Sturridge shines as Chelsea down Seattle in friendly

Teenager Daniel Sturridge wasted no time in making his presence felt for Chelsea, scoring one goal and helping create another in Chelsea’s 2-0 victory over the Seattle Sounders in a friendly match Saturday.

Sturridge, 19, was making his debut after moving from Manchester City to Stamford Bridge, and he helped make a winner out of new manager Carlo Ancelotti following his switch from AC Milan.

Sturridge’s 12th-minute goal quieted the 65,289 fans – most in Seattle green – who turned out to see the first of two friendlies against overseas clubs that the Sounders are hosting this Major League Soccer season.

The match was Chelsea’s first on-field test since they defeated Everton 2-1 in the FA Cup final on May 30.

Their four-match tour of the North America will also include matches against Italy’s Inter Milan, AC Milan and Mexico’s Club America. They’ll open the Premier League season on August 15 against Hull.

Several of their stars saw limited or no time. Didier Drogba and Michael Essien never took off their warm-up bibs.

Captain John Terry, Ashley Cole and Petr Cech played just one half. The only Chelsea regular to play the full 90 minutes was Frank Lampard, who scored the English side’s second goal.

The Sounders, in the midst of the MLS campaign, had to weigh upcoming matches against putting on a good show against their elite visitors.

Goalkeeper Kasey Keller and forward Nate Jaqua only played a half, while Swedish star and former Chelsea nemesis Freddie Ljungberg departed in the second.

The Sounders showed their midseason fitness, but their porous defence and sloppy play meant they couldn’t take advantage of it.

Sturridge capitalized in the 12th, collecting a pass from Florent Malouda near the top of the box, pausing as Seattle’s Tyrone Marshall slid past and beating Keller with a right-footed shot.

Sturridge set up Chelsea’s next goal just over 20 minutes later, when his pass from near midfield found Nicolas Anelka, who delivered a ball that Lampard slotted past Keller.