The Basics
2010 CONCACAF Champions League, Group C, Match Day 2
Seattle Sounders FC (8-8-5, fourth in the Western Conference, MLS) vs. Monterrey (3-0-2, second in Group 1, Mexican Primera División), at Qwest Field in Seattle.
TV Info
10 p.m. ET; Fox Soccer Channel
Game Intro
After dropping their first match of the group stage, Seattle will attempt to rebound at home against Mexican club Monterrey. It’s a tall order against a team that some consider the tournament favorites. The Mexican giants boast a payroll that dwarves Seattle’s and trot out a team of stars, including Humberto Suazo of Chile and Argentina’s Neri Cardozo.
Seattle Sounders FC
Seattle’s first taste of Champions League action was a bitter 2-1 loss on the road last week to Marathón of Honduras. Despite the defeat, goalkeeper Kasey Keller said he was pleased with the team’s effort and thinks the Sounders can advance out of the group stage.
The MLS schedule-makers gave the Sounders last weekend off, but Seattle begin a stretch of three games in eight days. They welcome back Freddie Ljungberg and the Chicago Fire on Saturday, then host Chivas USA in a US Open Cup semifinal match on Sept. 1.
Monterrey
You certainly can’t win the competitive Mexican league by accident. Los Rayados (The Striped Ones) did that a season ago, capturing the 2009 Apertura to gain entrance into the competition. They are near the top of the league standings again in 2010, undefeated in five games.
Former FC Dallas player Duilio Davino played the full 90 minutes in the team’s CCL match against Saprissa.
Heroes & Villains
Jeff Parke vs. Humberto Suazo: Suazo is Monterrey’s best scoring option, having already tallied five times in five matches in the Mexican league. The Chilean international has World Cup experience and will be a handful for Seattle’s back line, which may be affected by Patrick Ianni’s illness. Parke’s performance against Suazo will be a bellwether for the entire match.
Stat that makes you go "Hmm..."
Seattle have allowed three goals in their past two CCL matches. The rear guard has been more effective than that in league play recently, a credit to the level of competition the Sounders have been facing.
