SEATTLE – Michael Fucito and Nate Jaqua each scored first-half goals as the Seattle Sounders defeated Chivas de Guadalajara 3-1 in a friendly on Tuesday night.
Substitute Sanna Nyassi scored an insurance goal late in the match in front of an announced crowd of 41,047 at Qwest Field.
Marco Fabián scored for the Mexican club, which posted a 0-2-1 record in its three friendlies against MLS clubs in 2010.
Seattle seized control of the game from the opening whistle, with Fucito in the middle of Seattle’s most dangerous attacks. The Harvard graduate made his presence felt early, finding the net in the fifth minute off an assist from Roger Levesque.
The striker, who was paired with Jaqua up top, continued his prolific scoring. In the last three games in which he has been in the starting lineup (two Champions League games and in Tuesday’s friendly), Fucito has scored four times.
Jaqua added to the lead in the 18th minute. Once again, it was Levesque who set up the goal with an excellent left-footed cross from the end line. At the far post, Jaqua rose above the crowd to nod the ball home.
Alberto Medina had a chance to bring a goal back for the visitors, but his 32nd-minute shot was gathered up by Terry Boss. David Estrada, whose playing time has been limited this season, forced a save with a rocket from distance in the 36th.
Seattle’s defense and work rate were commendable. Chivas weren’t allowed much time on the ball and struggled to string passes together. Especially in the midfield, Mike Seamon and Álvaro Fernández snapped at the heels of the Mexican midfielders.
Both teams made changes at halftime. Invitee Akeem Adams, a 19-year-old defender from Trinidad and Tobago’s youth national teams, came on at halftime to play left back for the Sounders. Miguel Montano also got 30 minutes in relief of Estrada.
Jaqua just misfired on a chance to score a second header goal early in the second half as Seattle continued to play well. Meanwhile, the visitors showed a fighting spirit and eventually pulled one back.
Guadalajara appeared to have scored a good goal in the 61st, but it was ruled offside. They finally broke through in 70th, when Fabián headed home a cross at the far post after getting goal-side of Adams.
Fans were surprised to see Fredy Montero enter the match in the 75th minute. Just after his arrival, Chivas went a man down after Juan Ocampo earned a second yellow card for a rash sliding tackle.
In the final minute of regulation, Nyassi scored yet another goal. After a thunderous left-footed effort from Montero squarely hit the post, the hero of the US Open Cup final flashed across the goalmouth to knock home the rebound.
Scoring Summary:
SEA -- Michael Fucito (Roger Levesque) 5
SEA -- Nate Jaqua (Roger Levesque, Michael Fucito) 18
CVG -- Marco Fabián (Mitchel Oviedo) 70
SEA -- Sanna Nyassi (Fredy Montero) 90
Misconduct Summary:
SEA -- Mike Fucito (caution; Handball) 16
SEA -- Akeem Adams (caution; Reckless Tackle) 56
CVG -- Mitchel Oviedo (caution; Tactical Foul) 63
CVG -- Juan Ocampo (caution; Dissent) 67
CVG -- Juan Ocampo (caution; Reckless Tackle) 77
CVG -- Juan Ocampo (ejection; Second Caution) 77
Lineups:
Chivas de Guadalajara -- Luis Michel (Hugo Hernández 46), Christian Pérez, Jorge Enríquez (Patricio Araujo 46), Juan Ocampo, Dionicio Escalante (Omar Esparza 30), Edgar Mejía, Xavier Báez, Ulises Dávila, Alberto Medina (Marco Fabián 64), Jesús Sánchez (Miguel Ponce 63), Mitchel Oviedo.
Substitutes Not Used: Omar Arellano, Sergio Ávila.
Seattle Sounders FC -- Terry Boss, Zach Scott, Tyrone Marshall, Taylor Graham, Tyson Wahl (Akeem Adams 46), David Estrada (Miguel Montano 59), Alvaro Fernandez (Peter Vagenas 46), Mike Seamon (Sanna Nyassi 88), Roger Levesque, Mike Fucito, Nate Jaqua (Fredy Montero 75).
Substitutes Not Used: Patrick Ianni, Jeff Parke, Nathan Sturgis, Steve Zakuani, Kasey Keller.
Referee: Terry Vaughn
Referee's Assistants: Jeff Hosking; Baboucarr Jallow
4th Official: Josh Wilkins
Attendance: 41,047
Time of Game: 1:51
Weather: Partly Cloudy and 55 degrees
