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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Sounders draw with United, finish preseason unbeaten

Don Ruiz Tacoma News Tribune

CHARLESTON, S.C. – Seattle Sounders FC ended its preseason without a loss, but also without a cup.

That seemed to suit coach Sigi Schmid after his team played to a 2-2 draw with D.C. United on Saturday at Blackbaud Stadium in Charleston. The result gave the Carolina Challenge Cup to United, which matched the Sounders’ 1-0-2 record in the tournament but won on goal differential.

“We don’t want to lose games, so that’s something there,” Schmid said. “But I’m not happy with the fact that we took two goals tonight.”

United took its first lead in the eighth minute on a Fabian Espindola penalty kick after Chad Marshall was whistled for a hand ball.

Seattle (6-0-3 preseason) equalized in the 24th minute when Kenny Cooper headed home his first goal as a Sounder.

“(Dylan Remick) put in a great ball,” Cooper said. “He got forward and put a great ball in, and fortunately it ended up in the back of the net.”

D.C. jumped ahead in the 53rd minute when Espindola’s cross was volleyed in by Perry Kitchen.

Seattle tied it again when Marco Pappa scored on a pass from Brad Evans.

“I thought our midfield did all right,” Schmid said. “I thought Evans and (Osvaldo) Alonso did well together in the middle.”

Earlier in the week, Schmid had said this lineup would probably be “a close approximation” of the actual first 11 he might start next weekend in the Major League Soccer opener against Sporting Kansas City. The lineup he chose had Stefan Frei in goal, defenders DeAndre Yedlin, Jalil Anibaba, Chad Marshall and Remick; midfielders Lamar Neagle, Alonso, Evans and Pappa; and forwards Cooper and Obafemi Martins.

Yedlin left the game with an ankle injury, but Schmid said it wasn’t believed to be serious.

D.C. United gave former Sounder Eddie Johnson the night off.