Reigning Norwegian champion Rosenborg BK capitalized on two early opportunities en route to a 3-0 defeat of the Sounders FC in the opening round of the La Manga Cup II, a match which ended in a wind and rainstorm on Thursday night.
Rosenborg, also the defending tournament champion and a three-time La Manga winner, scored twice in the first 18 minutes, then added a third midway through the second period.
The Norwegians, backed by a hundred or so traveling supporters, pounced on their first opportunity, coming 67 seconds after the first kick. A quick exchange between Rade Price and Garrard Aaren near the top of the box freed Morten Moldskred on the right side and Moldskred beat Kasey Keller with a low, 15-yard drive to the left post.
Fredy Montero launched the first Seattle shot in the 7th minute, striking a 25-yard ball which keeper Daniel Orlund stopped at the right post. Six minutes later, Montero nearly equalized by pressuring Orlund, who had the ball at his feet. Orlund's attempted clearance was blocked by Montero and caromed wide left.
Prica was unable to take full advantage of a Tyrone Marshall slip in the 10th minute but in the 18th Per Ciljan Skjelbred made no mistake. Jhon Kennedy Hurtado lost his footing on an attempted clearance and Skjelbred collected the loose ball and looped a 25-yard shot off a defender and into the upper right corner, making it 2-nil.
Sounders FC, playing two days after a 26-hour trip from SeaTac to southern Spain, stayed in contention, thanks to two stops by Keller. The keeper made a diving stop of Prica from 12 yards in the 30th minute and another on a Prica side-foot volley from an Aaren corner during first half stoppage time.
Rain began to fall late in the half and within the first 15 minutes of the second half it became a driving rain with a gale force wind coming off the Mediterranean and into Seattle's attacking face. By the 60th minute all of the Sounders FC starters had been lifted and Rosenborg's starters remained.
Prica finally got his goal in the 67th minute. Chris Eylander, who had replaced Keller in goal at the half, was unable to punch clear a left-wing cross from Aaren and Prica easily slotted home the rebound.
Seattle's reserves applied pressure on a consistent basis. Roger Levesque levied three shots near or on the target in the second half, the closest skipping inches wide of the left post in the 82nd minute.
Sounders FC faces Norway's Stabak on Sunday at 3 p.m. local (6 a.m. PT) in the second round of the La Manga Cup II. Denmark's FC Norsjalland defeated Stabak, 1-0, on Thursday and will face Rosenborg in one semifinal.
Scoring Summary
ROS-Moldskred (Aaren) 2'
ROS-Skjelbred 18'
ROS-Prica 67'
Seattle Sounders FC Lineup (4-4-2): Kasey Keller (Chris Eylander 46); James Riley (Zach Scott 60, Tyrone Marshall (Patrick Ianni 46), Jhon Kennedy Hurtado (Jamel Wallace 60), Tyson Wahl (Leo Gonzalez 60); Sanna Nyassi (David Estrada 46), Osvaldo Alonso (Stephen King 60), Peter Vagenas (Nathan Sturgis 46), Lamar Neagle (Rayner 46); Freddie Ljungberg (Roger Levesque 46), Fredy Montero (Tye Pardido 46).
Rosenborg BK Lineup (4-4-2): Daniel Orlund, Mikael Lustig, Vadim Demidov, Kris Stadsgaard, Mikael Dorsin, Morten Moldskred, Gerrard Aaren, Per Ciljan Skjelbred, Anthony Annan, Steffen Iversen (Abdeu Traore 65), Rade Prica (Mushafa Bahinga 78).
Throw-ins: Two scarf-wearing Sounders FC season ticket holders made the trip to La Manga. Also attending the match was the club's new broadcaster, Arlo White. Left winger Steve Zakuani, who underwent offseason shoulder surgery, has not been cleared to play in matches and was unavailable. The others not in uniform were defender Taylor Graham and midfielder Michael Fucito.

