The objective for the Seattle Sounders against Motagua on Thursday (7:45 p.m. PT; FS2, TUDN, iHeart Radio, El Rey 1360AM | TICKETS) in Leg Two of the Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League Round of 16 is simple: win and advance.
Following a scoreless draw in Honduras in the first leg, the Sounders can advance to the quarterfinals of the regional competition with a win at Lumen Field on Thursday. Another scoreless draw would send the match to penalties to decide the winner, while any type of scoring draw would see Motagua advance on away goals.
“Obviously we didn’t score, but we got a good result in terms of getting [a shutout],” said Kelyn Rowe. “Now we have a chance to go through on our own terms at home. I think that’s a good thing for us… We’re excited that we have a chance to write our own history in this next one.”
Thursday’s match marks the first occasion in which the Sounders can play at home in front of their fans in 2022. Since joining MLS in 2009, Lumen Field has long been a fortress for the club, and the squad is hopeful that the supporters can once again spur them on to victory.
“There’s no place like home,” added Rowe. “And for us, we have some of the best fans in the world, we want to make sure that we can win for them.”
Jordan Morris, who missed most of the 2021 season due to an ACL injury, echoed that sentiment.
“it’s so exciting,” the Mercer Island native said. “I got a little taste of it coming back last year, but I miss playing in front of the fans – especially in a big game like this. It’s going to be awesome.”
The premier club competition in North America, Central America and the Caribbean, the SCCL has long been the white whale for MLS clubs. No team from Major League Soccer has ever won the prestigious competition, which comes with a spot in the FIFA Club World Cup for the champion.
An ambitious club with a constant expectation of winning trophies, the Sounders are well aware of the monumental occasion at hand.
“We sense an opportunity,” noted goalkeeper Stefan Frei. “This is a tournament where there is still a bit of bragging rights in MLS with who will be the first one to do it. I think we have the squad and the opportunity. We know that, and we want to do well.”
You can get tickets to Thursday night’s decisive Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League match HERE.
