Soccer fans in the Pacific Northwest are already counting the days until the Seattle Sounders kick off their first MLS season. Now comes word that there will be even more to look forward to in the land of Starbucks and Grey's Anatomy.
The Sounders will play host to English power Chelsea on July 18th at Qwest Field, marking the first major international club to travel to Seattle to face the new MLS club.
Seattle begins inaugural season on March 19th at home against the New York Red Bulls.
Zach Wells Retires
D.C. United goalkeeper Zach Wells has retired at the ripe old age of 27.
The move isn't a complete surprise. I can recall having lunch with Wells during his final year with the MetroStars (back in 2005) and hearing him contemplate just how long he would realistically chase the dream of professional soccer. A year later he was traded to the San Jose Earthquakes (for Jon Conway just before the club moved to Houston), which helped rejuvenate Wells and even earn him a U.S. national team call-up.
After two seasons and two MLS Cup titles with the Dynamo as Pat Onstad's back-up, Wells moved on to D.C. United, where he struggled to establish himself as a dependable starter, which led the club to sign Louis Crayton. That demotion, coupled with a lingering foot injury, ultimately led Wells to call it a career.
Sans stars, Galaxy set to kick off
David Beckham and Landon Donovan are both in Germany right now, but that won't stop the Los Angeles Galaxy from kicking off its 2009 campaign tonight. Bruce Arena's club takes on Japanese club Oita Trinita tonight at Home Depot Center 11pm, Fox Soccer Channel) in its opening match of the 2009 Pan Pacific Championship.
The four-team tournament features teams from Japan, South Korea and China. The Suwon Bluewings face Shandong Luneng Taishan FC in the tournament's opening match.
The tournament is the second installment of the PPC, which Japanese champions Gamba Osaka won convincingly in 2008.
What do you think of these stories? Are you excited to know that Chelsea is heading to Seattle? Still surprised to see Zach Wells retire? Do you have any interest in the Pan Pacific Championship?
Share your thoughts below.