 0  US Pro 40 Select

Coach Lothar Osiander must have had an effective halftime talk with his young players, as the Pro 40 team were much more effective in the second half. Chad McCarty tried a 35-yarder early in the half, but Hudock was well-positioned for the save.

52' Botello (Coralles). Immediately after coming on for Rodriguez, Ramiro Corrales set up Jose Botello with a forward pass to the left corner of the penalty area. Hudock came way out and pressured the shot, but Botello chipped the ball nicely past Hudock and into the goal. This goal ended a string of 18 unanswered goals for Seattle, who had won their three previous matches with shutouts.

Seattle turned it back up a notch after the goal, threatening on several creative attacks. From Beech's cross from the right, Storkson tried a flying header at the 6-yard line but didn't get enough of the ball. A David Hoggan cross was headed down by Storkson for Beech, but Beech miskicked the ball. Storkson headed another pass to Beech, putting him free on the right, but Simpson grabbed Beech's attempted chip. And Beech tried a flying header from Gelvezon's cross, but the shot was just wide.

For the Pro 40s, Tony Kuhn headed a cross in the air for Juan Sastoque, who had come on at the half. Sastoque's header came close to the top far corner, but hit the top of the crossbar and went out.

66' Gelvezon (Beech). Beech put himself free on the right with a tricky move. Facing forward, Beech reached back with his foot and heel-kicked the ball over his head and in front of him, losing the defender and putting Beech 1-v-1 against the keeper. Beech could have taken the shot but instead crossed the ball past the keeper for Gelvezon, on a run up the middle, to finish.

Kuhn got a couple of chances late. His shot from the left side of the area just missed the top right corner. And in the final minute, Kuhn was just unmarked five yards away with a rolling cross coming his way, but he miskicked the ball and missed the goal.

Final:  Seattle  4 - 1  US Pro 40 Select

Seattle next plays the San Diego Flash on Sunday, July 19, at 2:00 PM in Seattle's Memorial Stadium.

Statistics

Shots: Sea 13, P40 14
Saves: Hudock 4, Simpson 5
Corners: Sea 1, P40 4
Fouls: Sea 13, P40 9
Offside: Sea 9, P40 1

Misconduct:
5' Mann (Sea) cautioned for a foul away from the ball
25' Baena (Sea) cautioned for pushing
45' Rodriguez (P40) cautioned for encroaching on a free kick

Referee: Oscar Myre
Attendance: 2709