Michael Fucito and Alvaro Fernandez scored ten minutes apart late in the first half to put the Seattle Sounders on top of D.C. United 2-0 in the Pacific Northwest.
Fucito's 35th minute goal, his second of the season, was the result of a lightning-quick breakaway by the home side. Osvaldo Alonso headed down a bouncing ball in midfield to Brad Evans, who shrugged off a challenge from Clyde Simms and touched the ball over to Mauro Rosales. Rosales, in turn, let the ball run to Fucito, who turned Brandon McDonald brilliantly, raced into the penalty area, and slid the ball into the lower right corner of Joe Willis' net.
On the balance of play, Seattle deserved their lead, and the home side definitely had the batter of the first half opportunities. Fredy Montero had the first chance in the 6th minute, but could only head a James Riley cross high and wide from a tight angle under a challenge from Andy Najar. Four minutes before Fucito's goal, Alvaro Fernandez nearly redirected a cushion header from Tyson Wahl into the net, but failed to hit the target.
Seattle nearly doubled their lead just before the end of regular time in the first half when Montero ran onto a downfield punt from Kasey Keller, but dragged his shot wide of Willis' right post. Seconds later, the Sounders did double their lead when Ethan White's poor clearing header was tracked down by Rosales, who put Fernandez through on goal. The Uruguayan made no mistake, slipping the ball past Willis just before the whistle blew for halftime.