You've seen pro sports teams grant wishes to kids from the Make-A-Wish Foundation, but never like what you saw on Saturday afternoon at CenturyLink Field.

Xander Bailey, an 18-year-old battling cystic fibrosis, always dreamed of becoming a pro soccer player and the Sounders made that dream come true and then some. Not only did they sign him to a contract, but they also granted him a spot in the starting lineup ahead of Saturday's international friendly against Tottenham Hotspur.

The referee whistled and Bailey, wearing the No 45, was off to the races alongside his hero Clint Dempsey, who sent him in alone on Spurs 'keeper Brad Friedel.

Bailey didn't score, but judging by the smile on his face as he came off the field, you'd never have known.