TUKWILA, Wash. — An unseasonably sunny and mild day met the Seattle Sounders as they returned to training Wednesday at Starfire. The only thing missing was most of the first-team players.
International absences meant that five of the Sounders regulars were scattered around the globe, as they prepare for the latest round of World Cup Qualifying. Injuries and recuperation from Sunday’s match against the Vancouver Whitecaps saw most of those left behind inside, and thus unable to take in the rare November sun. Such was the state of the available trainees that coach Brian Schmetzer dipped into the Tacoma Defiance roster to help make up the numbers.