Forwards Jaqua and Montero net two goals each in 4-0 victory over Vancouver Whitecaps
By Joshua Mayers
Sporting its signature, showstopping rave green uniforms, Sounders FC put on an impressive attacking display in its first-ever home game on the Xbox Pitch at Qwest Field.
Though the exhibition game was closed to the public, the Sounders FC players felt Sunday's 4-0 victory was a great first step in making the stadium feel like home.
"Just stick 25,000 in there and it's even better," team captain Kasey Keller said.
Seattle got two goals apiece from starting forwards Nate Jaqua and Fredy Montero and beat the Vancouver Whitecaps, a former Pacific Northwest rival from the United Soccer Leagues First Division.
"Obviously any time you can score four goals, you're happy with that," said Sounders FC coach Sigi Schmid.
Seattle opened the scoring in the 37th minute on a nice combination play from its two starting forwards. Montero, a 21-year-old Colombian, played a precise pass to the 6-foot-4 Jaqua, who controlled the ball on his chest and fired a 12-yard shot past the Vancouver goalkeeper.
Two minutes later, Jaqua added his second goal — his fifth of the exhibition season — on a rebound after Vancouver goalkeeper Jay Nolly saved a Sebastien Le Toux header right to Jaqua's feet in front of the net.
"We want to make [Qwest Field] our home and make this a home-field advantage for us every time we step on the field," said Jaqua, who could've walked the ball in for a third goal in the 63rd minute but instead passed to Le Toux, who was in an offside position.
Montero added two quick-strike goals in the second half to up his exhibition goal total to a team-leading seven. His first came in the 66th minute on a pass from Roger Levesque and his second, in the 68th minute, was unassisted.
Keller played all 90 minutes in goal for just the second time in the exhibition season and made two saves.
"It's all about home, feeling comfortable in your home environment, being able to have these games and knowing that you won your first outing against a decent Vancouver team comfortably," Keller said. "That's what it's all about and so we feel great about the effort today."
NOTES
• The Sounders FC starters were Keller in goal; defenders James Riley, Nathan Sturgis, Taylor Graham, Tyrone Marshall; midfielders Brad Evans, Osvaldo Alonso, Sanna Nyassi, Le Toux; forwards Jaqua, Montero.
• Every Sounders FC starter Sunday except Montero is under contract with the team.
• No roster moves were made available.
