Chelsea doubles up Sounders in exhibition

SEATTLE – Young Belgian striker Romelu Lukaku scored twice in the first half, Chelsea newcomers Eden Hazard and Marko Marin scored deflected goals, and the soccer champions of Europe opened their American tour with a 4-2 win over the Seattle Sounders on Wednesday.

Lukaku muscled his way to a goal in the third minute of the international exhibition then scored his second goal in the final minute of the first half. It was the first match for Chelsea since the Blues beat Bayern Munich in May to win their first Champions League crown.

Seattle’s Fredy Montero scored a pair of goals in the first half, but the Sounders missed a number of good scoring chances early and had few offensive opportunities in the second half.

Unlike last year’s 7-0 rout against Manchester United, the Sounders made this match respectable and at times controlled the offensive chances. Alvaro Fernandez and Eddie Johnson both had missed headers off corner kicks and Fernandez’s open shot in the 24th minute was punched wide by Henrique Hilario.