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Sounders post road win over Toronto

Apr 5, 2009 - 12:04 AM Freddie Ljungberg's first MLS start went better than expected. That sounds a lot like the Seattle Sounders' debut season so far.

Ljungberg scored his first MLS goal, Kasey Keller recorded his third consecutive shutout and the expansion Sounders remained perfect with a 2-0 victory over Toronto FC on Saturday.

"It was a perfect scenario for me," Ljungberg said. "I couldn't have written it better. It's nice to score in my first game as a starter in MLS."

Steve Zakuani also scored for Seattle (3-0-0), which has yet to allow a goal.

"In my dreams I thought we could be 3-0," Sounders coach Sigi Schmid said. "Sometimes dreams come true."

Seattle, which opened the year with home victories over New York and Real Salt Lake, had expected a tougher test in its first road game. Toronto, however, did little to impress the sellout crowd of 20,658 that braved cold, windy conditions to attend the team's home opener.

It was the first loss for Toronto (1-1-1), which beat Kansas City two weeks ago before tying Columbus last Saturday.

Toronto coach John Carver called his team's performance "a disgrace."

"Every single one of (the players) I was disappointed in," Carver said. "I'm making no excuses, I'm not going to defend anybody today."

Seattle played without leading scorer Fredy Montero, who did not travel to Toronto because of what the team said was flu-like symptoms. However, the King County prosecutor's office in Seattle confirmed Friday that it is reviewing a woman's report that Montero raped her twice last month.

Ljungberg, a Swedish star who missed the start of the season following hip surgery in December, made his MLS debut in last Saturday's win over Real Salt Lake, coming on as a second-half substitute and playing nearly 30 minutes.

He played 78 minutes in this one, leaving shortly after falling heavily inside the Toronto penalty area while jockeying with TFC defender Adrian Serioux.

Ljungberg opened the scoring in the 15th minute with a clever give-and-go move with forward Nate Jaqua, racing past Serioux and into the penalty box to collect the return pass and fire it beyond goalkeeper Greg Sutton.

"We tried to get me in between the midfield and the striker position so I could turn and use my pace in the passing," Ljungberg said. "I had a one-two with Nate and tried to finish on the first touch because I thought the goalie would be coming out and maybe wouldn't be able to react."

Zakuani doubled Seattle's lead just before halftime. Ljungberg's cross from the right side was played to Jaqua, whose shot was blocked by Toronto defender Marvell Wynne. The loose ball fell to Zakuani, who blasted his second goal of the season.

Keller, last week's MLS player of the week, faced only three shots on goal.

"I can't do it without guys willing to put their bodies on the line for 90 minutes and that's exactly what everybody is doing," Keller said. "Guys are really working extremely hard to make sure that we don't concede goals and, if we continue with that attitude, we have a very good chance of having a very good season."

Sounders minority owner Drew Carey attended the game, leaning out of his box to wave a team scarf after each goal.