Seattle preps for Club America in Champions League quarters
SEATTLE – Since their inception, the opportunities outside of MLS competition have always held importance for the Seattle Sounders.
It’s partly why the Sounders have enjoyed so much success in the U.S. Open Cup and are one of the few MLS clubs to reach at least the semifinal round of the CONCACAF Champions League.
But the test facing the Sounders beginning Tuesday night may be the most challenging of all its international opportunities. Seattle hosts Mexican power Club America in the Champions League quarterfinals.
It’s the first of the two-leg quarterfinal with the return match on March 1 at Azteca Stadium in Mexico City. It will be Seattle’s first competitive match of the 2016 season and it comes against the defending Champions League title holders, who have already played seven games in the Liga MX Clausura season.
“Historically, they have been very good, especially in this competition. So for us, something to be aware of is the historical part of it, knowing they’ve got that in the back of their pockets,” Seattle’s Brad Evans said. “At some point you have to break the mold and for us this is as good a time to play this team. I think we’re feeling fresh. I think this is a first-choice lineup for us and I think the guys are hungry.”
It’ll be Seattle’s first competitive match since the news that forward Obafemi Martins intends to move to China and sign with Shanghai Shenhua. Seattle general manager Garth Lagerwey said Monday that the deal for Martins still has not been finalized, but the expectation is the Sounders will be without Martins going forward.
Martins was with Seattle earlier in training camp before announcing his intentions to sign in China. Martins and fellow striker Clint Dempsey combined for 32 goals and 23 assists during the 2014 season when Seattle won the MLS Supporters’ Shield.
“At the end of the day, everybody has the right to choose their own path in their career,” Dempsey said Monday. “I have a lot of respect for Oba. He’s come from a little kid in Nigeria to playing with some of the best clubs in the world. He’s had a great career. Who am I to tell him anything? All I can say is that I enjoyed my time playing with him. He was one of my favorite teammates I got to play with.”
The loss of Martins is tempered a bit by the arrival of young star Jordan Morris, expected to make his Seattle debut on Tuesday. Morris was Seattle’s marquee offseason acquisition, a homegrown star the Sounders were able to convince to stay home rather than jump at an opportunity overseas.
His debut with Seattle will be the Sounders’ third time playing a Mexican club in the Champions League quarterfinals. They were routed by Santos Laguna 7-3 in the 2012 quarterfinals, including a 6-1 loss on the road after winning the first-leg 2-1.
A year later, Seattle rallied to knock out Tigres 3-2 in the quarterfinals before falling to Santos Laguna 2-1 in the semis.
“We have to remember that we are a very good home team but the ultimate test then is playing a week later at Azteca,” Evans said.