(MENAFN- Arab Times) ATTLE July 20 (Agencies): Osvaldo Alonso scored early in the second half as the Seattle Sounders drew 3-3 with Premier League side Tottenham in a friendly Saturday the first match for new Spurs manager Mauricio Pochettino. Tottenham began its preseason North America tour facing former striker Clint Dempsey and his new club. Dempsey left Tottenham to sign with the Sounders last August.
Pochettino left Southampton in May to replace Tim Sherwood who was fired on May 13 after just five months on the job following Tottenham's sixth-place league finish. 'I want to congratulate our players because the conditions to play were very difficult Ai 1 p.m. and warm and a different field' Ponchettino said. 'And we play a very good team.' Alonso's goal off a loose ball zipped beat Brad Friedel and hit the underside of the crossbar before bouncing in the net. The goal gave Seattle a 2-1 lead but Roberto Soldado converted a penalty in the 55th. Tristan Bowen put the Sounders ahead 3-2 in the 79th minute when he tapped in a cross from Sean Okoli but United States defender DeAndre Yedlin was called for a handball in the penalty area moments later and Yago Falque converted the kick. The match played before 55349 was easily Seattle's most even friendly against Premier League opposition. Seattle lost 2-0 and 4-2 to Chelsea in 2009 and 2012 and was routed 7-0 by Manchester United in 2011. 'When we come on these tours we sometimes don't know what to expect' Friedel said. 'One thing was for certain when we knew we were going to expect a good atmosphere and playing against the best team in the MLS right now.' Lewis Holtby scored from a header in the 11th minute off a pass from Harry Kane. Gonzalo Pineda's chipped penalty kick beat Friedel in the 33rd minute to pull Seattle level after defender Chad Marshall was taken down in the penalty area on a corner kick. Tottenham played without goalkeeper Hugo Lloris midfielders Paulinho Mousa Dembele and Nacer Chadli and defender Jan Vertonghen who have been given a break after the World Cup. Gylfi Sigurdsson was dropped from the starting lineup shortly before kickoff. 'We've been working extremely hard. Preseason has been very demanding under the new boss and I think that showed' Friedel said. In related story Xander Bailey stood at midfield with Seattle star Clint Dempsey at his side Saturday waiting for kickoff against Tottenham. When the whistle blew the 18-year-old Bailey - a Make-A-Wish recipient from Greater Pennsylvania and West Virginia - took the pass from Dempsey dribbled down the field and took a shot on former U.S. national team goalkeeper Brad Friedel. He was then subbed off in front of 55349 to a massive ovation while being mobbed by Seattle teammates. 'To give him this opportunity is just fantastic. I saw the look in his eyes and you could just tell he was overwhelmed and he was so appreciative' Seattle coach Sigi Schmid said. 'It makes for a day I know he will never forget. Our guys wont' forget it either because it impacts us. We see what it means to him and being able to help in that regard and be part of that sort of situation is unique and special for us as well.' Also: HUELVA Spain: Barcelona's new coach Luis Enrique notched up a 1-0 win Saturday in his first game in charge a pre-season friendly against second division club Recreativo de Huelva. In the absence of star strikers Lionel Messi Neymar and new signing Luis Suarez Enrique gave a workout to substitutes and B-team youngsters such as Joan Roman 21 who scored Barca's 65th-minute winner. Seconds earlier Barcelona's returning first-team forward Gerard Deulofeu 20 had a powerful shot blocked by Huelva's goalkeeper Dani Sotres only for Roman to slam home the rebound from close range. Barcelona dominated possession over their Andalusian hosts but laboured to hit their target in the first half. In the second half Enrique changed the line-up introducing Deulofeu who has returned to the club after a season on loan to Everton. As well as his saved shot he hit the crossbar two minutes from full time after being played through by Ibrahim Afellay. The Catalan club's new goalkeeper German international Marc-Andre ter Stegen also played in the second half for his first game in a Barcelona strip. Enrique is overhauling the squad after a disappointing season in which Barcelona narrowly failed to defend their Spanish league title. Barcelona have said goodbye to stalwarts such as Carles Puyol goalkeeper Victor Valdes and midfielder Cesc Fabregas and have made several new signings. These include two new goalkeepers Ter Stegen and Claudio Bravo and Croatian midfielder Ivan Rakitic. The latter two did not play on Saturday. Argentine ace Messi and Brazil's Neymar were on holiday after playing for their countries in the World Cup. Uruguay's Suarez the club's latest star signing is serving a four-month FIFA ban for biting an opponent in the World Cup. Saturday's friendly match marked the 50th edition of the Colombino Trophy an annual fixture hosted by Huelva that celebrates its proud history as Spain's oldest football club.
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.