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Sellout crowd attends Sounders’ rout

DC United’s Joe Willis stops a scoring attempt by Seattle’s Mike Fucito during the first half Saturday. (Associated Press)
DC United’s Joe Willis stops a scoring attempt by Seattle’s Mike Fucito during the first half Saturday. (Associated Press)

SEATTLE – Sounders midfielder Mauro Rosales broke the team assist record and Alvaro Fernandez scored twice to help Seattle beat DC United 3-0 Saturday night before a sellout crowd that helped them set an MLS attendance record.

The 36,242 fans at CenturyLink Field gave the Sounders’ attendance of 553,987 with two home games remaining. That breaks the mark of 542,600 they set last season. The Sounders have set a league attendance record each season since joining MLS in 2009.

Mike Fucito opened the scoring for the Sounders (14-6-9, 51 points) in the 35th minute. He finished low and left past DC United goalkeeper Joe Willis. Rosales supplied the primary assist. Midfielder Brad Evans, who corralled the ball and moved it on to Rosales, was also credited with an assist. It was Fucito’s second goal of the season.

During the 2 minutes of added time in the first half, the Sounders struck again.

Fernandez was sent through on a slick pass by Rosales.

Fernandez angled wide right a few steps inside the penalty box, then sent a grounded shot to the right of a diving Willis in the 45th minute for his seventh goal of the year.

Fernandez’s second goal came deep in the box. Fredy Montero shot a header off a cross by Rosales, but Willis was able to use his left hand to stop it. Fernandez wheeled and hit in the loose ball for a 3-0 lead in the 60th minute.

The two assists gave Rosales 12 on the season and moved him into a tie with Los Angeles’ David Beckham for second place in the league.

Houston midfielder Brad Davis leads the league with 13 assists.

Rosales’ first assist broke the team record. Striker Montero held the previous record of 10 assists in 2010. Rosales has four goals and nine assists in the last 11 league games.

DC United (8-8-10) posed few threats. It put two shots on goal in the first half, one a header from forward Joseph Ngwenya that was saved by Sounders goalkeeper Kasey Keller.

United’s best chance came in the 72nd minute when Ngwenya came in alone on Keller and shot right.

Keller made a diving save on the short-side shot. Keller also made a diving save on Josh Wolff’s shot in the 80th minute.

Ngwenya (16th minute) and Seattle defender Tyson Wahl (41st minute) each received yellow cards in the first half. DC United midfielder Austin Da Luz received a yellow card in the second half (63rd minute).