MONTERREY (MEXICO)
AT SEATTLE SOUNDERS FC
7 p.m. Wednesday, Qwest Field.
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 by winning the 2009 U.S. Open Cup. The Sounders opened group play with a 2-1 loss at Marathon (Honduras). Monterrey opened with a 1-0 home win over 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 MONTERREY: The club was founded in Monterrey, Mexico, in 1945. Its full name is Club de Futbol Monterrey. It qualified by winning the Mexican Apertura. The club has won three Mexican league championships, the 1991 Copa Mexico and the 1993 CONCACAF Cup Winners Cup. This is its first Champions League appearance. The club manager is Victor Manuel Vucetich. Top players include midfielder Luis Perez, defender Duilo Davino and strikers Humberto Suazo and Jesus Arellano.
NOTES: Seattle’s loss at Marathon ended a nine-game unbeaten streak over all competitions. … Brad Evans, Pat Noonan and Peter Vagenas are out due to injury, and Tyrone Marshall is unavailable due to yellow-card accumulation. Patrick Ianni should be available after suffering stomach illness earlier in the week. However, the status of Steve Zakuani (pelvic strain) is uncertain. … As of Tuesday, more than 18,000 tickets had been sold.
NEXT: Seattle returns to MLS play at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, meeting the Chicago Fire at Qwest Field. The Sounders’ next Champions League match is at Saprissa on Sept. 14.