Sounders outclassed by Chelsea

SEATTLE — For only the second time this season, Seattle Sounders FC lost by two goals, but no one in green was hanging his head in shame when the final whistle sounded.

European power Chelsea FC won Saturday afternoon’s friendly 2-0, but despite the score, Seattle played the Blues fairly even for much of the 90 minutes.

“I was really impressed with the way the guys played,” Sounders FC goalkeeper Kasey Keller said. “(Chelsea) had a world all-star team out there, and I think until they scored the goal, I kind of felt that we were probably the more dangerous team. Obviously we didn’t sit back and try to defend. We wanted to attack and make it entertaining for everybody here. And I thought we did a very, very good job and we were unlucky not to get a goal or two in the game.”

On a postcard perfect afternoon, with 65,289 on hand to see Major League Soccer’s new model franchise take on an English Premier League giant, no one seemed too disappointed by the final result.

“I think we showed we play well,” said Sounders FC midfielder Freddie Ljungberg, who like Keller played most of his professional career in England. “Even some of the Chelsea boys told us after the game that we played good football, and they were impressed how we played.”

Ultimately, however, Chelsea was noticeably better when it counted most, scoring two first-half goals despite Seattle applying pressure for much of the half. Daniel Sturridge, a 19-year-old signed by Chelsea this offseason, beat Tyrone Marshall and curled a shot to the far post for a goal in the 12th minute.

In the 35th minute, Frank Lampard fired in a point-blank shot on a cross from Nicolas Anelka. And as well as Seattle played for much of the game, it was those moments that showed the difference between the two teams.

“The thing with them is they got two chances and they finished them, or three chances and they finished two of the three,” Marshall said. “They get paid the big bucks and that’s why. We had opportunities to at least get one on the board, I thought. We got a couple clear chances and that’s the difference — they finished their chances and that’s why they’re in the big leagues and we just need to get better. And there you see the difference between the Premier League and where we need to be.”

But despite the score, Seattle felt it represented American soccer well against one of the world’s best teams.

“They have all those players, top players from their national teams,” said midfielder Steve Zakuani, who grew up in London. “So for us, in this league, on this side of the pond, to play against them 45 minutes, 90 minutes, and hang with them, I think it speaks volumes.”

Seattle used its regular starters — minus Brad Evans who is with the U.S. National team — for the first half. Chelsea, which was playing the first game of a preseason U.S. tour, had most of its top players in for the first 45 minutes as well. And both teams substituted liberally in the second half, allowing as many players to see the field as possible.

“I wanted to get guys in to play in this game for sure because it’s a unique opportunity for a lot of our players,” Sounders FC coach Sigi Schmid said.

Schmid, like so many others, continues to be impressed with the growing passion for the game in the area.

“I got up this morning at 8 o’clock,” he said. “And as I went to get my dry cleaning, as I was walking from my apartment to pick it up, around the corner comes a guy in full Sounders regalia with his Emerald City scarf around his neck and he was already ready for the game. I don’t think you’re going to find that in any other city in America that is something unique to Seattle.”

Herald Writer John Boyle: jboyle@heraldnet.com.