A disappointing showing by the Seattle Sounders saw the US Open Cup holders fall to a 1-0 defeat to Panama's San Francisco in the opening game of CONCACAF Champions League qualifying. Seattle, coming off a widely-publicised 7-0 home loss to Manchester United in a mid-season friendly, started a nearly full-strength team but simply didn't have any ability to penetrate their hosts defence until very late in the match, by which time they were already throwing bodies forward in desperation.
San Francisco Vs. Seattle Sounders, CONCACAF Champions League: Sounders Disappoint, Fall 1-0
The Sounders had complete control for the vast majority of the game, but San Francisco scored on virtually their first attack after Jeff Parke fell over in the box and landed with his arm on the ball. It was an unfortunate but clear-cut penalty kick, and Roberto Brown stepped up to smash the spot kick into the top corner of the net, with Kasey Keller going the wrong way.
Seattle had all of the possession but failed to test Erick Hugues* until very late in the second half, coming closest to a goal when substitute Pat Noonan rattled the post with an excellent header. Alvaro Fernandez somehow failed to stab home the rebound, and the Sounders best chance to take the tie back to the United States on level terms.
*Although they were denied a penalty for handball in the box with fifteen minutes to go.
Sigi Schmid’s side is going to have to play siginificantly better at Qwest Field in order to achieve qualification to the group stages. Generating chances would probably be a good idea for the second leg, for starters. Then again, maybe they don’t want to qualify at all - their group looks difficult enough that it would be completely understandable if the Sounders didn’t want to bother with the whole charade at all.
See More:
