Sounders Beat Mexico’s Best Team…With Backups!

Tonight, your Sounders became only the second MLS team to win a game in Mexico, and they did it without their three best players. Kasey Keller, Fredy Montero and Mauro Rosales not only didn’t play, they didn’t even make the trip to Monterrey, where the Sounders scored a historic 1-0 victory in CONCACAF Champions League play.

The Sounders weren’t really even playing to win, as coach Sigi Schmid admitted after the game. “It was important for us to play to zero tonight,” Schmid said after the game. “We were happy with that defensively and we wanted to try some counterattacks.”

And, in fact, a counterattack birthed the Sounders’ goal. Midfielder Servando Carrasco, with space in the middle of the field, fed the ball ahead to Pat Noonan, who took one touch, then threaded a pass between two defenders to Alvaro Fernandez at the top of the penalty area. “His first touch was great,” Noonan said. “That enabled him to get that shot off and he finished it very well.” No doubt. Fernandez fended off two aggressive Monterey defenders, firing a right-footed shot over Monterrey’s keeper from 15 yards away.

Oh hell, why am I telling you this, you could just watch the video highlights!

Fernandez is a fairly regular starter for Sounders FC. The other stars of the game are not. Carrasco, the Sounders’ second-round pick in the 2011 MLS draft, has started just six MLS games this year and is better known for being the boyfriend of U.S. Womens’ National Team star (and consensus best-looking player) Alex Morgan. Noonan has just one MLS start on the year.

Keeper Terry Boss deserves special recognition. An international laughing stock after allowing six goals in one half in the Manchester United friendly, Boss at least stanched any Mexican laughter by stopping a barrage of second-half Monterrey shots. Once again, that’s Monterrey, the 2010-2011 CONCACAF Champion League winners. Said the Sounders’ Brad Evans after the game: “That will be the best team we play all year, easily.”

Last year, after two games of CONCACAF Champions League play, the Sounders had zero points. This year, they have six. Just four points from their next four Champions League games (it’s three for a win and one for a draw) should be enough to get the Rave Green through to the quarterfinals. The Sounders next Champions League game is Wednesday, September 14 at Herediano, runners-up in Costa Rica’s first division. The team’s next game overall is Sunday afternoon here in Seattle against Columbus Crew.

There can be no doubt: The Sounders are playing the best soccer in their short history.