PANAMA CITY, Panama — San Francisco FC won for only the third time in 13 CONCACAF Champions League matches, converting a first-half penalty to beat the Seattle Sounders 1-0 Tuesday night in the opening game of the confederation championship.
Roberto Brown scored the penalty in the 28th minute when Seattle central defender Jeff Parke lost his footing while guarding Brown and his left hand grazed the ball as he fell.
“Our back four was completely in disarray so then they throw the ball in there, (Jeff) Parke makes a tackle with his hand, the ball probably slipped underneath him,” Sounders coach Sigi Schmid said. “We had a handball as well in the box that he doesn’t call. It was more of a volley ball type of play but obviously that’s going to happen sometimes.”
The first-leg victory ended a three-match losing streak for San Francisco, its first win since July 2009 against San Juan Jabloteh of Trinidad, and gives it the edge for the return leg in Seattle on August 3.
“It’s 1-0 at halftime. It’s important for us to come back and win this thing at home and it’s great preparation for the MLS playoffs.” Schmid said. “We have got to show our ability to come back and score some goals.”
Seattle had the better of play early, having most of the possession but few chances. Osvaldo Alonso volleyed a rolling ball high from 25 meters in the sixth minute and Fredy Montero heading into the outside netting at the right post in the 13th.
San Francisco’s only dangerous looking foray before Brown’s goal came in the 22nd, when Brown found space down the left and sent a low cross toward a streaking Johan de Avila in the middle of the area, but Parke blocked with a sliding tackle.
Seattle repeatedly found space on the flanks, but couldn’t exploit it with San Francisco crowding at least five players at the top of and inside the 18.
The Sounders couldn’t get the ball on target with the few crosses that did make it through, with Lamar Neagle headed over the bar from the edge of the six in the 43rd.
Seattle also has most of the possession in the second half but again few quality chances. Montero’s offering from 23 meters hit the side netting in the 54th, Pat Noonan’s header from the corner of the six off the opposite post and Michael Fucito’s shot cleared off the line in injury time being its best efforts.
“Frustrating. We had our chances,” said Sounders forward Pat Noonan. “We played well defensively and we made a mistake and they made us pay for it. We had our chances. Fortunately for us we are at halftime. We are very confident we are going to go in and get the result back in Seattle. […] We are still very confident.”
The loss, notwithstanding a 7-0 rout by Manchester United in a club friendly last week, was the Sounders’ first in 12 competitive matches dating back to May.
Seattle had nearly all the possession late, but with San Francisco content to defend found little space in the final third.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
