SEATTLE, Wash.
- Seattle Sounders FC (4-0-0, 12 points in CCL) concluded its
undefeated run in the CONCACAF Champions League Group Stage with a 3-1
victory over CD Marathon (1-2-1, 4 points in CCL) Wednesday night on the
Xbox Pitch at CenturyLink Field. Seattle finished the group stage as
one of three perfect teams, and has clinched the No. 3 seed in next
March's quarterfinal round.
Sammy
Ochoa scored in his fourth straight Champions League game and is now
tied for second with four goals in this year's tournament.
Sounders
FC finished the group stage unbeaten for the first time in club
history, and the four straight Champions League wins matches last
season's team record for most consecutive wins in the tournament.
Seattle is one of three teams to finish this year's group stage
undefeated, along with Mexico's Monterrey and Santos Laguna, who hold
the advantage over Seattle on goal differential.
Ochoa opened up the scoring in the 23rd
minute. Mike Seamon and Mario Martinez combined on the right flank,
freeing Martinez into space. The Honduran international crossed the ball
into the box to Ochoa, who fought around a defender and volleyed the
ball inside the near post.
Ochoa
leads Sounders FC with four goals in this year's tournament, and he is
the club's third leading scorer with eight goals across all
competitions.
The
assist for Martinez gives him two assists in Champions League play. He
also assisted Ochoa's goal in the previous matchup at Marathon on
September 19.
Just
five minutes after Ochoa's goal, Seattle doubled the lead when Steve
Zakuani got behind the defense on a ball from Jeff Parke, juked a
defender in the box, then beat the keeper with a high blast inside the
near post.
The goal marked the second across all competitions this season for Zakuani.
Marathon got on the board in 37th
minute when Mauricio Sabillon played up to Tulio Vega on the right side
of the box for a one-time cross that found Michel Brown for an easy
tap-in.
It was the first open-play goal allowed by Sounders FC in this year's tournament after previously conceding four penalty kicks.
David Estrada added to the lead in the 76th
minute. After Martinez's pass into the box went off the leg of a
Marathon defender, Estrada regained control and pounded it into the top
of the net.
Sounders
FC has scored three goals in each match of the 2012-13 Champions League
Group Stage, and the team's 12 goals broke the club record for scoring
in the group stage, topping last year's mark of 10 goals in six group
stage matches.
Seattle
goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann made his first appearance for Sounders FC
since signing on September 14. The 40-year-old, who last appeared for
the USL Sounders in 1996, made four saves, including a stop on a
point-blank blast from Brown in the box in the 66th minute. It marked his first appearance in a competitive match since January 30, 2011 in the fourth round of the FA Cup.
Sounders
FC returns to action Sunday in Southern California for the MLS regular
season finale against the LA Galaxy. Kickoff is at 6:00 p.m. at the Home
Depot Center.
CONCACAF Champions League Standings
1. Monterrey 4-0-0 (12 points) +15 (15/0)
2. Santos 4-0-0 (12 points) +12 (13/1)
3. Seattle 4-0-0 (12 points) +7 (12/5)
4. Herediano 3-0-1 (10 points) +3 (4/1)
5. Tigres 2-0-2 (8 points) +9 (12/3)
6. Houston 2-0-2 (8 points) +6 (9/3)
7. LA Galaxy* 2-0-1 (7 points) +7 (9/2)
8. Xelaju* 2-0-1 (7 points) +2 (6/4)
*Two
groups still have one game remaining, both to be played on Thursday,
October 25. In Group 5, the LA Galaxy visit Metapan, with the Galaxy
already clinching advancement to the quarterfinal round. In Group 8,
Xelaju visits Guadalajara, with the group winner still to be decided.
Tonight's Results
Santos Laguna 1 - 0 Toronto FC
Seattle Sounders FC 3 - Marathon 1
Tigres UANL 5 - 0 Alajuelense 0
Remaining Schedule (October 25 at 7 p.m. PT)
Guadalajara vs. Xelaju
Metapan vs. LA Galaxy
Scoring Summary:
SEA - Sammy Ochoa (Mario Martinez) 23'
SEA - Steve Zakuani 28'
MAR - Michel Brown (Tulio Vega, Mauricio Sabillon) 37'
SEA - David Estrada 76'