Gallagher’s first tally came in the 15th minute after he slipped past the back line and fired a low drive that skipped between the legs of goalkeeper Maizcer Villalobos.

South Gate quarterback Michael Gonzalez took the snap and ran around in the end zone until finally stepping over the back line with one second left for a safety.

Despite dominating the opening stages, KR could not offer much in response to Wigan's bruising back line and the Cherry and Whites' tireless second half defensive efforts proved decisive.

Yet the anxious, overeager French struggled to solve a U.S. team content to crowd its penalty area, lining up as many as six players along its back line.

The Sounders are already playing with an altered back line.