Life in the PCL proves much more challenging for Seattle Hungarians. They are winless (0-5-1) before meeting and beating North Shore United, 4-1, at home. Steve Furjesi scores two goals. Les Fabri and Mike Kuczi add others. A few days later the Loyal Vikings take them down a notch, winning a friendly, 3-1, but in league it’s the start of a five-match unbeaten run (4-0-2) that lifts them to mid-table.

Sounders players wear pregame T-shirts that read “Club World Cup Ca$h Grab” in protest demanding a bigger share of the prize money for upcoming FIFA tournament. Seattle will earn $9.55 million as a club for participating in the tournament, with a chance to win additional prize money from wins. Currently, there is a provision of the collective bargaining agreement that caps at $1M how much prize money can go to players. After going 5-0-2 in the first seven MLS home games, the Sounders lose, 3-2, to Minnesota.

Seattle’s playoff hopes fade as it loses its third straight game and second in three days, 2-1 at New York. Jimmy Gabriel gives the Sounders a short-lived lead, but Mark Liveric eventually gets the Cosmos' second-half winner on the worn and bumpy ground at Downing Stadium. Seattle will need to win at least three of the final four matches to overtake San Jose for the division’s final playoff slot.

Sounders players join with some 4,500 fans at the CenturyLink Field Events Center to watch a lunch hour World Cup round-of-16 match between the U.S. and Belgium. The Belgians send the Yanks home, 2-1, in extra time.

Fourteen matches into their existence, the Kitsap Pumas own a title. The Pumas clinch the PDL Northwest Division with a 1-0 win over the Abbotsford Mariners at Bremerton Memorial Stadium. Stephen Phillips's header in the 67th minute from an Alex Megson is the winning formula. Kitsap is among three undefeated (11-0-3 in league) of 68 PDL teams.

A strong performance from Seattle native Todd Strobeck in goal, combined with a goal from ex-Storm star Peter Hattrup gives the Portland Timbers a series sweep of FC Seattle, 1-0, at Civic Stadium before 6,100. Hattrup scores from a throw-in, and Strobeck makes seven saves, including two reflex stops of Eddie Henderson and Chance Fry. Hattrup had also scored in a 3-0 Timbers win in Seattle on July 18. He's one of five ex-Storm players now in Portland while five former Timbers (four with Puget Sound roots) came north. Seattle has lost six in a row while scoring three goals.