Santa Tecla vs. Seattle Sounders FC
2018 CONCACAF Champions League – Round of 16, Leg 1
Estadio Las Delicias - Santa Tecla
10 pm ET – Feb. 22, 2018
WATCH: go90.com, univisiondeportes.com
Along with Toronto FC, Seattle Sounders FC had the shortest offseason in Major League Soccer with a little more than 10 weeks separating the agonizing end of the 2017 season – with a loss in their second consecutive appearance in the MLS Cup – and the start of the 2018 campaign with a Round of 16 CONCACAF Champions League encounter against Santa Tecla.
With a large chunk of last year’s team still intact and with reinforcements coming from all across the globe, the Sounders FC could match their deepest run in the – a semifinal appearance in 2012-13 – or better this spring, but injuries have surfaced at the end of preseason.
With former Chivas USA midfielder Gerson Mayen in their squad, Santa Tecla will hope to derive some confidence from a 1-1 draw against FC Dallas earlier this month. They are also very tough at home with a 21-match unbeaten streak at Estadio Las Delicias, dating back to a 1-0 loss to Dragon on April 19, 2017. Away from home, though, it’s been a different story with Santa Tecla winless in their last nine.
- Boehm: Checking in with MLS' CCL quintet
- Brian Schmetzer discusses new roster additions and CCL
- Garth Lagerway on the importance of the CCL for Sounders
- CONCACAF Champions League cheat sheet
Santa Tecla
Uruguayan Ruben “Polillita” Da Silva is two months into his first season as head coach, replacing Argentine Ernesto Corti, who stepped down following a 4-1 loss to Alianza in the Apertura final. The Tecleños are currently second in the Salvadoran Clausura standings, six points behind undefeated Alianza following a 3-0 win over Dragon Sunday that snapped a two-match losing streak.
- Suspended: None
- Suspended after next caution: None
- Injury Report: None
Projected Starting XI
(4-4-2, right to left)
GK: Joel Almeida — Bryan Tamacas, Roberto Dominguez, Yosimar Quinones, Juan Barahona — Wilma Torres, Fernando Quintanilla, Gerson Mayen, Marlon Cornejo — Liber Quinones, Ricardinho
Seattle Sounders FC
There could be up to nine players on the field in El Salvador that started the MLS Cup final, but that didn’t stop Sounders coach Brian Schmetzer from tinkering with a new formation (4-4-2 diamond) during the preseason, upgrading in the midfield and increasing his options throughout his roster. What might we see Thursday night? We wont know until kickoff, but what is certain is there will be more than a few at Estadio Las Delicias rooting on the brothers Roldan.
- Suspended: None
- Suspended after next caution: None
- Injury Report: OUT: D Kelvin Leerdam (ankle sprain), D Roman Torres (leg), M Osvaldo Alonso (quad strain). QUESTIONABLE: M Victor Rodriguez (quad strain)
Projected Starting XI
(4-2-3-1, right to left)
GK: Stefan Frei — Jordan McCrary, Tony Alfaro, Chad Marshall, Nouhou Tolo — Cristian Roldan, Gustav Svensson — Nicolas Lodeiro, Clint Dempsey, Victor Rodriguez — Jordan Morris
Previous Meetings
This is the first-ever meeting between Santa Tecla and the Seattle Sounders FC.
- CONCACAF Champions League history: Santa Tecla - 1 appearance (2015/16) 0 wins, 2 losses, 2 ties (3 goals) … Seattle Sounders FC - 4 appearances (2010/11, 2011/12, 2012/13, 2015/16) 14 wins, 13 losses, 5 ties (48 goals)
Referees
Referee: Melvin Matamoros (Honduras)
Assistant Referees: Melvyn Cruz (Honduras), Angel Castillo (Dominican Republic)
Fourth Official: Hector Martinez (Honduras)
