SEATTLE, WASH. - Seattle Sounders FC continued its run in the 2018 Scotiabank CONCACAF Champions League with a 1-0 result in the first leg of the Quarterfinal Round against Mexican side Chivas Guadalajara. 42,885 were on-hand to witness the contest, the largest crowd ever for Sounders FC in Champions League play at CenturyLink Field, surpassing the previous mark of 42,836 against Club América on February 23, 2016. Following tonight's match, the series shifts south of the border to Estadio Akron, where the Rave Green will attempt to advance to the Semifinal Round of North America's top club soccer competition for just the second time in team history.
Clint Dempsey bagged his third all-time Champions League goal for Seattle in the 78th minute of play, with substitute Henry Wingo providing service from the right wing. The Sounders FC Homegrown Player and former University of Washington star delivered a pinpoint cross from his wide position, putting Dempsey through on goal for a clean strike. Stefan Frei and his backline preserved the shutout, putting Seattle in advantageous position heading down to Mexico.
This current Quarterfinal Round matchup against Chivas marks the fourth time in club history that Seattle has advanced to this stage of the CONCACAF Champions League, with the second leg slated for Wednesday, March 14 in Guadalajara at Estadio Akron (7:00 p.m. PT / Univision Deportes Network, Go90, 950 KJR AM, El Rey 1360 AM). Members of the press interested in covering all future Champions League contests should apply through CONCACAF's media center, as the accreditation process is different than MLS.
MATCH NOTES
- Tonight's result moves Seattle to 16-14-5 all-time in Scotiabank CONCACAF Champions League play, with the Rave Green maintaining a 12-5-1 home record in that span.
- 42,885 were on-hand at CenturyLink Field Wednesday night, the largest crowd ever for Sounders FC in Champions League play at home, surpassing the previous mark of 42,836 against Club América on February 23, 2016.
- Next Wednesday's second leg is the seventh time Sounders FC has traveled to face a Liga MX team in Mexico, with the club accumulating a 1-4-1 record to date.
- Clint Dempsey scored his third career SCCL goal for Sounders FC in the 78th minute in just four games. Dempsey has one goal and two assists in two appearances in the 2018 tournament.
- With the assist on Dempsey's goal, Henry Wingo recorded his first SCCL assist in his third appearance.
- Stefan Frei made four saves and recorded his second consecutive shutout in SCCL play, giving him three clean-sheets in six career Champions League appearances with Seattle.
- Midfielder Handwalla Bwana made his first competitive start for Sounders FC after making his professional debut as a substitute in Sunday's loss to Los Angeles FC, where the Homegrown Player logged 26 minutes of action.
- Wednesday's fixture marked Seattle's third match in seven days across all competitions, following last Thursday's 4-0 SCCL win over Santa Tecla and Sunday's 1-0 loss to LAFC in the MLS opener.
- The Chivas series is Seattle's fifth test against Mexican opposition, having previously played Monterrey in 2010 and 2011, Santos Laguna in 2012 and 2013, in addition to Club América in 2016. While Sounders FC played Chivas in a friendly match in 2010, the two sides had not met previously in competitive play prior to tonight.
- Wednesday's match put Seattle into the Quarterfinal Round of North America's premier club soccer competition for the fourth time in club history, having only advanced to the Semifinal Round of Champions League play once before in the 2012-2013 campaign.
- Should Seattle advance from this round of the competition, the Rave Green are set to face the winner of the New York Red Bulls and Club Tijuana Quarterfinal Round series.
MATCH SUMMARY
Seattle Sounders FC 1 - C.D. Guadalajara 0
Wednesday, March 7, 2018
Venue:
Xbox Pitch at CenturyLink Field
Referee:
Mario Escobar
Assistants:
Osvaldo Luna, Alejandro Camarena
Fourth Official:
Jose Kellys
Attendance:
42,885
Weather:
Clear
SCORING SUMMARY
SEA -
Clint Dempsey (Henry Wingo) 78'
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY
SEA -
Roman Torres (caution) 17'
GUA
- Rodolfo Cota (caution) 42'
GUA
- Carlos Cisneros (caution) 68'
GUA
- Alan Pulido (caution) 71'
SEA
- Jordan McCrary (caution) 85'
LINEUPS & STATS
Seattle Sounders FC - Stefan Frei; Jordan McCrary, Román Torres, Chad Marshall, Waylon Francis; Gustav Svensson, Cristian Roldan, Nicolás Lodeiro - captain, Clint Dempsey (Harry Shipp 90'); Handwalla Bwana (Henry Wingo 73'); Will Bruin (Lamar Neagle 80')
Substitutes not used: Bryan Meredith, Nouhou, Alex Roldan, Jordy Delem
Total shots:
18 (Dempsey, 6)
Shots on goal:
6 (Dempsey, 4)
Fouls:
15 (McCrary/Francis, 3)
Offside:
0
Corner-kicks:
8 (Lodeiro, 7)
Saves:
4 (Frei, 4)
C.D. Guadalajara - Rodolfo Cota; Carlos Cisneros, Carlos Salcido, Oswaldo Alanis, Alejandro Mayorga; Javier Lopez (Gael Sandoval 67'), Michael Perez (Jose Macias), Isaac Brizuela (Rodolfo Pizarro 56'), Orbelin Pineda; Jose de Jesus Godinez, Alan Pulido
Substitutes not used: Jose Rodriguez, Edwin Hernandez, Juan Basulto, Oscar Macias
Total shots:
12 (Mayorga/Pulida, 3)
Shots on goal:
4 (Four players, 1)
Fouls:
17 (Perez, 3)
Offside:
2 (Pulida/Godinez, 1)
Corner-kicks:
2 (Pineda/Pizarro, 1)
Saves:
5 (Cota, 5)
