Tonight, 7:00 PM, Qwest Field: Seattle Sounders FC v. Isidro Metapan (El Salvador). CONCACAF Champions League qualifier. Fox Soccer Channel, Tickets available at the gate.
UPDATES:
USsoccerPlayers.com article: At Stake Tonight in Seattle
World Soccer Reader: CONCACAF CL and (future Sounder) Alvaro Fernandez
Major League Soccer clubs continued their latest foray into the CONCACAF Champions League last night. Toronto FC bested Montagua 1:0 while the league-leading Los Angeles Galaxy were shocked at home 4:1 by the Puerto Rico Islanders.
Tonight it is Seattle's turn to try international tournament competition as the Sounders host El Salvador's Isidro Metapan at 7:00 PM inside Qwest Field.
See our feature from yesterday on how the Sounders are promoting the match.
Metapan celebrate their most-recent El Salvadorian domestic title in May 2010. (Club photo)
SounderAtHeart.com looks at Seattle's road to the knockout stages here, and has a Metapan match quick reference card for download here.
The Tacoma News Tribune has this preview this morning. “The Central American and South American teams (take) more touches and you’ve got to be alert because they’re going to be running off the ball,” Seattle defender Jeff Parke told the TNT. “They’re smaller and they’re cheekier and their center of gravity is a bit better so they can take a knock and keep going. It’s going to be a quick game, but I like our chances.”
The Seattle Times' preview is headlined Champions League gives Sounders FC chance against best. "This is our Champions League," Steve Zakuani said in the article. "It's the same magnitude; it's just for this region."
LaPrensaGrafica.com reports that Metapan's owners are offering their players $500 for every goal they score tonight against the Sounders, though they "would be satisfied with a draw" coming home for the second leg.
Comments
Come on boys!!! This is the most excited I've been for a match since....opening night??
I just wish everyone viewed CCL as a hugely important, massively exciting tournament as I do.
Tonight should be very interesting indeed! Plenty of unknowns, from the type of fan who will show, to our line-up choices, to the foe and their style...lots to watch for!
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