Sounders blank Lynx for first win of season

After just learning that forward Maykel Galindo would be out eight to 10 weeks after already missing two weeks, the Seattle Sounders needed extra help up front.

They got it almost immediately.

Jamal Sutton and Craig Tomlinson stepped to the forefront a day after Galindo had surgery to repair forehead and sinus fractures as a result of a collision during the Chivas USA match on May 7.

Galindo was initially expected to miss two to four weeks.

Sutton scored early and Tomlinson tallied late as the Sounders (1-3-1 overall, 1-2-1 USL First Division) broke through for a 2-0 win — their first of the season — over the struggling Toronto Lynx (0-4-0) on Saturday night at Qwest Field.

"We found out in practice on Thursday about Maykel, and it was kind of a downer," Sutton said. "But we knew we had to step it up."

It took just a little more than three minutes for Sutton to make a difference.

Sutton, who signed with Seattle after two seasons with the Columbus Crew of Major League Soccer, tallied his first USL goal when he wheeled and fired left-footed into the left corner of the net from 12 yards out in third minute. It was Seattle's earliest home tally since Brian Ching scored in the second minute on Aug. 10, 2002, against Milwaukee.

"I was in a slump," said Sutton, who exited with a mild back sprain and was replaced by Tomlinson. "I had a talk with coach [Brian Schmetzer]. The general topic was, 'How can I be more of an offensive threat?' Scoring early definitely boosted my confidence."

Finally cracking the win column also boosted the team's confidence.

"I hate losing, so I was frustrated after all of them," Schmetzer said of his team's start to the season. "We needed the points."

Tomlinson, who missed the 2005 season with a knee injury, knocked in a point-blank shot at the left post to give Seattle a 2-0 lead in the 80th minute. He tapped in a pass from Cam Weaver, who volleyed the ball after receiving a send-in by Roger Levesque.

Tomlinson celebrated by taking off his shirt and earning a yellow card. It was the first assist for Weaver, a rookie.

Toronto's Jamie Dodds beat Sounders defender Seyi Abolaji deep into the penalty area and it appeared that Abolaji tripped Dodds in the 29th minute. The referee didn't call a foul on Abolaji, drawing harsh criticism from Dodds, who was issued a yellow card.

Note

• The USL First Division's first All-Star Game is July 19 in Cary, N.C., fielding a team against Sheffield Wednesday of England.