The Seattle Sounders hit the ground running with Lamar Neagle sending in a low shot that Will Hesmer couldn't handle in the 4th minute. In the 16th minute, Mike Fucito turned away from a throw-in and Rich Balchan was unable to get his hands out of the way, giving Seattle a penalty that Mauro Rosales cooly converted. Less than five minutes later James Riley sent a gorgeous cross to Lamar Neagle who volleyed home his second. And just before the half Mike Fucito gathered a loose ball at the edge of the box and fired in another from a tight angle.
The first three came within the space of 17 minutes, a new record for the Sounders. As the teams walked off the pitch at the end of the Crew looked punch-drunk while the Sounders looked equally stunned. There are still 45 minutes to play and the Crew could, theoretically, make things interesting but given the way both teams have looked so far it seems just as likely the Sounders will tack on another four. This is Seattle at their very best today, and the Crew were pretty clearly not prepared to handle it.