The Seattle Sounders cruised to a big preseason win on Wednesday, topping USL Championship side Sacramento Republic FC 6-2 at Century Link Field.
The Sounders fielded something close to a first choice lineup in the game, with new DP signing Joao Paulo getting the start. The encounter comprised of a 45-minute first period, a 30-minute second period and a 45-minute third period.
Raul Ruidiaz opened the scoring early for Seattle, burying a long-range shot in the 2nd minute. Harry Shipp doubled the lead seven minutes later, and Joao Paulo made a near-instant impact, his long range pass helping to set up Jordan Morris for the Sounders' third in the 35th minute.
Things were more even after the break, and Sacramento pulled one back just before the end of the 30-minute middle period through Sam Werner. After a complete turnover in personnel for the final period of the game, Seattle increased their lead thanks to Homegrown forward Justin Dhillon, who later bagged his brace in the 97th minute, just after Cam Iwasa scored Sacramento's second. Alex Roldan picked up the Sounders' final goal three minutes from time.
Goals
- 2' — SEA — Raul Ruidiaz
- 9' — SEA — Harry Shipp
- 35' — SEA — Jordan Morris
- 72' — SAC — Sam Werner
- 78' — SEA — Justin Dhillon
- 96' — SAC — Cam Iwasa
- 97' — SEA — Justin Dhillon
- 117' — SEA — Alex Roldan
Lineups
Seattle starting XI (4-2-3-1): Stefan Frei - Kelvin Leerdam, Shane O'Neill, Xavier Arreaga, Nouhou - Gustav Svensson, Joao Paulo - Cristian Roldan, Harry Shipp, Jordan Morris - Raul Ruidiaz
Seattle third period XI (4-2-3-1): Stefan Cleveland - Alex Roldan, Josh Atencio+, Sam Rogers+, Joevin Jones - Danny Leyva, Chris Hegardt^ - Shandon Hopeau+, Handwalla Bwana, Alfonso Ocampo-Chavez - Justin Dhillon
=trialist; +=Tacoma Defiance player, ^=academy player
Sacramento starting XI: Adam Grinwis; Aris Yang^, Juan Barahona, Dekel Keinen, Matt Mahoney, Jaime Villareal, Rodrigo Lopez, Darek Formella, Khalid Balogun, Kharlton Belmar, Julian Chavez^
Sacramento third period XI: Adam Grinwis; Jordan McCrary, Ashkanov Apollon, Hayden Sargis, Thomas Hilliard-Arce, Andrew Wheeler, Drew Skundrich, Villyan Bijev, Cameron Iwasa, Sam Wernerm Rafael Jauregui^
*=trialist, ^=academy player
