Peralta lifts Club América to pulsating draw in Seattle
SEATTLE --
Clint Dempsey emerged as the star on this pulsating night in Seattle, but Oribe Peralta produced the last word to lift defending CONCACAF Champions League champions Club América to a 2-2 draw on Tuesday.
Peralta poked home the second América equalizer of the night after 70 minutes to deny Dempsey and the Sounders a firm foothold in this quarterfinal tie. Dempsey nearly provided it by himself after he curled home a stunning free kick on the stroke of halftime and replied to Darwin Quintero’s immediate equalizer by completing his double early in the second half.
Clint Dempsey scores a stunning free kick for Seattle Sounders. #MLS #CCL https://t.co/ArWQLHlKWf
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) February 24, 2016
Despite Dempsey’s best efforts, Peralta sent Las Aguilas home with a result and laid the foundation for a pulsating return leg next week. This gripping affair carried the sort of endeavor and tempo expected from two of the region’s largest clubs, while the flourishes provided by Dempsey and the influential Rubens Sambueza underscored why they play such prominent roles in their sides.
The final whistle left the Sounders to lament their fate after squandering leads on two occasions at CenturyLink Field. Dempsey provided the foundation for this result, but the inability to track América in the final third ultimately stripped away a possible victory. The state of affairs means the Sounders must either win or score at least three goals in a draw to reach the semifinals.
Seattle grasped the magnitude of the occasion from the outset and started particularly brightly. The hosts revealed a revamped 4-3-3 formation to allow Dempsey and debutant Jordan Morris to mine the space in the wide areas. The desire to increase the tempo and push forward placed América under pressure from the outset.
Darwin Quintero responds on the stroke of halftime. Tied 1-1 at the interval in Seattle. Live @FS1. #MLS #CCL https://t.co/24FtpcWjmo
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) February 24, 2016
América goalkeeper Hugo Gonzalez bailed his team out inside the opening 15 minutes as those set-piece frailties were nearly exploited. The visitors failed to cope with Ivanschitz’s corner kick. The back-and-forth inside the penalty area eventually ended with Osvaldo Martinez nearly heading into his own goal, but Gonzalez -- named in goal with Moisés Muñoz omitted from the squad -- scraped it off the line.
The early scare jolted América into life and provided some inspiration to use the space afforded. The work on the break -- particularly as the Sounders worked through some balance issues -- created a threat. Sambueza nearly benefited from a fortunate deflection as he collected and then shot off the crossbar from an acute angle just before the half-hour.
Everything changed on the stroke of halftime as Dempsey produced a goal of genuine class and Quintero produced an immediate response.
Clint Dempsey is having a very, very good night. Sounders lead 2-1. Live @FS1. #MLS #CCL https://t.co/Ww59Ej1DqG
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) February 24, 2016
Dempsey constructed and completed his sumptuous opener. His tidy work won a foul some 25 yards from goal. He waved away Ivanschitz as the two men debated the placement on the right side of the penalty area. It proved the correct decision as Dempsey’s bending free kick started outside the post and eventually nestled inside it to open the scoring.
América replied moments later as the Sounders switched off in the wake of the opener. Sambueza located plenty of time in the middle third and sliced through the Seattle ball over the top. Quintero raced through the gulf in central defense and calmly tucked away the equalizer to send the teams into halftime on level terms.
"The score could have easily been 4-4 at halftime because they had some chances as well," Schmid said. "They stretched us for sure. But, in the second half, we solved that part of the problem. I was really proud of what our guys did."
Oribe Peralta drifts free to poke home Club América's second goal in Seattle. #MLS #CCL https://t.co/4T0wGsQb07
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) February 24, 2016
It took the Sounders seven minutes to restore their lead with Dempsey and Ivanschitz once again prominently involved. Ivanschitz created the danger this time with his curling corner kick toward the far post. Dempsey climbed over his static marker and nodded home his second goal of the night to spark hopes of a necessary victory on home turf.
Mexico forward Peralta dashed those dreams with a typically ruthless finish to equalize after 70 minutes. The lively Sambueza served as the protagonist as he gathered on the left, moved into space and angled his cross toward the far post. Peralta drifted into the vacant channel and stabbed past the stranded Stefan Frei to draw América level.
Both teams threatened to continue the back-and-forth on a night that never well and truly settled, but the final minutes never yielded the winner. The stalemate left the holders to return to Mexico City with a pair of precious away goals and placed the Sounders in a position to chase the tie at Estadio Azteca next Wednesday.
