Two defensively-minded players are set to return to Seattle Sounders FC in advance of their international friendly against Chelsea FC this Saturday. Osvaldo Alonso (groin) and Zach Scott (partially torn abdominal muscle) both saw competitive action as they return from injury.
During Monday's reserve match with the Kitsap Pumas of the Premier Development League, Scott started in defense and went the full 90 minutes. Alonso took his usual place in defensive midfield and went 45 minutes and looked comfortable in the middle for Seattle, which went on to win the game by a score of 6-0.
"I ran, I kicked, and I think I'll be ready for Saturday," said Alonso through a translator.
With Alonso back in the fold, Seattle's coaches must decide how they will deploy him, if at all, when EPL giants come to town. With a U.S. Open Cup semifinal against the Houston Dynamo looming the following Tuesday, the Seattle coaching staff will likely want Alonso as healthy as possible for that match. With Houston out for revenge after Saturday's 2-1 loss, that should be a highly competitive match.
"He made 45 minutes here today and you always want to climb in increments to get him 90 minutes fit," Schmetzer said. "The pace of that game Saturday is obviously going to be a little faster than it was here so we want to be aware of that."
With Costa Rican left back Leonardo Gonzalez heading into camp at the conclusion of his country's Gold Cup run, Scott must show he can still play the left back position that belonged to him at the beginning of the season.
"He's a warrior and the type of guy that loves playing. You need to drag him off the field sometimes," Schmetzer said of Scott, whose brother Daniel also filled in for Seattle against Kitsap. "I was not going to play him the whole game but he said he felt OK and the game was a little bit easier because of the scoreline."
Four of Seattle's goals came in the first half with Alonso controlling the midfield against the PDL Northwest Division champions from the Olympic peninsula. Sebastien Le Toux and Sanna Nyassi each scored twice for Seattle, with a second assist on Nyassi's last goal going to technical director Chris Henderson. The retired MLS player, who had filled in as referee in the first half, came on as a second-half substitute.
Assistant coach Brian Schmetzer couldn't resist the chance to send a friendly jab towards Henderson.
"Hendo ... I don't know. Hendo's a great guy and he keeps himself very fit, but he just had a bad day today," Schmetzer joked.
Andrew Winner is a contributor to MLSnet.com.
