TUCSON, Ariz. — After a promising first six matches with the Seattle Sounders, defender Brad Smith missed the final five regular-season matches and two postseason games last season with a hamstring injury. Smith returned to the starting lineup on Saturday in the Sounders’ first preseason match in Tucson against the Houston Dynamo and put in a brilliant 60-minute shift, staking Seattle to a 2-0 lead before the starters exited.
“I thought the team performed well and we got to work on our patterns,” said Smith. “It’s good to get a feel and get the legs back going and get a good 60 minutes under our belt.