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United-Sounders Preview

Jun 11, 2010 - 12:05 AM By MATT BECKER STATS Senior Writer

D.C. (2-8-1) at Seattle (4-5-3), 10:00 p.m. EDT

The Seattle Sounders have had a difficult time duplicating the home-field success they enjoyed last season, but they feel their latest win at Qwest Field is a step in the right direction.

The Sounders look to build on their highest-scoring game of the year in their final match before the World Cup break Thursday night when they meet a D.C. United club also coming off a strong performance.

As an expansion team in 2009, Seattle benefited from a raucous atmosphere at Qwest Field with crowds regularly exceeding 30,000. The club lost twice in 15 games in Seattle last season but has opened 2010 with three defeats in six home matches.

The Sounders (4-5-3) had four goals at home before Leo Gonzalez, Steve Zakuani and Fredy Montero scored in a 3-0 win over New England on Saturday. Gonzalez's goal in the 5th minute snapped Seattle's home-scoring drought of 271 minutes.

The Sounders, who notched their first home win since April 17, played with much more urgency and set a franchise record with 19 shots.

"We want to make this a tough place for teams to play," coach Sigi Schmid said. "I think we made it that way (Saturday). So it does a lot for our spirit, it does a lot for our confidence. It just does an awful lot for the morale and it was good to win and score some fine goals."

Seattle, which played to a 3-all draw against D.C. at home last year, is trying to win back-to-back games for the first time this season.

"We put a lot on our plate with these last two games at home," Schmid said. "We want to get our record to .500 before we go on the break."

United (2-8-1) are tied with Philadelphia for fewest points in the league with seven and with New England for the most goals allowed at 20, but they arrive in Seattle after an impressive scoreless tie against Real Salt Lake on Saturday.

D.C. held the defending MLS Cup champs to one shot on goal to record its first shutout. It has earned four points in the last two games after notching three in the first nine.

"We're making good progress and we're going to build on it," coach Curt Onalfo said. "We just have to stay positive, stay the course, and keep improving."

Although D.C. is playing better, its last two games have come at RFK Stadium. United have been outscored 10-2 in losing all four of their road games.

"Playing on the road brings different aspects to the game, but we're ready for it and we have a mentally tough group," Onalfo said.