Sounders FC Plays Pair of Preseason Friendlies in Marbella, Spain

January 28, 2023 – Major League Soccer (MLS) – Seattle Sounders FC News Release

Seattle Sounders FC in Marbella, Spain
(Seattle Sounders FC)

MARBELLA, SPAIN – Sounders FC on Saturday played a pair of preseason friendlies at the Dama de Noche Football Pitches, drawing 0-0 with Austrian club Wolfsberger AC before falling 3-2 to Swedish side Hammarby IF. Fredy Montero and Georgi Minoungou scored in the second fixture for the Rave Green, who continue preseason training camp in Marbella, Spain before heading to Tangier, Morocco to kick off its 2023 campaign on Saturday, February 4 at the FIFA Club World Cup.

In the first match against Wolfsberger, Sounders FC came out with a strong starting XI and engaged in a tight, cagey match against the Austrian topflight club. Nico Lodeiro and Jordan Morris combined for a few chances throughout the match, while Stefan Frei and a backline of Alex Roldan, Yeimar Gómez Andrade, Jackson Ragen and Nouhou kept a clean sheet. Freshly-signed Tacoma Defiance midfielder Antonio Herrera came on a substitute late in the second half, making his first competitive appearance with the First Team.

For the second match, Head Coach Brian Schmetzer deployed a reserve-heavy squad against Hammarby, as the two sides played an open, back-and-forth affair. Midfielder João Paulo made his return to the pitch after suffering a torn ACL last season, playing 45 minutes in central midfield alongside offseason signing Sota Kitahara. Montero opened the scoring in the 37th minute with an impressive, curling strike from the left side that tucked inside the far post, on an assist from Héber. After surrendering a pair of goals to go down 2-1, Defiance midfielder Minoungou equalized in the 72nd minute, pouncing on a rebound and blasting a first-time strike into the far side netting. Hammarby found a late winner in the 87th minute, as Jusef Erabi completed his brace.

Sounders FC continues camp this week at the Marbella Football Center before departing for Tangier on Thursday, February 2 for the FIFA Club World Cup. The Rave Green play either Auckland City (New Zealand) or Al Ahly SC (Egypt) on Saturday, February 4 at 9:30 a.m. PT in Tangier, with the winner of that match advancing to play Spanish powerhouse Real Madrid on February 8 at 11:00 a.m. PT in Rabat, Morocco. Seattle’s MLS regular season campaign kicks off on February 26 against the Colorado Rapids at 5:00 p.m. PT on the Emerald Queen Casino Pitch at Lumen Field.

MATCH SUMMARY VS. WOLFSBERGER…