While it's far too early to say for certain that the Seattle Sounders have erased any doubts about their ability to overcome the loss of Steve Zakuani and O'Brian White, the team went a long way towards maintaining their status as one of the better teams in MLS with an emphatic 3-0 thumping of Toronto FC at Qwest Field in Seattle. The Sounders got on the board early thanks to a 10th minute headed goal from Alvaro Fernandez, starting in place for the injured Zakuani, set up by a perfectly placed cross from Brad Evans. Evans stole the show on an emotional night at Qwest, grabbing the Sounders' second in the 52nd minute and sealing the victory with a converted penalty in the 75th. ]
Alvaro Fernandez and Tyson Wahl were a dangerous pairing on the left flank, Wahl wreaking havoc with marauding overlapping runs and Fernadez providing excellent service all game long in addition to his opening goal. In truth there wasn't a player in rave green that didn't have a game that could be described as poor, and though Toronto had the edge in possession according to the official game statistics (53% for the Reds to 47% for Seattle) that was a misleading number as the visitors rarely looked at all a threat to trouble the Sounders back line with Kasey Keller forced into just two fairly routing saves on the evening. Toronto's most promising attack came near the half-hour mark when Javier Martina found the ball in space and charged in on goal only to have the chance thwarted by a well-executed challenge by Wahl just as Martina squared to shoot. The majority of Toronto's possession came when they were pinned deep in their own half while the Sounders put constant pressure on Stefan Frei, putting 9 of their 18 shots on target.
It was the most dominant performance from Seattle this season by far and the sharpest the team has looked since the height of their strong run that began towards the middle of last season. It was a different tactical approach from Seattle, with Friberg and Evans switching positions freely and creating confusion amongst the Toronto back line and Wahl and Riley's storming runs giving the team an almost 3-5-2 feel in the attack. Seattle were superior in every phase of the game and the win extended the teams undefeated streak to six games.The lopsided scoreline gave Sigi Schmid the opportunity to use all three of his substitutions before the 80th minute, giving several key players a short night.
Seattle will face DC United at RFK Stadium on Wednesday, May 4th. Midfielder Mauro Rosales, who missed Saturday's game with a minor hamstring injury is expected to be fit in time for the Sounders' clash with DC, who lost 4-1 to the Houston Dynamo at Robertson Stadium on Friday the 29th.