The Sounders season-ticket holder behind me wondered if the Boca Juniors were a teen team, maybe the youth-outreach arm of some club called Boca? No theyre adults, named after the Buenos Aires suburb where theyre based (for 105 years!), and theyre here for the Sounders first friendly (of three) this season. Our teams second season has seen some of last years euphoria fade, with an exhibition-match loss to . . . Jesus, Portlandthat dumped a big bucket of cold, muddy water on the start of the season; a demoralizing 4-0 crushing by Los Angeles; and a brief stint at the bottom of the rankings. A loss to Boca tonighteh, no big deal, theyre legendarily awesome (with a roster full of stars like Martin Palermo, their all-time leading scorer with 220 goals to date, whos been selected to play on Argentinas World Cup team, currently ranked #7 in the world). But a win . . . a win might just briefly restore the ecstasy of Opening Day 2009. GAVIN BORCHERT
Wed., May 26, 7:30 p.m., 2010
