Glasgow, Scotland’s heralded Celtic FC, a top international soccer team formed in 1888, took its U.S. tour to Seattle on Sunday for an exciting friendly in which the visitors edged the Sounders 2-1 before 45,631 patrons at the Xbox Pitch of Qwest Field.

Until the sun finally came out toward the end of the second half, the match had been played under cloudy skies. How symbolic that was considering the first-half controversy that beclouded the contest.

Star Celtic midfielder Georgios Samaras, who won plaudits performing for Greece in the recently concluded World Cup competition, broke through the Sounders’ defense in the 32nd minute and was fouled in the box by goalkeeper Terry Boss.

The undaunted Samaras booted the ball into the net nonetheless. Referee Paul Ward could have counted the goal but instead handed Boss a red card and awarded the Celtic striker a penalty kick.

Bedlam erupted as both Celtic FC and Sounders players protested the call. The Scottish team’s players preferred to let Samaras’ goal stand while the Sounders were furious over the red card banishment to Boss. Meanwhile, the crowd erupted in a loud chorus of boos.

When calm was ultimately restored, Boss stalked off toward the dressing room and Samaras prepared to take his penalty kick under unique circumstances.

Boss, Seattle’s second goalkeeper, started because veteran Kasey Keller is recovering from an injury sustained in last Thursday’s 1-0 road win against D.C. United and was given the day off by Coach Sigi Schmid.

After the unusual circumstance of a red card banishment of a player during an international friendly, Boss’ backup for the day trotted onto the field.

The storybook circumstances found a player added to today’s roster in view of emergency circumstances surfacing.

Jordan Jennings had played college soccer initially at the University of Washington and ultimately at the University of Seattle, where he played during the 2006 and 2007 campaigns.

The Tacoma-bred Stadium High product had played for the Tacoma Tides of the United Soccer Leagues Premier Development League on Saturday night .

The PDL stands on the fourth tier of the American soccer pyramid. Jennings had played last night in Tacoma before a “crowd” he estimated at between 20 and 25.

Jennings said afterward, “I thought as I was trotting onto the field before over 40,000 people that I would be facing this guy I had seen on TV who had been a star for Greece in the World Cup.”

The Tacoma product acquitted himself well on the Samaras kick and throughout the remainder of the contest.

It took a sturdy, indefensible kick by Samaras on the top right hand side of the net to score. Jennings guessed right but the kick’s accuracy made it indefensible.

Sigi Schmid is known for his coolness, but at the end of the first half, he confronted Referee Ward and crew to explain how he felt, his arms waving back and forth to express his indignation.

"My two things were these,” Schmid revealed in the post-match press conference. “One is the guy scored the goal and he could have let the goal count. He didn't have to go back and give the penalty.

“He said that he had blown the whistle, so he felt he needed to call the penalty. I asked if he needed to red card the guy and he said that those are the rules.

"So I said that you've ruined the game for 40,000 people. Then I asked him where their communication was, because normally there is the fourth official with the guy in the middle and the linesman as well.

“Maybe it was U.S. soccer's frugality or whatever the case, but they had no communication system. I said that'd be like us showing up without uniforms.

"I just left it at that. I figured I was close to getting thrown out and (Seattle general manager) Adrian Hanauer said he wouldn't pay any fines, so I figured I couldn't do that."

Seattle was compelled to play with 10 players for the remainder of the match after Boss’ red card banishment.

Schmid made the decision to remove forward Fredy Montero. When asked why he had replaced the team leader in goals and assists, the coach explained, “If I had kept Montero in the game, I would have been forced to use him at midfield.”

The team of defender Milan Misun and forward Patrick McCourt teamed up for the winning Celtic score in the 64th minute. Misun broke free and darted down the left side of the pitch toward the Sounders goal.

Misun’s timing was perfect, as he delivered a cross just as McCourt had broken free in the Seattle goal area.

The Sounders answered with their lone tally of the afternoon shortly thereafter, in the 66th minute under peculiar circumstances.

David Estrada had been placed on injured reserve for MLS competition, clearing the way to add international star Blaise Nkufo to the roster.

Estrada delivered a long blast after taking the ball from Taylor Graham that was indefensible and fell into the net beyond the best effort of Celtic FC’s American goalkeeper Dominic Cervi, a Tulsa University graduate.

In the first minute of stoppage time, Estrada almost scored an equalizer when another swift blast hit the crossbar.

After the match, Schmid explained Estrada’s status:

"He can play. He has a chronic toe that sort of comes and goes, but he can play in Open Cup games and he can play in CONCACAF games, so there are opportunities that are there."

The friendly gave Schmid the opportunity to use some players that had seen little action lately while resting injured regulars such as Kasey Keller, Michael Seamon, and Nate Jaqua.

Blaise Nkufo made his highly-publicized Sounders debut, playing 60 minutes before being replaced by Roger Levesque. His movements were smooth and fluid.

The 34-year-old took charge in the midfield area and gave evidence of what he can accomplish for Seattle during the remainder of the campaign.

Seattle returns to MLS play July 25 against the Colorado Rapids and then faces El Salvador’s Metapan July 28 in CONCACAF Champions League play-in competition. Both are at home.

Celtic FC ends its U.S. tour against Sporting of Portugal on Wednesday in Boston’s Fenway Park.

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