The Sounders were dealt a major blow as Santos Laguna knocked them out of the Champions League. After their first leg victory at CenturyLink , the Sounders took a 2-1 win on the road to Mexico where they hoped to become to first U.S. team to beat a Mexican side in two-game series.
The dream of progressing to the semi finals were to slip through Seattle’s grasp as they were dealt a 6-1 thrashing, meaning Santos Laguna progressed 7-3 on aggregate.
The Sounders would have been hoping, like the first leg, to keep the game tight and contained in the first 20 minutes, but found themselves 2-0 after 10. The first came after just 8 minutes, after a breakaway from a Seattle corner, where Santos Laguna keeper Sanchez blocked Alvaro Fernandez’ header and then the rebounded header by Brad Evans. Suarez was then put in the clear after a counter attack and slotted the ball inside the near post past the diving Michael Gspurning. And without a chance for Seattle to get back in the game, Santos went 2-0 up, with a well-taken Peralta goal. Using his body to defend the ball against Jhon Kennedy Hurtado he rifled the ball past the near post.
With that, Santos had now taken a 3-2 lead on aggregate, but Seattle kept pushing for a way back into the match and got it 8 minutes from half time. Fredy Montero sent a well-delivered ball into the box, which was met by the head of Fernandez, taking the game into halftime at 3-3 and both sides having an away goal. Santos were looking to use their dominance at home and achieved in the way they scored their first of the night, after a Seattle chance, and a quick breakaway.
Just after the restart, Seattle had the chance to get another goal, but Rosales was denied by the frustrating figure in the Santos goal. This led to the Santos breakaway and letting Suarez square the ball from the left to an unmarked Gomez to make it 3-1.
The tie was then out of Seattle’s reach as they lost their way and let in Gomez, Suarez and Ochoa to make it 6-1, and leave the Sounders having to contemplate whether or not it could have been any different, after suffering their worst competitive defeat in their history.
The Sounders now have to pick themselves up and get ready for their delayed season opener, as they face an in form Toronto FC, who will face Santos in the semi final after beating LA Galaxy 4-3 on aggregate. The match will take place at CenturyLink Field on Saturday.
(image courtesy of MexSport)
