Sounders have the edge in total-goal series

BAYAMON, Puerto Rico — The Seattle Sounders opened their USL First Division semifinal series against the Puerto Rico Islanders with a 2-1 win Friday night at Juan Ramon Loubriel Stadium.

Hugo Alcaraz-Cuellar and Kenji Treschuk scored goals for the Sounders, and goalkeeper Chris Eylander has eight saves to secure the Sounders' win.

In the 24th minute, Alcaraz-Cuellar converted a Leighton O'Brien corner kick.

Eylander came up short in the 39th minute when Peter Villegas uncorked the tying shot from 25 yards out that was too strong for the Seattle keeper, who had recorded shutouts in his first two playoff matches.

In the 69th minute, Islanders keeper Josh Saunders came out to cut down the angle on Roger Levesque, who slid the ball across the 18-yard box to an onrushing Treschuk. Treschuk slotted the ball into the back of the net for his first goal as a Sounder.

Sounders forward Sebastien Le Toux suffered a head injury after the 39th minute, and each team finished the match with 10 men. In unrelated incidents, Sounders captain Danny Jackson was sent off with a straight red card, and Islanders forward Alejandro Gonzalez was issued two yellow cards. Each will miss Game 2 of the aggregate-goal series, in Tukwila on Sunday.

Tickets for the match, 5 p.m. at Starfire Sports Complex, are $18 at the gate and $15 through SeattleSounders.net.