Sacramento Geckos 1 - 3 Seattle Sounders
Natomas Stadium, Sacramento, California.

Goodman 10; Storkson 17, Hattrup 23 (PK), Baena 36.

Seattle: Preston Burpo; Bernie James, Jason Annicchero, Randy Mann; Craig Waibel, Kieran Barton, Ralph Robertson, Peter Hattrup (Viet Nguyen 81); Ian Russell, Erik Storkson (Shan Gaw 54); Mark Baena.

Sacramento: Eric Landon (Justin Rothling 45); Donald Finely, Darren Edge, Jason Gile, Sep Wolfe; Chuck Lively, Tim Maestretti, Robert Cohmanschi (Camacho 58), Cannerelli; Alejandro Cano, Jerry Goodman (Eric Farfan 45).

The prescription for the Sounders' offensive drought was a visit to the last-place team, and the Sacramento Geckos filled the bill. The Seattle Sounders defeated Sacramento 3-1 at Natomas Stadium in Sacramento, CA on Sunday afternoon. Erik Storkson's goal in the 17th minute, Peter Hattrup's penalty kick at 23 minutes, and Mark Baena's goal at 36 minutes led the Sounders to victory. Storkson's goal broke a five-match stretch (three regular season and two exhibition matches) where the Sounders had not scored a goal of their own (Friday's game at El Paso had an own-goal for Seattle). Hattrup's penalty
kick goal in the 23rd minute after Baena was taken down in the penalty area was the match-winner.

The Sounders had to overcome an early one-goal deficit when Jerry Goodman scored the first goal of the game for Sacramento in the 10th minute.  Seattle then countered with three first-half goals on ten first-half shots.  The three goals are the most the Sounders have scored in a half this season.

Seattle was able to hold Sacramento scoreless in the second half in spite of playing a man short for the last 42 minutes after Mark Baena was cautioned for shooting after being whistled offside and then immediately cautioned again for dissent; yellow + yellow = red.

Highlights:
3'  SEA: Robertson's shot from a 35-yard free kick play was pushed over the crossbar by Landon.
10'  SAC: After a through ball from Cano, Annicchero and James left the ball for Burpo, but Burpo did not come off his line to collect the ball. Goodman ran between Annicchero and James and shot a low hard shot to the right of Burpo and in. SAC 1 - 0 SEA.
17'  SEA: Mann's throw-in into the penalty area was touched on by Hattrup to Storkson, who was able to control the pass and shoot past a screened Landon. SAC 1 - 1 SEA.
23'  SEA: Waibel passed into the penalty area to Baena.  Baena pushed the ball around Landon, but the keeper tackled Baena and a penalty kick was awarded. Hattrup placed the PK top left corner. SAC 1 - 2 SEA.
36'  SEA: Hattrup's free kick is shot just wide of goal.
36'  SEA: Barton controlled the ball in the midfield and passed to Storkson, who was running down the right side of the field. Storkson then passed to Baena who made a run towards the penalty area. Storkson's pass found Baena just inside the penalty area. Baena took a low hard shot that went to the right of Landon. SAC 1 - 3 SEA.
44'  SAC: Cano took a hard shot that went off the goalpost.  Cannerelli followed with a header that also went off the woodwork.  Sacramento then took a third shot that was deflected by Annicchero.  Mann was able to clear the ball out for a corner kick.
48'  SEA: After being whistled offside, Baena shot the ball anyway, earning a yellow card for unsporting behavior. He apparently said something to the referee, for Baena quickly received a second yellow card, and hence a red card. Seattle would have to defend their 2-goal lead with 10 men.
51'  SAC: Cano's shot was saved by Burpo.
54'  SEA: Gaw came on for Storkson and Seattle, who had started with a 3-4-3 formation, shifted to a 4-4-1 as Barton dropped back to play as a defender. Russell was left as the lone forward.
70'  SAC: Farfan was put through for a good chance, but shot wide of the far post.
73'  SAC: Cano again saved by Burpo.
83'  SAC: A 30-yard shot was punched clear by Burpo.

Misconduct:
Cautioned:  Robertson (SEA) 11, Landon (SAC) 22, Annicchero (SEA) 30, Maestretti (SAC) 34, Baena (SEA) 48, Baena (SEA) 48.
Sent off:  Baena (SE) 48 for his second caution.

Referee: Javier Padilla
Attendance:
Weather: Sunny, hot, 90 degrees

Stats:
            Seattle Sacramento
Shots         13         18
Saves          5          4
Fouls          8         16
Offsides       4          1
Corners        3          3
Cautions       4          2

Notebook:
Seattle plays Spokane in a second round U.S. Open Cup match on Wednesday 23 June against the Spokane Shadow. The location and time will be announced on Monday 21 June (hint: expect Wednesday 23 June, 7.00 pm, Interbay Stadium). The Sounders' next regular season match is Saturday 26 June against Pacific Division leading San Diego Flash, 7.35 pm at Renton Memorial Stadium.

Seattle forward Mark Baena returned to the lineup.  He had been back in the Bay Area with his wife Michelle who is expecting the birth of their child, and did not play in Friday's match at El Paso.  Seattle's Scott Jenkins did not play in the Sacramento match after playing in Friday's match.  He has a broken bone in his left foot, suffering the injury against Minnesota on 29 May.