A Clint Dempsey second half goal gave the Seattle Sounders a one-goal advantage over Chivas de Guadalajara as the sides head into next week’s CONCACAF Champions League second leg in Mexico.
In the 78th minute, Henry Wingo was played into space down the right wing, and the local product centered the ball to the oncoming Dempsey, who timed his run perfectly and slotted home past Chivas goalkeeper Rodolfo Cota.
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.@RocketLeague Goal of the Game: 78' Henry Wingo finds Clint Dempsey in the box and the @SoundersFC forward slots it in for the only goal of the game to give the home team the 1-0 victory | #SCCL2018 pic.twitter.com/pw5A9mvsac
— Concacaf (@Concacaf) March 8, 2018
Chivas had chances to score throughout the match but Stefan Frei and the Sounders backline - which had a healthy Chad Marshall back in the lineup - shut the door on the Mexican side.
After a weekend in which few U.S. Men’s National Team-eligible players featured across MLS starting lineups, the Sounders sent out six American starters and brought three more off the bench.
18-year-old sensation Handwalla Bwana, a Homegrown signing like Wingo, made his first Sounders start and caused the Chivas defense a lot of problems with his speed and dribbling ability.
Sounders 18-year-old rookie midfielder Handwalla Bwana said he was so nervous before his first pro start tonight, his hands were shaking while he was tying his shoes. So he went and talked to Clint Dempsey. pic.twitter.com/oZDICQ5dQ8
— Ari Liljenwall (@AriLiljenwall) March 8, 2018
Clint Dempsey hasn’t gotten past first gear all game.. lol. It doesn’t matter. This man is filthy in front of goal. 🐳
— herculez gomez (@herculezg) March 8, 2018
Flash Zone Interviews: Seattle v Guadalajara | @SoundersFC @Chivas #SCCL2018 pic.twitter.com/NhULgHWX58
— Concacaf Champions Cup (@TheChampions) March 8, 2018