New goalkeeper Michael Gspurning had his first workouts as a Sounder in Arizona last week. / Drew McKenzie, Sportspress Northwest

Having spent nine days in Arizona engaged in intensive training, the Seattle Sounders will take the next few days off before heading to Florida for a series of five exhibition matches designed to get the club ready for its CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinal against Mexico’s Santos Laguna.

Four are in Florida: vs. Orlando City SC Monday, followed by the Columbus Crew Feb. 15, the U-17 men’s national team Feb. 16, and Florida Gulf Coast University Feb. 19. All games will take place at the IMG Academy in Bradenton.

Seattle’s fifth match is Feb. 22 in Cancun, Mexico, against Atlante FC, a Mexican Primera Division team. All five matches are friendlies.

“There’s only so much you can do because we can’t replicate a league schedule,” Sounders coach Sigi Schmid said in a conference call this week. “What we’ve got to try to do is create some games that will replicate the intensity that (our players are) going to have as they go into that game with Santos Laguna.”

Schmid also said the club is trying to schedule one more exhibition match, which would be held at CenturyLink, prior to the Santos Laguna game, slated for March 7. The Sounders will also play Santos in Torreon, Mexico March 14 before returning to Seattle March 17 to open the Major League Soccer season against Toronto FC.

Meanwhile, the Sounders announced Wednesday that a match scheduled against Real Salt Lake for July 18 at CenturyLink Field has been moved to Wednesday, Oct. 17. Start time and broadcast information will be announced later.

The Sounders also said that the game Saturday, Sept. 8 versus Chivas USA will start at 1 p.m.

Seattle Sounders FC Updated 2012 MLS Schedule

Date Opponent Time TV W/L Score Rec.
3/17 Toronto FC 7:00 KING
3/23 Houston 7:00 NBCSN
3/31 San Jose 7:00 KING
4/7 at DC United 4:30 KING
4/14 Colorado 1:00 KING
4/28 at Chicago 5:30 KING
5/2 LA Galaxy 7:00 KING
5/5 Philadelphia 1:00 NBCSN
5/9 at FC Dallas 5:30 KING
5/12 Real SL 7:00 KING
5/19 at Vancouver 1:00 KING
5/23 Columbus 7:00 KING
5/26 at Chivas 7:30 KING
6/16 at Montreal 4:30 KING
6/20 Sport KC 7:00 KING
6/24 at Portland 2:00 ESPN
6/30 vs. New England 4:30 KING
7/4 at RSL 7:00 KING
7/7 Colorado 8:00 NBCSN
7/15 at New York 1:00 ESPN
7/28 at Colorado 6:00 KING
8/5 LA Galaxy 7:00 ESPN2
8/11 at San Jose 7:30 KING
8/18 Vancouver 1:00 KING
8/25 at Chivas 7:30 KING
9/2 at FC Dallas 4:00 KING
9/8 Chivas 1:00 KING
9/15 at Portland 12:30 NBC
9/23 San Jose 7:00 KING
9/29 at Vancouver 6:00 NBCSN
10/7 Portland 6:00 ESPN
10/17 RSL TBD TBD
10/21 FC Dallas 6:00 ESPN
10/28 at LA Galaxy 6:00 ESPN


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4 Comments

  1. That’s a low blow, NFL.  Here’s an idea, how about we sell our team?  Then you won’t just be without your token laughingstock, but all the money from all the ‘Hawks die-hard fans as well.  Screw you, and screw the Raiders and all the money they paid those stinkin’ refs.  Now give us our Heisman.