Club America vs. Seattle Sounders | CONCACAF Champions League Match Preview

March 2, 8 pm ET (FS2, SportsNet World)
Club América vs. Seattle Sounders
Estadio Azteca, Mexico City, Mexico
2015-16 CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinals, second leg

The Seattle Sounders surrendered two all-important away goals in the first leg of their CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinals series against Club América, but it wasn’t all bad for the MLS club. Seattle debuted their formation shift to a 4-3-3 to good effect on the offensive end, resulting in two Clint Dempsey goals and a number of other chances. Whether Seattle are able to keep that pace up in the notoriously brutal environment of Estadio Azteca is another question all together.

It could have certainly been a different story coming out of Seattle in the first leg, with Sounders head coach Sigi Schmid rightfully lamenting allowing a first equalizer to América just seconds before halftime. With the Sounders pushing high up the field in their new formation, they were burned by the speedy Darwin Quintero.

“We also have to play a smart, concise game when we head down there,” Sounders defender Brad Evans told media following the first leg. “It can’t be playing like chickens with our heads cut off thinking we have to get a goal in the first five minutes, as it can come in the 95th. That will be fine. That means we need to be good defensively and keeping good possession.”

And while history isn’t exactly kind to MLS teams facing off against Liga MX sides in the CCL knockout rounds, with Mexican outfits having won 12 of the 14 series since the tournament went to its current format in 2008-09, there is some positive precedent for Seattle. The Sounders are one of two MLS teams to beat a Mexican club, topping Tigres UANL in 2012-13. 

Team Guides

• Seattle Sounders:Sans Martins, Seattle enter quarters looking to upset champs
• Club América:América set to take on the adjusting Sounders

Series Pick 'Em

"Jordan Morris is the Kwisatz Haderach" -- Matt Doyle

"The defending champs still have all their outstanding pieces while the Sounders do not, thanks to Martins' departure. The absence of Oba and the change of formation will be too much for Seattle to overcome." --Ben Baer

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• CCL Opponent Watch: No winners in Liga MX in leadup to quarters
• Trophy wars: Which continental trophy would you like to lift?
• How much to MLS and Liga MX styles of play differ?
• Who are the best players to play in both MLS and Liga MX?
• Is another CCL series victory vs. Liga MX on the cards for MLS teams?
• How to watch and follow the CCL quarterfinals
• Should we expect MLS teams to get results in Mexico?
• What is the CCL and why does it matter?
• ETRadio: Dempsey shines in mixed bag for MLS in CCL