By JOSE M. ROMERO
The most important goal for Seattle Sounders FC is winning the MLS Cup, coach Sigi Schmid said Wednesday.
But that doesn't diminish the emphasis placed on a strong CONCACAF Champions League performance and defending its U.S. Open Cup title, he added. An emphasis found in the location of the first leg of the Rave Green's CCL play-in series – Qwest Field.
Seattle will host the first leg of the CCL preliminary round against a Central American opponent yet to be determined at Qwest rather than the smaller venue where it hosted U.S. Open Cup matches last season – Starfire Sports Complex in nearby Tukwila. That means an expected crowd in the tens of thousands as opposed to around 4,000 at Starfire, and the stadium will not have started hosting NFL preseason football by late July, so it will have open dates.
Champions League is the most important tournament in our region," general manager Adrian Hanauer said in a statement from the club. "As we assessed opportunities to make this a prominent event, Qwest Field became the logical choice."
The first leg will be held July 27-29 with the second leg in Central America a week later. That would make for four games in two weeks for the Sounders and will test the club's depth, especially with the trip south for the second leg.
Winners in the CCL preliminary round advance to group play, which begins Aug. 17-19. If Sounders FC advances to the group stage, it would join Monterrey (Mexico), Saprissa (Costa Rica) and either Tauro (Panama) or Marathon (Honduras) in what will be a difficult Group C.
Monterrey won the Mexican Apertura title in 2009 and Saprissa is traditionally one of Costa Rica's top clubs.
Seattle earned its place in the Champions League preliminary round as 2009 U.S. Open Cup champions. It is slotted to play a team from El Salvador, but FIFA suspended the nation's soccer federation from international competition due to governmental interference in federation affairs, according to a Sounders news release. So the status of club teams in the CCL from El Salvador remains up in the air, and Sounders FC hopes to know its opponent by the June 8 compliance deadline put down by FIFA for El Salvador.
Schmid said the Sounders have a "pretty good idea" that Seattle will play one of three Salvadoran clubs; Club Deportivo FAS, 17-time national champion, has already qualified with one of El Salvador's berths, and the second would go to either Aguila or Metapan.
Metapan got to the group stage of CCL last year.
As for this week in MLS play, Seattle on Saturday hosts a much-improved San Jose Earthquakes side that is 4-2-1 this season. A win vaults the Sounders over the Quakes in the West standings, as only a point separates the teams.
While Seattle will be without midfielder Peter Vagenas, it looks likely that defensive midfielder Osvaldo Alonso will be back from a minor quadriceps injury this week.
Just because Seattle is having the game at Qwest doesn’t mean they are taking it serious. Play your starting 11 home and away and we will see you are serious.
MLS teams have always treated Open Cup and CCL as secondary because the coaches get fired over their league results, not cup wins.
As far as the comment about $, teams make no significant $ unless they win the entire thing Open Cup or CCL. Other than travel reimbursement they get nothing for advancing round by round.
I too want to see MLS teams do well in CCL but we are still at a competitive disadvantage to Mexican teams due to financial disparity, roster size and resources.
Andrew Winner MLS.COM,
“With a 2-3-1 record at home this season, Qwest Field hasn’t turned into the fortress Schmid envisioned. In the past five home games, Seattle have scored only twice, with one of those being a miraculous stoppage-time winner from Mike Fucito.
In franchise history, the Sounders are averaging only 1.19 goals per game at home. When stacked up against all other MLS teams at home this year, that figure ranks dead last. In 2010, the league average for goals per game at home is 1.44, putting Seattle considerably under the bar. The all-time figure in MLS is 1.70.”
Correction, the stats show Sounders scoring 1.19 goals per game in total club history, lowest in MLS says statistician.
They won’t, in spite of the constant insane drumming of how tough they are at home. Someone on another site ran the statistics and they are and have been the easiest team in MLS to get points from at their home.
Cliches and myths are difficult to break but facts seem to be a good disinfectant.
yeah…what makes you think the sounders are going to do well in champions league play? They are simply terrible in the league.
Sounders down 1-0 to SJ. Riley leaves his mark on corner, and later misses a great chance at other end. Evans and Oswaldo both out.
I’m Glad the Sounders want to take the CCL seriously for a change, I’m tired of seeing MLS clubs embarrased by fielding unworthy teams against Mexican, Costa Rican , and Salvadorian opponents. Seattle is an decent club I think if they really try they’ll go further than most of their counterparts in the tournament.
I don’t think cash in hand will be an issue for signing a third DP (Ljungberg, Nkufo). Ownership has deep enough pockets. The problem is the salary cap
Can’t wait to go to these games. I’m currently deployed but Im a Sounder fan and can’t wait to see them in the international scene!!! Sigi’s words are encouraging!!! Thanks Ives for keeping us posted.
acne
all
clubs
needn’t
envy
go SNDRS
too bad Club America or Chivas de Guadelajara didnt make the tournament. Also, too bad the Crew didnt give up their spot (claim the club is in financial trouble or something) so Houston could’ve gotten that spot. Here’s a thought concerning those “mickey mouse” central american teams in CCL: claim they have insufficient facilities and invite a colombian team and a J-league team (to make it a bit more international). You may have to pay the colombian team, but at least it would make it more exciting.
Yeah, unfortunately I know too well who you are talking about. That is life on the Razor’s edge. 🙁
Anyone know how much cash Sounders will be guaranteed if they make the group stage? That could be huge if we want a 2nd or 3rd DP.
If you love America and the US National Team, there is now way you can support Rafa Marquez. He’s the guy that elbowed Cobe Jones in the face in World Cup, earning a deserved red card and the public shame that comes along with it. Sadly, his dirty play towards Americans doesn’t end there.
No history? Are you sure you don’t mean no history that you’re aware of?
Agreed BrettNLA… If Bruce keeps the foot on the pedal then LA should go deep into this tournament and the CCL…not to mention MLS play.
I can’t stand the way that MLS teams don’t take the CCL seriously enough. I long for the day that Mexican teams come north FEARING what they are about to encounter… When the entire REGION understands that MLS is king of the hill.
careful betamale we don’t want to GLOAT too much!
I didn’t think that I was on that other thread… Just the facts Man, just the facts.
Its about F’N time that one of these MLS teams has decided to take the CONCACAF tourney seriously. Im tired of watching these mickey mouse teams in Central America making MLS look like the worse league in the Americas, because there fielding the “B” and “C” teams. The Saprissas and the Mexican League teams take this tournament very seriously, its refreshing to see the Sounders taking the same stance.
PS…..When i refer to “mickey mouse” teams you know who i am talking about, so save your comments Tico and Mexican League fans, i wasnt referring to you.
Hercules Gomez just signed for Pachuca! He will play alongside another Mexican/American or American/Mexican “gringo” Torres.
Lucky for ownership there are enough of us to force the ownership to do the right thing.
Lucky for us Sounder’s fans too.
This is great news. It will be interesting to see how much a game like this draws. IF they draw for these games like they do the MLS games, MLS better start moving more towards parity measures rather than moving away from it.
We could see a Sounder’s roster of Gen Addidas players, very high priced non DPs, and 3 DPs very soon.
I have not looked up the facts on this so I am not sure what the salary issues would be for the Sounders now that they signed Jeff Parke. If Blase Nkufo comes in as second DP it will save them some cash for the non-DP roster. I remember one of the contentious issues with Parke in the beginning of the season was salary. I have no idea what they just agreed to pay him, but when you add him along with Keller, who is pretty high salary then I start to wonder what the financials look like. I am sure they would have the cash to bring in a third DP. If they did, I would like to see a real right-sided winger to pair with Zakuani, or someone to play defensive mid along with Alonso and get rid of Vagenas.
DCU got out 17,000 to that match. Definitely one of the biggest (if not the biggest) US Open Cup crowd in history.
I am an RSL fan, and agree completely.
That’s why I am sure glad that RSL included all 3 home games in Group play as part of the season ticket package, I will pay for any friendly if I want to see the team, but love that I get to see meaningful games.
ACES
jeff Parke.
Jeff Parke is not a world class defender. Rafa Marquez is.
I really, really hope this doesn’t happen. With Parke on the team it would boggle my mind…unless they really needed someone that could do flying scissor kicks to Tim Howard’s leg.
I am pretty sure that had Seattle hosted and DC won I would not have stuck around to watch them celebrate.
I wish the CUp matches or CCL matches were part of our season tickets instead of the friendlies.
It was cool to see Chelsea and Barca last year, but I would rather watch a meaningful game instead of watching Chelsea take it easy on the Sounders.
The history is there, but the aura will only come when teams like the Sounders take these cups seriously. Rather than be depressed, I’m happy to be part of the generation that will place these cups in the limelight. Thank you Sounders, from a non-Sounder fan.
Yes, MLS’ chosen aura of having D.C. host the cup finals and not Seattle.
That picture really sums up how depressing North American soccer is. Celebrating a trophy with no aura or history in an empty stadium.
as long as they don’t have to play the Galaxy in any tournament they should be fine.
They should really bring in Rafa Marquez as a DP…..i think Marshall is about done