TUCSON, Ariz. - Andy Rose and Kevin Parsemain scored as Seattle Sounders FC finished the Tucson leg of preseason training with a 2-1 win over the Vancouver Whitecaps FC on Sunday at Kino Sports Complex.
Sounders FC has gone 3-0-1 over the first four matches of the 2014 preseason, posting wins against Vancouver (February 6 and 9) and San Jose (February 5), and playing to a scoreless draw against the Portland Timbers (February 8). Overall, Seattle has outscored its opponents 6-3 with one shutout.
Parsemain opened the scoring in the 23rd minute. Marco Pappa sent a cross to the far post that was cleared by Andy O'Brien. The ball fell to Parsemain just outside the 18-yard box and he struck a volley that beat Whitecaps goalkeeper David Ousted.
The strike marked the second goal of the preseason for Parsemain, who scored the game-winner against Vancouver last Thursday. Parsemain and Obafemi Martins lead the team in scoring with two goals each in preseason play.
Seattle added a second tally in the 50th minute when Chad Barrett's cross found Sean Okoli at the far post. Okoli headed it back to the near post where Rose headed the ball into the far side netting for a 2-0 lead. Rose has one goal and two assists in three preseason matches.
The Whitecaps pulled one goal back in the 78th minute when a corner kick from Nicolas Mezquida found Carlyle Mitchell in the box, and his header beat Josh Ford to the far post.
Vancouver earned a penalty kick in the 37th minute after Zach Scott was whistled for a foul in the box on Erik Hurtado. Russell Teibert stepped up but his penalty attempt sailed over the crossbar.
The Whitecaps had a pair dangerous opportunities late in the match. In the 77th minute, a mis-clearance fell to Mezquida in the box and he blasted a shot on frame that was stopped by a diving Ford. In the 82nd minute, Darren Mattocks got free on a breakaway but his low shot rolled wide of the far post.
Seattle's first chance of the match came in the third minute when Zach Scott whipped in a cross from the left flank to Chad Barrett, who snapped a header on goal from eight yards out that was saved by a diving Ousted.
Stefan Frei started and played the first 60 minutes in goal for Seattle, keeping a clean sheet before being replaced by Ford, who saw his first action of the 2014 preseason. Frei has allowed one goal in 150 minutes while Marcus Hahnemann allowed one goal in 180 minutes, including a shutout against Portland.
Sounders FC returns to Seattle on Sunday evening. The team will travel to Charleston, SC, on February 19 to participate in the Carolina Challenge Cup against the Charleston Battery, Houston Dynamo and D.C. United.
Scoring Summary
SEA - Kevin Parsemain 23'
SEA - Andy Rose (Sean Okoli, Chad Barrett) 50'
VAN - Carlyle Mitchell (Nicolas Mezquida) 78'
Seattle Sounders FC: Stefan Frei (Josh Ford 61'), Michael Azira (Dylan Remick 74'), Jalil Anibaba (Tarek Morad 61'), Damion Lowe (Jimmy Ockford 61'), Zach Scott (Aaron Kovar 61'), Sean Okoli (John Arroyo 61'), Andy Rose (Fabio Pereira 61'), Gonzalo Pineda (Alex Caskey 46'), Marco Pappa (Stefano Rijssel 46'; Dzenan Catic 74'), Chad Barrett (Miguel Gonzalez 61'), Kevin Parsemain (David Estrada 61').
Substitutes Not Used: Kenny Cooper, Eriq Zavaleta.
Vancouver Whitecaps FC: David Ousted (Marco Carducci 49'), Steven Beitashour (Solomon Kwambe 46'), Andy O'Brien (Jay DeMerit 46'), Christian Dean (Carlyle Mitchell 46'), Jordan Harvey (Sam Adekugbe 46'), Matt Watson (Sebastian Fernandez 46'), Nigel Reo-Coker (Gershon Koffie 46'; Aminu Abdallah 66'), Daigo Kobayashi (Nicolas Mezquida 46'), Russell Teibert (Ethen Sampson 46'), Ben Fisk (Omar Salgado 46'), Erik Hurtado (Darren Mattocks 46').
Substitutes Not Used: Simon Thomas, Andre Lewis, Adam Mena.
Misconduct Summary:
SEA - Chad Barrett (caution) 47'
SEA - David Estrada (caution) 76'
