By JOSE M. ROMERO
The Seattle Sounders have gone unbeaten in Mexico and Central America in CONCACAF Champions League group play this year, and now they are into the quarterfinals of the tournament for the first time in the club's three-year MLS history.
Seattle came from behind for a 2-2 draw with Comunicaciones on a rainy Tuesday evening in Guatemala City. Osvaldo Alonso brought the Sounders back from a pair of one-goal deficits, his second goal coming in the 89th minute.
The Sounders moved into sole possession of first place in Group D with 10 points from five matches and assured themselves of a place in the championship round, which will start with two legs of quarterfinals. Their CCL Group D finale is Oct. 18 against Monterrey at CenturyLink Field, and a win or draw gives the Sounders the group championship.
Comunicaciones scored first in the seventh minute thanks to miscommunication between Seattle's defenders. A ball came to the feet of Transito Montepeque onside, and he chipped a shot over Kasey Keller, who'd come out of the goal and was out of position to make a play on the shot.
The Sounders came right back in the ninth minute with a shot from Fredy Montero that goalkeeper Juan Jose Paredes tipped over the cross bar.
Comunicaciones came dangerously close to a two-goal lead in the 19th minute. A corner kick was headed down in the box and Brayan Ordoñez tried a bicycle kick that bounced off the corner of the cross bar.
The Sounders were fortunate again in the 28th minute, their first-half defense very suspect if not ineffective. Carlos Mejia ran right past Zach Scott for an open shot that went wide.
Seattle managed to keep it at a one-goal lead, and then Alonso struck for his first goal. In the 44th minute, a throw-in came down in the box and was deflected out to Alonso. His shot glanced off a defender and into the net.
Alonso found a TV camera and ran toward it, pulling out his shin guard to reveal the words "Happy Birthday," a wish from afar for his wife.
The Sounders became much more active in the second half. A shot by Michael Fucito in the 54th minute was slightly too high, and his next opportunity seven minutes later from the side was saved.
Keller was to blame for Comunicaciones' second goal. He punched a corner kick downward but not out, and Rafael Morales was there to clean up the loose ball and shoot it past Keller, who was out of the net.
After two golden opportunities for Montero in the 82nd and 84th minutes — the latter off the cross bar — Alonso was in the right place to score after three teammates got touches on the ball in front of the goal, the last one being a hustling Montero.
Kasey isn’t what he was but he is still a very solid keeper. Not enough is said about his ability to organize the back line either. You can’t really see it on tv because it’s off screen but he runs the back line, getting his defense coordinated and yelling at those who deserve it or if focus starts to wane. Kasey is still a huge asset.
Scott gives me ulcers, but I think that it was Parke that kept Montepeque onside on the first goal. Hard to tell from the low-res feed, but it looks like Scott is pushed up high on the right, with Parke the last man back.
http://www.concacafchampions.com/page/CL/Video/HighlightsDetail2/0,,12856~2432132,00.html
You play the #2 from one of the other groups, supposedly a weaker side than the #1. Also, you get the second leg of the quarterfinals at home.
Going to defend Keller a bit here… Zach Scott is a disaster, and was the reason Keller didn’t get to that ball AND the reason that the guy was onside in the first half. I’m guessing here, but suppose Keller called for the ball and Scott didn’t get out of the way. Just a guess, but we didn’t see this stuff when Riley was healthy…
Keeper has to be top off-season priority.
Agreed. Sounders need more defensive depth. Imagine how much of a force they would be with a quality attacking outside back. Riley is the closest thing they have to this, which isn’t saying too much. Wahl can hit a cross – provided that its on a platter for his left foot but that is about it. Anybody else think that Neagle’s touch is horrendous?
A big step up from Nate.
Sigi has to be worried about Keller’s diminishing mobility, his range has decreased considerably and he can hardly clear his six. The defenders must go for every ball now knowing their keeper just can’t get out. Scott didn’t help by letting two balls bounce inside the six.
Agreed. Ochoa has looked pretty impressive for a guy that hasn’t been with the team all year and is still not quite in shape. I’ll be very curious to see how he does next year with a full off-season of training. I think he could be a solid MLS forward.
I also like the way his playing style mixes with Montero. They compliment each other.
I hope the game in NE means more time for Ochoa. I’ve liked what I’ve seen from him so far, but it’s really only been about 20-25 minutes total.
And Wahl. But that’s sort of status quo for him.
Expect the players from the Man U second half in the Revolution game.
It will be full. Right before the season starts is an attendance blessing. Months for marketing, which Seattle is obviously good at. I predict a city-wide holiday, a packed stadium, and thousands of fans standing in the streets just to listen to the crowd react to another Sounders victory!
The Sounders should be marketing the heck out of this.
They are 5 (or is it 6 ?) series from winning the WORLD Championship. I would put that message on every advertising they are doing.
Sounders Stadium should be/could be filled next spring.
I think you will see that line up in NE on Saturday, because that game means almost nothing. Combine that with the Open Cup final on Tuesday there is no reason to play all of the starters.
“Two teams from each four-team group advance to the quarterfinals, with each group winner
drawn to face a runner-up from one of the other groups. A draw establishes the quarterfinal
pairings and determines potential semifinal matches.”
Will be interesting to see what lineup the Sounders roll out for the Monterrey game. Seems like we might see that squad that played the second half against Man U, yuck.
is there any benefit to winning the group (seeding?), or are the teams all just mixed up for the next round anyway.
That’s one MLS team in the quarters, I wonder who will join them from MLS. Good on Seattle for advancing.
Someone’s jealous that our defector CDM is better than their CDM.
And I usually respect what you say Second City. Just not this time.
His comment was pretty idiotic (although I don’t think FIFA should make any exception for defectors, far too messy), yet there is absolutely nothing of substance in your comment to “debunk”… unless he debunks it by proving he is in fact “looking at the internet” which I guess he just did by replying to you.
I must say, congratulations to the Sounders. I wish them the best.
Even without Rosales, the green machine keeps rolling. Well played game in the rain by both sides. Only if Seattle had more depth in defense.
Congrats Sounders!
Agreed. It willl be nice to have Riley back, once he recovers from his concussions.
orly?
Really? You make those kind of ignorant comments public? Wow! This comment does not even need an educational response. Second City. Look at the internet, or read a book and you might find out a little something about a place called CUBA! Debunk my comments. Otherwise, I say. MORON!
No, you’re right. He should have totally stayed in Cuba playing for Pinar del Rio. I’m sure that you would never do something as dishonorable as abandon an oppressive dictatorship. Nationalism does trump civil rights, after all.
Keller and Scott were a horror show. Alonso saved their bacon.
You mean disappearing/abandoning/defecting from your country and it’s team doesn’t make him available for any country?
Surely FIFA would reward this kind of behavior, given their current track record for honorable actions.
Ozzie is the MAN! The best defensive midfielder in MLS! It’s a shame he is cap tied to Cuba, he’d give any one on the US team a run for their money!
So proud to be a Sounders fan. Obviously Seattle keeps learning from their past experiences and improving.
And every year we take that extra step forward.
Now on to the USOC final and hopefully an MLS championship run.