The Sounders trained at Qwest Field this morning, and the injury updates were generally good.

Both Freddie Ljungberg and Brad Evans said they expect to play Saturday against Columbus, assuming no setbacks. (Ljungberg, in fact, appeared to be feeling very good. He celebrated loudly when putting a volley into the back of the net, and then ended practice by filling in in goal.

Meanwhile, coach Sigi Schmid said that Zach Scott’s lower abdominal strain likely will not land him on the injured reserve as previously assumed.

Schmid also said that Osvaldo Alondo (quadriceps strain) is coming along

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The Columbus Crew will arrive at Qwest Field on Saturday fresh from a 2-1 win Wednesday against the San Jose Earthquakes.

However, the apparently came at the price of

defensive midfielder Brian Carroll, who suffered what the team doctor called a “significant” injury to his right shoulder. He will be evaluated today, but surgery that could sideline him for months is considered likely.

Here’s the MLS web report.

It’s not quite Barca-ManU, but the Chicago Fire and Chivas USA will meet tonight in a rare pairing of MLS conference leaders … and, of course, a game with Sounders implications.

With Seattle at home vs. slow-starting Columbus this weekend, there is every chance to pick up a needed two or three points in the standings, depedning on tonight’s result.

Kickoff is a 7:30 p.m. and the game will be shown on ESPN2.

Here’s a pregame release sent out by MLS:

For just the fifth time in a decade, two teams in sole possession of

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If you’re planning to follow the Sounders down to their (big) game at Chivas on June 6 or their (Beckham)game at the Galaxy, you are invited to contact a group called SoCal Sound. It’s an LA-based Sounders supporters group (regional sub-group of Emerald City Supporters) that is aimed at bringing big crowds to all Sounders games in LA.

Here’s some of the info I received from them:

We strive for a lively, but family-friendly atmosphere, singing, standing, beating our drum, and waving our scarves whether our boys are winning, losing, or tied. We require no membership dues,

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The Sounders don’t practice today, so my plan is to keep this blog post open most of the day for anyone who wants to discuss ManU-Barca. And I’ll keep the result out of the headline, so there’s less chance of spoiling it for those who are taping the game. But, of course, once you click in, the result will be included.

The UEFA championship game kicked off on ESPN at 11:45 a.m.

Here’s the ESPN page, which includes just about any info you might like.

I’m not a particular fan of either team; but I guess

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Here’s my game story.

The Sounders started only four players who started Saturday at Colorado. And coach Sigi Schmid said he wouldn’t have started that many except for a series of injuries that forced him to. (Good news: Freddie Ljungberg expected back Saturday; bad news: Taylor Graham on injured list with foot injury and out at least six weeks.)

However, even at that, Schmid said that moving into the main portion of the U.S. Open Cup was important to him.

“It matters,” he said. “It’s been a while since I’ve been able to be in the U.S. Open Cup because when I got to Columbus the team hadn’t made the playoffs the year before, and we got knocked out in the play-in game, and we got knocked out in the play-in game in year two. And then last year we thought we were going to get in and we got knocked out in the second play-in game by Chicago on penalty kicks in the end of the game. So it was real frustrating, because I wanted to get back in the tournament. But for us, starting starters was really out of necessity.”

Now he’s back in … although the Sounders won’t return to Cup play until on or around June 30, with site and opponent yet to be determined. (elmocatt has more information in the comments section below… thanks EC.)

I thought the best player on the field today was Sanna Nyassi, who posed many threats speeding down the right side.

However, his prime contribution ended up being a long throw in that Roger Levesque sent on to Kevin Forrest, who scored the game’s lone goal.

“To be honest, I didn’t have that great of a game,” Forrest said. “But you just go out, and Sigi always tells me it’s just thinking, thinking ahead, thinking at a faster pace, and that’s what I’m working on. It wasn’t a great game, but you just keep going, keep improving, keep working. It’s nice to contribute. That’s the biggest thing for the team.”

Here’s Levesque’s take on the throw-in that started it all:

“I think everyone on the field, including our entire team, was surprised that Senna had a long throw. I’ve never seen it in practice before, but he stepped up, chucked it in the box, and I was standing at the right place at the right time, just trying to get anything I could on it to direct it to the goal, Kevin Forrest came in, made a strong run right to the center of the goal and was in the right place at the right time and had a great finish on it. I don’t think there was anything Preston could have done about it.”

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Fans — presumably Sounders fans — are voting Seattle Sounders FC players to nine of the top 11 all-star positions after two weeks of voting.

The only non-Sounders currently in First XI positions are Toronto’s Dwayne DeRosario and LA’s Landon Donovan. The nine Sounders are Kasey Keller, Freddie Ljungberg, Fredy Montero, Osvaldo Alonso, Tyrone Marshall, Jhon Kennedy Hurtado, Steve Zakuani, Sebastien Le Toux and Brad Evans.

Here’s the full story from MLSnet.com.

One thing we know for sure is that the Sounders run of draws will end Tuesday night, when they meet the Colorado Rapids at Starfire. It’s the U.S. Open Cup, and that’s a tournament, and that demands a result. So it’s regulation; followed by a 30-minute overtime, if necessary; followed by PKs, if necessary.

That’s the topic of my preview story in the Tuesday paper. But meanwhile, here are the ways — all different — that three of the Sounders’ top offensive players approach PKs:

Fredy Montero: "I just prepare, pick a spot and just hit it."
…

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