Behind two goals each from Steve Zakuani and Nate Jaqua, the Sounders FC defeated the Ventura County Fusion 6-1 in a training match at Buena High School in Ventura, California.
VENTURA, Calif. - The Sounders FC improved to 3-0 Wednesday with a 6-1 win over the Ventura County Fusion at Buena High School in Ventura, Calif. Seattle got two goals each from Steve Zakuani and Nate Jaqua and single tallies from Fredy Montero and Roger Levesque to earn their third win in as many nights.
The Sounders FC utilized their speed up front and on the wings and got balls to Jaqua to distribute from the target forward position.
Seattle erupted for five first half goals, getting two before the Fusion, who are in their third season in the Premier Development League – the fourth division in the US, knew what hit them.
In the 7th minute, Montero fielded a pass from non-roster invitee Lamar Neagle and whipped it into the net for his second goal of the preseason, knocking this one home from 17 yards out.
Zakuani followed that up in the 9th minute, working his way up the middle and firing away from 18 yards out for the 2-0 lead.
Seattle’s only folly of the game came in the 13th minute when Ventura County forward Arthur Aghaysyan broke free up the right side and snuck a shot past goalkeeper Chris Eylander – who played the full 90 minutes.
That one-goal margin didn’t stay that way long.
In the 21st minute Brad Evans took a shot from about 40 yards out right into a crowd of players. The ball ricocheted into the air and landed at the feet of Jaqua, who found Zakuani just behind him and the 21-year-old draftee knocked it in for his second goal of the night and third of the preseason.
Then Jaqua showed his own scoring touch, scoring twice in a two-minute span before the halftime whistle.
In the 43rd minute, Montero turned his defender to the sideline and crossed the ball to the front of the goal. Zakuani headed it down to Jaqua, who thumped it into the net for a 4-1 lead.
One minute later, Jaqua knocked in a cross from non-roster invitee Lamar Neagle to propel the Sounders FC into the half with a 5-1 lead.
"The guys are getting to know each other a little bit better. The movement of the ball is pretty good. The quickness of Zakuani and Fredy Montero creates some problems," Head Coach Sigi Schmid said. "When we had opportunities we used them and were very decisive."
The second half saw the Sounders FC continue their control of the ball, though they were only able to capitalize with one more score. That came in the 83rd minute when non-roster invitee Jeff Clark passed to Levesque with a looping ball into the penalty area. Levesque squared up and volleyed a lob shot into the top corner of the net for a goal, his second of the preseason.
The Sounders FC head to San Luis Obispo, Calif., for a Friday meeting with the San Jose Earthquakes. They return to Seattle Saturday and will resume training there next week.
