SEATTLE SOUNDERS FC
AT CD MARATHON
7 p.m. Thursday, Estadio Olimpico Metropolitano; San Pedro Sula, Honduras.
TV: Fox Soccer Channel.
RADIO: 97.3 FM.
ABOUT THIS COMPETITION: CONCACAF Champions League is a tournament involving top clubs from North America, Central America and the Caribbean. Seattle qualified for the preliminary round by winning the 2009 U.S. Open Cup and advanced to group play with an aggregate-score win over Metapan of El Salvador. Marathon qualified by winning the Honduran 2009-10 Apertura. Seattle and Marathon are in Group C, along with Monterrey (Mexico) and Saprissa (Costa Rica). Group play consists of six games, each team in the group playing the other three home and away. The top two finishers in each group will advance to the knockout rounds.
ABOUT MARATHON: The club was formed in 1925 as Club Deportivo Marathon. It is now sometimes called “El Monstruo Verde” (the Green Monster). Marathon also competed in the Champions League in 2008-09 and 2009-10. The club has won eight Honduran league titles and one Honduran Cup (1994). The manager is Nicolas Suazo. It’s best-know players include forward Walter Martinez, who played for the 2010 Honduran World Cup team; and defender Erick Norales(((both cq))), who converted the final penalty kick that got Honduras into the 2008 Summer Olympics.
NOTES: Seattle is unbeaten in its last nine matches (6-0-3) over all competitions. … Marathon is off to an 0-0-2 start in its Honduran Apertura season. Seattle is 8-8-5 in MLS. … The Sounders have never lost a competitive match outside of MLS, sweeping their Open Cup matches and standing 1-0-1 in Champions League. … Seattle midfielders Steve Zakuani (groin) and Sanna Nyassi (yellow card accumulation) did not make the trip. However, designated player Blaise Nkufo, who didn’t travel to the preliminary match at Metapan, is available. Leading scorer Fredy Montero also traveled despite suffering head and leg injuries in the Saturday league match at Chivas USA.
NEXT: Seattle will meet Monterrey in the second game of group play at 7 p.m. July 25 at Qwest Field.
Here’s our preview story from the Thursday paper.
Crew wins a sleepy match 1-0
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Given the players who did and didn’t make the trip, and Montero’s injuries, I would start these 11:
–Nkufo-Montano–
Seamon – Sturgis – Jaqua
—-Alonso—
El Tico – Wahl – Ianni – Riley
— Keller —
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RSL gives up a costly home goal early – down 0-1
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Straight red for Arabe !
They’ll play a man down for 1+ half
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Goal Real!
Saborio with a sweet header (former Saprissa player)
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Is the UEFA Champions League related to CONCACAF?
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Arabe flopping and faking injuries to kill time literally every two minutes … The stretcher guys are getting a workout!
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Penalty in the 93rd!
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Saborio finishes the PK!
RSL takes all 3…
Saborio makes RSL look very impressive
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RSL has a deep offensive unit:
Saborio
Espindola – like Pujols as a F, big, fast, aggressive
Findley
Andy Williams
They are all big, fast, goal scorers
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EF – UEFA and CONCACAF are related in that they’re both continental confederations. Technically the individual national associations are the members of FIFA, but FIFA recognizes these continental confederations.
Our Champions League is basically a copy of UEFA’s which is the oldest. Each continent has their own version with UEFA and CONMEBOL (theirs is called Copa Libertadores) being the best known. FIFA organizes the Club World Cup and invites the winners of each continental cup. So that’s the extent of our relationship.
That match was crazy. Just caught the last 20 minutes. Arabe Unido is an utter disgrace. Even the Dutch MNT would have been ashamed of their behavior. Glad RSL got the win.
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I haven’t seen Montero since Monday, but my hunch is that he’ll be well enough to start and to play well.
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DY, So is the UEFA CL going to feed the Club World Cup we’re eligible for? Are we all progressing to the same competition?
DR, I’m sure FM will play if asked, but I’d like to see the others step up and give him a break … We need more than 1 option to get us to the playoffs
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EF – Yup. That’s one reason Hanauer and Co. are taking it so seriously. We’re literally playing for the chance to become world champions. It’s unlikely, but still could happen.
And you might have to buy some chains to keep Montero off the pitch tomorrow. Strikers don’t sit well when their on a heater and that kid is absolutely on fire.
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I’d like to see Flaco start tonight.. See if he can make the whole 90. Since we don’t have a MLS game this week, get a look at his fitness level in this match.
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DY – Thanks. My interest in the UEFA games just went way up! I thought that might be the case. Surprising that MLS isn’t doing more to help fans make the connection.
Regarding Montero, I’m admittedly being over-protective of him. Too valuable as a player and head injuries are not to be taken lightly (still sideways about that collision).
I could see El Flaco starting as well (and would like that).
Being able to bring the two of them off the bench in crunch time with fresh legs seems like a luxury, which is what I originally envisioned. We still need 1-2 more players to establish themselves as goal-scoring threats. Watching RSL last night made that clear.
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EF, the predecessor tournament for CCL was not well run nor taken seriously and Club World Cup is still pretty new, so you’re not alone. We caught it all in its infancy so this is all pretty exciting, particularly with how seriously our FO takes it. Hopefully it grows.
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