2020 marks Seattle Sounders FC’s sixth entry into Concacaf Champions League. A tournament that invites the top domestic clubs from North America, Central America and the Caribbean to square off in a head-to-head format, the CCL allows the top clubs to compete for regional supremacy.
From facing the giants of Liga MX to up-and-coming sides from around the region, the Rave Green have played plenty of memorable CCL matches at CenturyLink Field. Here are the top five home games:
5.) Seattle Sounders 3 – 1 CD Marathon (October 24, 2012)
The Sounders were a force to be reckoned with during the 2012-13 edition of CCL. Fielding a heavily rotated lineup for the group stage, the Rave Green steamrolled Honduran powerhouse Marathon. Seattle cruised to a 3-1 win at CenturyLink Field, launching wave after wave of attack to overwhelm the Hondurans. The best goal of the night came courtesy of Steve Zakuani, who put his defender on the floor with a hesitation move before blasting his shot into the top corner.
4.) Seattle Sounders 3 – 0 Vancouver Whitecaps (September 23, 2015)
Seattle kicked off the group stage of the 2015-16 CCL in disappointing fashion as they settled for a 1-1 draw on the road against the Whitecaps. Entering the final matchday with a home fixture against the Whitecaps, Seattle needed three points to secure a spot in the Quarterfinals. The boys delivered in front of a crowd of 37,624 supporters, with the Rave Green picking up a 3-0 win. Hometown favorite Lamar Neagle bagged a brace, and Chad Barrett rounded out the scoring with a trademark set-piece header. With the win, Seattle finished first in the group, just one point ahead of C.D. Olimpia.
3.) Seattle Sounders 2 – 2 Club America (February 23, 2016)
Yes, the Sounders didn’t win this game. But the surrounding context, earning a thrilling draw against the reigning CCL champs, makes this result extremely important. Clint Dempsey put in a vintage performance, tallying two incredible goals as the Sounders picked up a solid result in Leg One. The match also marked the official pro debut of Sounders Homegrown Jordan Morris, who has gone on to lead the club to two MLS Cup titles. Although the Sounders lost the second leg, the first match crystallized the club’s burgeoning reputation across the continent.
2.) Seattle Sounders 2 – 1 C.D. Olimpia (August 19, 2015)
Seattle’s most iconic CCL match came in a late, dramatic 2-1 victory over the Honduran juggernauts during the 2015-16 Group Stage. When the visitors took a 1-0 lead in the 5th minute, it seemed like the Sounders’ stint in the tournament would be brief. After 85 minutes of antics from the visitors, the Rave Green equalized through Erik Friberg in the 90th minute. Seattle was then awarded a penalty kick in second half stoppage time, which Brad Evans confidently dispatched seven minutes into stoppage time. But what supporters will remember is the benches-clearing brawl that broke out after Evans snatched three points at the death.
1.) Seattle Sounders 3 -1 Tigres UANL (March 12, 2013)
This match had everything.
Entering the second leg down a goal on aggregate to one of Liga MX’s perennial giants, things went from bad to worse for the Sounders as Tigres grabbed a crucial away goal in the 23rd minute, taking a 2-0 lead into halftime.
But then Sounders Homegrown DeAndre Yedlin pulled one back in the 53rd minute, scoring a belter in his first start for his hometown club. Then there was Djimi Traore’s absurd 30-yard volley into the top corner, arguably the greatest goal in club history. With the score level on aggregate, Zakuani set up Eddie Johnson for the winner in the 75th minute, making the Sounders the first-ever MLS club to oust a Liga MX side from the competition.
