Sounders
Late goal from Welton earns Sounders victory

By Austin Burton
Seattle Times staff reporter

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Even at less than his best, Welton was good enough to lift the Seattle Sounders to their second straight win.

During stoppage time after the game's 90th minute, the Brazilian-born forward knocked in a goal from about 7 yards out to give the Sounders a 2-1 win over Milwaukee Wave United in front of 1,375 fans at Seahawks Stadium last night.

"It was a nice ball," Welton said of the assist he got from forward Roger Levesque, "and a nice goal."

Welton, who came off the bench for the third consecutive game after recovering from a groin injury, played most of the second half and says he still is playing his way back into shape.

"I can get to 100 percent. I'm at 90 percent now," he said. "I just continue to play hard."

The Sounders (2-2-1) trailed 1-0 at halftime after Milwaukee forward Giuliano Oliviero scored with less than a minute left in the half. Oliviero took a pass from forward Todd Dusoky and, with two Sounders converging on him, put the ball over Seattle goalkeeper Preston Burpo's head from about 13 yards away.

It ended a half in which Seattle outshot Milwaukee (0-2-1) 9-4 and had several near-goals.

"That has been the blueprint of our season so far," said Sounders coach Brian Schmetzer. "We're just on the verge of playing great, then we make one mistake and give up a goal."

Sounders midfielder Jason Farrell answered back in the 64th minute. Taking a short pass from midfielder Billy Sleeth, Farrell laced a shot past Milwaukee goalkeeper Tim Larkin from 25 yards out.
 
"You expect that from veteran guys like Jason," Schmetzer said. "Not just scoring the goal, but the kind of goal it was — that was a bomb."

Welton's goal was his second of the season. Schmetzer acknowledged that although Welton still is getting his legs under him, his savvy played the biggest role in the score.

"He's an experienced goal scorer," Schmetzer said. "Certain guys have that ability to get their foot on the ball when they have to."

Teammate Farrell also was impressed.

"If there was ever any doubt that he would pan out," Farrell said, "he put those to rest."

Notes

• Giuliano's goal was Milwaukee's first goal of the season, and he celebrated by blowing kisses to the Seattle crowd.

• Five minutes after assisting on Farrell's goal, Sleeth collided with a Milwaukee player and lay motionless on the field for about three minutes before being attended to by trainers. Sleeth got up holding his left shoulder, but returned a few minutes later. "He's a gamer, that kid," Schmetzer said. "I was worried when he was laying out there, but he's tough."