SEATTLE – The Seattle Sounders took a wild 2-1 win in their second CONCACAF Champions League matchup against Honduras' Club Olimpia, riding a late penalty kick from captain Brad Evans to the improbable comeback win Wednesday night at CenturyLink Field.
With the victory, the Sounders bagged all three points at home and moved to 1-0-1 in CCL play, following a 1-1 draw with the Vancouver Whitecaps earlier this month. Club Olimpia fall to 0-1-0 ahead of their next CCL match at home against Seattle next Wednesday.
Seattle fell behind early and looked destined for a major loss until a header from midfielder Erik Friberg leveled the score in the 90th minute. Olimpia’s Arnold Peralta was then whistled for the deciding penalty kick for a foul on Seattle’s Dylan Remick beyond the announced four minutes of second-half stoppage time, allowing Evans to convert the game-winner from the spot to seal the victory.
Evans’ PK sparked off a wild scene at the end of the contest, as a shoving match between the teams broke out near the Olimpia goal with players from both sides having to be restrained.
Forward Alberth Ellis tallied the lone goal for Olimpia, cashing a header in just the sixth minute. The Sounders generated plenty of chances to equalize but never quite manage to find the leveling goal until the game's dying moments.
Sounders midfielder Aaron Kovar had Seattle’s two best chances at equalizing in the opening half, the first coming minutes after Ellis’ goal when a Micheal Azira cross bounced free in the Olimpia box. But Olimpia ‘keeper Noel Vallardes laid out to make a great diving save and deflect Kovar’s attempt away.
Seattle then had another look in the 30th minute after Lamar Neagle wrestled his way free on the right flank and shot a cross to a wide-open Kovar. But the second-year Homegrown product couldn’t quite convert, bouncing his shot off the right post to keep the Sounders down by the single goal.
Neagle then had a chance midway through the second half that seemed destined for the net, but the chance went just wide of the near post, leaving the CenturyLink crowd frustrated prior to the dramatic comeback.
The Sounders vault to the top of Group F with the victory and return to CCL play for another matchup with Club Olimpia in Tegucigalpa next Wednesdsay.
