Seattle and Toronto FC earn spots in CONCACAF Champions League

Both Toronto FC and the Seattle Sounders went on the road in difficult conditions and earned results earning them places in the CONCACAF Champions League group phase last night.  Toronto FC had to go to Honduras and face Motagua in the second leg of their battle.  Toronto held a 1-0 lead from the opening leg last week in Canada. 

Motagua was on the front foot all night long as they knew they had to take the initiative on home soil.  Interestingly enough it was former Toronto player Armado Guevara who was the thorn scoring twice on the evening.  Each time though Toronto FC would answer in dramatic fashion.  Guevara put Motagua ahead 2-1 in the 74th minute bringing the aggregate all square, but Chad Barrett would find the winner just five minutes later when his deflected shot found the net.  The 2-2 draw put Toronto into the group phase of the tournament.

Meanwhile, Seattle had to travel to El Salvador and face off with Metapan in a driving rainstorm on a mudpit of a pitch.   The Sounders also held a 1-0 lead from the opening leg, but they would have their hands full with Metapan.  A 34th minute goal from Anel Canales put the pressure on Seattle in the bad conditions, but a snap header in the 75th minute from Alvaro Fernandez would put the Sounders into the next round.

Seattle join Group C of the Champions League, along with Mexico's Monterrey, Saprissa of Costa Rica and the winner of the Marathón-Tauro preliminary round. Marathón hold a 3-0 lead heading into Wednesday's second leg.