Less than 24 hours after Sounders FC’s first team fell, 1-0, to Vancouver Whitecaps FC, the Sounders reserves met FC Edmonton with a makeshift lineup at Starfire Sports Complex, falling 2-0 to the NASL side.
With just seven Sounders FC players available for the match, Seattle started three non-roster trialists and Jimmy Ockford, Seattle’s second round pick in the 2014 MLS SuperDraft who is playing on loan with the New York Cosmos. That left a fragmented team on the field that held good possession in stretches, but couldn’t garner much on the offensive end.
“It was tough. The lineup had some new guys in it and there were times when it looked a little disjointed,” said Sounders FC Assistant Coach Kurt Schmid. “You never like to lose a game, but it was good for some of our guys to get a run out, which is what they needed on a day like today.”
Among the starters in the match was Djimi Traore, who has been out of action since May 24 with an adductor strain. The veteran center back played 55 minutes in the match as he builds back from his absence.
While Seattle threatened to break through offensively in the first 20 minutes, it was Edmonton that would crack the scoresheet, smashing a shot off the dribble from 18 yards out for a 1-0 lead in the 20th minute.
Sounders FC nearly bounced right back when Aaron Kovar found Cam Weaver with a cross in the box, but his lunging header was tipped clear by the Edmonton goalkeeper.
That was one of few scoring chances for Seattle, who had trouble cracking the code in the final third.
“I thought, offensively we had some possession in the midfield, but there were times when Cam Weaver was isolated up front and that translated to no real clean looks for us,” Schmid said.
By the end of the match, goalkeeper Josh Ford had just two Sounders FC players in front of him in David Estrada and Sean Okoli, as Seattle filled out its roster with five U-16 Academy players. Edmonton added another late goal in the 82nd minute and Seattle fell 2-0, but still got some value out of the exhibition match.
“We were able to evaluate some guys who are new to the group and get some fitness for some guys that need it, so it was good,” Schmid said.
Sounders FC lineup: Josh Ford, Trialist (Kasey French 61), Jimmy Ockford (Trialist 51), Djimi Traore (Tosh Samkange 55), David Estrada, Sean Okoli, Fabio Perierra (John Magnus 79), Trialist, Aaron Kovar (Victor Mansaray 46), Trialist, Cam Weaver (Tristan Bowen 30, Harrison Kurtz 71).
- Sounders FC U-16 Academy player
