Seattle Sounders FC became the first MLS team to oust a Mexican team from the CONCACAF Champions League tournament with a 3-1 win over Tigres UANL Tuesday night at CenturyLink Field, clinching a 3-2 aggregate-goal series win. Defenders DeAndre Yedlin and Djimi Traore both scored long-range shots and Eddie Johnson scored the second-half series-clincher in front of 20,520 on the Xbox Pitch at CenturyLink Field.
Sounders FC also became just the third team in MLS history to advance to the Champions League Semifinals. Seattle will face the winner of the Houston Dynamo and Santos Laguna series in the semifinals. The series concludes tomorrow night in Torreon, Mexico, with the Dynamo leading, 1-0.
Tigres scored first in the 23rd minute when Alberto Acosta evaded the defense up the left side and crossed to Elias Hernandez, who headed it into the back of the net to go up 2-nil on aggregate.
In the 53rd minute, Yedlin scored the first goal of the season for Sounders FC when he blasted a 30-yard volley that found its way through a crowd of players and into the back of the net.
It marked the first professional goal for Yedlin in just his third appearance. He is the youngest player to score a goal for Sounders FC (19 years, eight months and three days).
Traore scored the second goal seven minutes later when he gathered a clearance, touched twice, then rocketed a 30-yard shot that hit the bottom of the crossbar and down into the goal. It was the first Sounders FC goal for Traore since joining the team this offseason.
Johnson scored the series winner in the 75th minute. Zakuani played a ball from deep up the left side to Johnson, who attacked the goal and beat the keeper inside the near post. It was the second goal of the tournament for Johnson, who also scored in a 3-2 win at Marathon on September 19.
Sounders FC played the entire second half a man up after Manuel Viniegra was sent off after his second yellow card for time wasting shortly before halftime.
Sounders FC returns to MLS action on Saturday against Cascadia Cup rivals Portland Timbers. Kickoff is set for 5 p.m. PT on the Xbox Pitch at CenturyLink Field.
