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Originally published Sunday, July 27, 2008 at 12:00 AM

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Sounders defeat Charleston, 1-0

If nothing else, the performance let the Seattle Sounders know they could play with the best of the United Soccer Leagues First Division...

By MATT MASSEY

Special to The Seattle Times

TUKWILA — If nothing else, the performance let the Seattle Sounders know they could play with the best of the United Soccer Leagues First Division.

Sebastien Le Toux's early second-half goal lifted the Sounders out of their recent doldrums and to a 1-0 victory over the league-leading Charleston Battery in Saturday's match at Starfire Sports & Entertainment Complex in front of 3,174 fans.

"This was pretty much close to must-win," Sounders defender Kevin Sakuda said, referring to staying in the chase for one of seven playoff spots. "We hadn't stopped believing we can win games. We've just been through a rough patch the last couple of weeks."

The Sounders (6-6-8, 26 points) posted just their second win in the last nine league matches and moved into fourth place. Charleston (9-5-4, 31 points) leads the USL First Division.

"There's been eight or nine times where we've lost leads mostly in the second half," said Sakuda, whose team blew a chance for seven points in the standings in the final 10 minutes of three matches. "It's important for us to get league results."

The confidence could carry over to Seattle's Aug. 12 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup semifinal date in Charleston, S.C. It will be the fourth meeting between the two teams this season.

Le Toux's goal came in the 58th minute when he buried a half volley from 15 yards out on a deflected cross from Sakuda. The goal was Le Toux's 15th of the season. He is tied for the league's top spot with eight goals in USL play.

The Sounders survived a couple of close calls by the Battery in the final four minutes of regulation and four more minutes in added time.

Notes

• Seattle evened the season series with the Battery at 1-1-1.

• The winner of the Open Cup semifinal match will face the winner of the semifinal between the New England Revolution and D.C. United. The Open Cup championship will be played Aug. 26 at the site of the team that wins the bid to host.

• The win was Seattle's first since July 13, a 1-0 triumph at Montreal.

Sounders summary

SOUNDERS 1, BATTERY 0

Charleston 0 0 — 0
Seattle 0 1 — 1
First half — None. Second half — Seattle, 1, Sebastien Le Toux (unassisted), 58:00. Shots — Charleston 7, Seattle 17. Saves — Charleston (Dusty Hudock) 7, Seattle (Chris Eylander) 3. Fouls — Charleston 16, Seattle 11. Offsides — Charleston 6, Seattle 3. Corner kicks — Charleston 3, Seattle 6. Cautions — Charleston (Dominic Cianciarulo 87:00), Seattle (Danny Jackson 26:00, Josh Gardner 50:00, Kevin Sakuda 70:00). Ejections — None. Attendance — 3,174. Records — Charleston 9-5-4 USL First Division, 31 points; Seattle 6-6-8 USL First Division, 26 points, 11-6-8 overall.

Copyright © 2008 The Seattle Times Company

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