Sounders FC ready for first exhibition - Seattle Times
OXNARD, Calif. — Three weeks of training have come and gone, and today brings with it yet another first.
Sounders FC will face gamelike conditions for the first time in its history, as Seattle will take part in a scrimmage against the Los Angeles Galaxy in Major League Soccer exhibition action this afternoon at the Home Depot Center complex in Carson, Calif.
To this point, Sounders FC players have only gone against each other in 25-minute halves of a full 11-on-11 game. Now they face guys they don't know very well in what will be a closed and controlled 90-minute scrimmage.
"Finally," midfielder Brad Evans said. "That's the only word to describe it, just finally. We played some 11-versus-11 back in Seattle but it's been a good, solid three weeks of training now, just about, so I know that these guys are excited to get on the field and play a little 11-versus-11 proper game with 45-minute halves and see what we can do."
Coach Sigi Schmid said he'll probably play one group of 11 players for the first half and then another 11 in the second half. There's a possibility that coaches will push a few players to 60 minutes before substituting. Schmid expects Galaxy coach Bruce Arena to do the same.