Sounders earn victory
TUKWILA -- Young guys who'd love to be part of the Seattle Sounders future got the bulk of the playing time.
But it was the veterans who are very much part of the present that helped Seattle get the job done against Juventus Primavera on Tueday night.
Sebastien LeToux scored the first two goals, Craig Tomlinson tallied the last one, and Kenji Treschuk headed a dangerous first-half attempt off the goal line as the Sounders blanked the Italian reserve side in an international friendly at Starfire Sports Complex, 3-0.
With the Sounders nursing a large assortment of injuries and having just returned from Tuesday night's 1-0 first-round U.S. Open Cup victory against the Arizona Sauharos in Phoenix, Schmetzer opted to rest most of his regular starting 11. LeToux and Treschuk were two of the exceptions, and they delivered at both ends of the field in front of 2,058 fans.
"These guys have played extremely long minutes and traveled, and I had to give some guys a rest," Sounders coach Brian Schmetzer said, then added with a grin, "I took a poll to see who was the least sore."
"When you�re playing that many young guys, it�s tough," Schmetzer said. "So what I told them was, �Don�t get frustrated if things aren�t going well -- it requires more effort to help your teammates. They kept the frustration level low and manufactured a couple of goals."
The Sounders thus headed into a welcome eight-day hiatus on a winning note. In the past three years, Seattle is 2-2-1 in international games. The other victory during that spell was a 2-1 decision last July against Preston North End of the second-level English Championship League. "I think those kids are just young kids, but they grew up playing in a soccer environment. And they're very good technically," Treschuk said of Juventus. "I think we had a better side and a better showing tonight. It was good for everyone to get some games and get some touches on the ball. And playing a great club, it was a great experience for all of us."
LeToux, who ranks third in the United Soccer Leagues First Division with five goals and 11 points, got the Sounders on the board at the 21:43 mark with a PK to the back center of the net. Treschuk, who scored the overtime goal in Phoenix on Tuesday night to give Seattle its Open Cup victory against Arizona, had taken the ball into the right side of the penalty area, and was taken down by Ivan Mignano.
Referee Jeff Hosking pointed to the penalty spot, and LeToux drilled it to the back center of the net as Primavera goalkeeper Carlo Pinsoglio went to his left.
Just 5 minutes later, LeToux struck again. Craig Tomlinson was hauled to the ground on the left wing a few yards on the Juventus side of the midfield stripe, Andre Schmid immediately spotted the ball, sending the kick toward open space on the far side of the field. With LeToux and Pinsoglio racing to see who got to it first, it was LeToux, and his chip shot got behind Pinsoglio, bounced, and rolled into the net at 27:14.
"I took a good run and Andre saw me very well and we got a good goal," LeToux said. "I came very early and got past the defender. The goalkeeper was a little surprised and came a little bit late. And I like to chip."
Juventus had three near-misses right in a row on a play that started as a corner kick from the left quadrant. A shot by David Borin was slapped away at the right post by Sounders goalkeeper Salin Romain. The rebound was sent back across the goalmouth toward the wide-open left post, but Treschuk got there to head it off the line. Still in play, another shot was headed over the top, giving Romain a pressure-relieving goal kick.
Tomlinson pushed the lead to 3-0 at 85:04. A cross into the box went toward the top left corner of Pinsoglio's front porch. Mike Morris touched the ball to Tomlinson, who drilled it into the back right corner.
QUICK KICKS -- The Sounders played primarily with reserves. The only regulars who started were LeToux, Treschuk and John Fishbaugher. ... Starting defender Danny Jackson is out 2-3 weeks with plantar fasciatis. That same foot injury also sidelined him for four weeks last season. ... Nik Besagno was in the starting lineup for his Sounders debut after being acquired on loan earlier this week from Real Salt Lake of Major League Soccer. Besagno is scheduled to be with the Sounders through Sept. 9, although Salt Lake has the option to recall him at any time. ... Thursday's game was the first for Juventus on a three-game trek through the Northwest. It will play the Portland Timbers on Saturday, then face Oregon Select next Tuesday. ... Seattle now will be off until next Saturday, June 20, when it plays host to the Miami FC Blues at 7 p.m. a Starfire. The Sounders and Blues played to a 0-0 tie on June 1 in Miami. ... In Italy, Primavera plays in a 42-team league with reserve teams from each of Italy's Serie A and B clubs. Juventus went to the quarterfinals of the Campionato Primavera championship before losing to Fiorentina.
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