Final thoughts:

It was an entertaining game in the end, with Seattle, and Dempsey in particular, doing their best to provide some intensity in their first competitive match of the year. They led twice, and were not so much undone by the quality of Club América’s attack as by their own lapses of concentration. And if they get eliminated in Mexico next week, any frustration about that will recognize that América are as vulnerable as they ever are right now.

Dempsey recognized that, or just cares little for reputations, but he can only do so much to open up América’s defense on his own. Obafemi Martins’ cutting edge was missed tonight.

Two away goals for América should be enough to see them through next week, and a nod to Oribe Peralta for reaching the 20 goal mark in CCL play with his team’s second goal. They were shaky on set pieces, but generally handled everything Seattle threw at them with poise. And when they sensed their pressure could tell, they were happy to commit players forward.

So an underwhelming night for the MLS sides and a blow for the status quo on behalf of the Mexican teams. Till next time, thanks for joining me this evening.

90 mins+2: Silly yellow card picked up by Ivanschitz for dissent, as he protests another perceived América foul.

But now here’s a last chance for Seattle as Demspey earns a free kick on the very left corner of the box. Ivanschitz lofts it in and it’s headed clear. Darwin Jones shot is charged down...and that will be that for the game.

90 mins +1: There’s a push in the box and the free kick comes to naught.

90 mins: “Fight and win” demand the Seattle fans, in full voice. Easier said than done, as Seattle finish the regular 90 minutes on the back foot. Two minutes to be added on, which will start with a Club América free kick in Seattle territory.

88 mins: Goltz whips the free kick low past the Seattle wall and forces Frei to parry the ball round his post for a corner. It’s cleared, but time’s running out for Seattle to take even a marginal advantage into the second leg.

86 mins: A Joevin Jones cross is deflected and loops up towards the spt to where Dempsey is tussling, illegally it turns out, to get on the end of it.

Darwin Jones comes on for Morris for the final Seattle substitution. And immediately Jones gives up a dangerous free kick 30 yards out and central. Before it can be taken Mares replaces Quintero for América.

84 mins: Seattle pressing, but América defending stoutly every time the ball comes near the box. Now they’re on the attack, and a weary Seattle defense stands of Aguilar on the edge of the box, allowing him to get off a shot he should have done better with. It bounces clear.

82 mins: Quintero catches Ivanschitz late as Seattle try to advance the ball up the field. Seattle take the free kick and move the ball up the field with more urgency than previously in the game, but other than a couple of charged down long shots, they don’t show any signs of truly stretching América in this sequence.

80 mins: Into the last ten minutes now with Club América holding the away goal balance of power. They nearly have an even better position as Peralta bursts into the box, only to stumble on the ball as he shapes to shoot. América retain possession though.

78 mins: Signs that the MLS team is tiring, while América push for the decisive breakthrough. Seattle counter and a smart Morris run sees him pick up the ball off the shoulder of the last defender, but he’s eased out wide and holds up the ball to little effect.

76 mins: Morris gets in behind on the right and draws another corner off a blocked cross. Ivanschitz can’t get this one past the first man on the post, though.

Morris has done fine, but it hasn’t been a spectacular arrival on to the professional scene as yet.

74 mins: ...Seattle were briefly stretched on that counter and relieved to see Frei get low to smother the ball in the end. But they’re facing pressure now as Club América sense a chance to effectively kill this tie.

Roldan on for Frieberg and Kovar on for Valdez as Schmid brings on two young subs to try and change the direction this game is taking.

72 mins: That man Dempsey holds off three defenders before earning a free kick near the corner flag. This one’s cleared easily enough and now Club América can counter...

68 mins: Andrade doing some good work down the left for América and this time Jones is marginally out of position as América switch play to his flank. He recovers enough to block Aguilar’s cross/shot, but AMérica are beginning to ramp up the pressure again.

66 mins: Everything good for Seattle is running through Dempsey, who is going looking for the ball more now.

Sounders down to ten men momentarily as Friberg is off the field receiving treatment. Can América take advantage? They’re attacking, but Jones battles superbly to crowd out Sambueza as he tries to squeeze past him to the byline. He’s had a solid debut.

64 mins: América happy to chop up the momentum of the hosts with more tactical fouls and given Alonso’s loss of cool there, it’s working.

Ooh, there’s a great chance opened up for Morris, as he works his way brilliantly into space on the edge of the box, only to horribly slash his shot — so horribly it’s almost a perfect defense splitting pass.

62 mins: Andrade comes on for Club América. He’ll replace Lozano. Meanwhile Valdez has picked up a couple of knocks and he’s on the floor again. Alonso is rather disgusted by this development and lets his feelings be known. He’s booked as a result. So that didn’t help.

60 mins: ...poor free kick from Dempsey this time and it deflects harmlessly off the wall and away. You’d have to think Seattle need a two goal cushion to take to the Azteca in the second leg — that’s a wasted chance. Though in fairness, replays show a hint of handball in the “deflection”.

58 mins: Frei was somewhat at fault for not getting down quick enough on the first goal, but he saved his team right there.

And now Seattle go up the other end and earn another dangerous free kick in Dempsey range as Sambueza brings down Friberg. He earns a yellow card for his problems and América have a free kick to defend...

56 mins: These next few minutes are crucial for Seattle as they look to hold then consolidate their lead. Great opportunism again for Dempsey, who looks to have benefitted from his first full pre-season with the Sounders.

América though have looed at their most dangerous in the moments immediately after they’ve looked most vulnerable. And now Frei has to come up big to stretch out a leg and deny Peralta’s low shot from inside the box! A warning for Seattle.

54 mins: As before América try to storm straight back and there’s a half chance for Martinez from 25 yards but he scuffs his shot wide as the goal seemed to open up in front of him.

52 mins: America offering a lot of little fouls to break up play in the middle third, but Seattle generally content to play the resulting free kicks laterally to retain possession without causing much direct danger. They have a corner now though, after Morris’s cross is charged down...and...

50 mins: Again, just a side note, but this turf is definitely playing a lot better than what we’re used to seeing from Seattle home games. It’s making for a more enjoyable game for the neutral.

48 mins: It’s an early corner for Seattle after some battling down the right by Valdez. And it’s Valdez who powers a header goalward off Ivanschitz’s corner. The referee had blown for an infringement before it deflected clear, but that’s another threatening set piece from Seattle — currently those have represented some of their best chances.

Half-time thoughts:

That was a real gut punch for Seattle, after Clint Dempsey looked to have singlehandedly turned the run of play and then balance of power in the tie, with his delicious free kick. From there, Seattle could have got to the half with a lead to possibly build on, but instead immediately found themselves giving up the away goal in the most straightforward fashion.

Seattle had started in lively fashion, only to begin to lose ground as Club América asserted themselves in the middle of the half. Dempsey’s intervention looked to have changed that only for the Sounders advantage to last a mere 91 seconds.

There’ve beens igns that the 4-3-3 will work for Seattle at some stage — flashes from Dempsey, Valdez, Ivanschitx, the overlapping Jones, and yes, Morris, that suggests it’ll be a success this MLS season.

But Seattle really need it to be a success in the next 45 minutes if they’re to have any chance in the second leg. They need at least one goal...

42 mins: Another decent Seattle build up with Dempsey trying to crank the tempo up on a series of short passes. Unfortunately it only serves to remind us of what’s missing with Martins and his inspired close control not being on the field. The chance fizzles out.

40 mins: Another awkward moment for Seattle as Quintero almost splits MArshall and Frei competing for a ball behind the defense. Marshall has to pull up sharply as his keeper dives forward to smother the ball. Still 0-0.

Finally another Seattle attack of note, after some good work by Jones and Ivanschitz down the left. The latter’s cross is headed clear, but for the first time in several minutes América looked off-balance in the build up.

38 mins: Seattle’s best chance so far was also the moment that seemed to inspire their opponents most, while America doubled their efforts after Sambueza’s shot rebounded off the bar. Now they get another look but Lozano’s low cross is met by a heavy first touch in the box by Peralta.

36 mins: Morris back in defense to help out as America move the ball back and forward around the box looking for an opening.

34 mins: Seattle look more like their end-of-season weary selves than a revitalized group right now, though credit is due to América’s spirited harrying when they’re without the ball.

32 mins: Seattle earn some respite and an opportunity after peralta steps on Alonso’s heel for a free kick. But in a flash the free kick is wasted, América are countering and Quintero is sweeping the ball across the box to where the onrushing Peralta is just distracted enough to pass up the chance — though not before diving hopefully to the ground in hope of a penalty.

30 mins: A replay of the Sambueza chance shows the ball ricocheting perfectly off Evans heel to set up the América attacker. It’s still 0-0, but the Mexicans look in the ascendancy at the moment.

28 mins: Seattle wobbling now as América grow in confidence. The visitors moving the ball around at will as they try to pick their passes further up the field now.

26 mins: CLUB AMERICA HIT THE BAR! After some defensive confusion in the Seattle box, Sambueza pounces on a loose ball on the left of the six yard box and smacks a shot off the underside of the bar! A let off for Seattle.

24 mins: Jones tries to drive at the América defense down the left but he’s blocked out. América looking more comfortable in defense right now, while Seattle lacking a little bit of guile for the moment.

22 mins: Seattle have a free kick out wide as Valdez is kicked by Goltz. They take it short and fail to pick their way through. The hosts have just gone off the boil a little in the last few minutes.

20 mins: Ivanschitz crowded off the ball as he tries to pick his way through a crowded midfield and América take the opportunity to slow the game down when they retrieve the ball. Still 0-0.

18 mins: Now it’s a couple of decent chances for América as Peralta’s acceleration causes problems up the middle for the hosts. Just a reminder that they need to take their chances in the moments when they’re dominant, as América are very capable of hurting them in an instant.

16 mins: Replays suggest Seattle might have had a very legitimate shout for a penalty in that last goalmouth incident, but the referee had no interest.

...And now Seattle get another chance as the ball is just taken off Ivanschitz’s toes after a lovely disguised pass from Valdez on the edge of the box. América creaking a bit while Seattle, driven along by Dempsey, are showing some signs of swagger.

14 mins: INCHES...From the corner, the ball pinballs around the six yard box in the air and is eventually pawed clear by an off-balance Gonzalez, with just a hint of handball beforehand from Martinez, as Morris looked to guide the ball (and tomorrow’s headlines) home.

12 mins: Seattle have settled well despite the pressing from Club América. Now a kindly ricochet opens up a channel in the box for Ivanschitz, but his attempted drive across goal is cut out for a corner as the visitors recover.

10 mins: Chad Marshall wants a penalty after he goes sprawling while going up for a header from the free kick. It looked a frankly optimistic request.

Lovely interplay from Dempsey and Ivanschitz in the middle of the park, to flick a ball behind the América defense but Valdez is just offside as he races onto it. Still 0-0.

8 mins: Demspey tries to release Joevin Jones on the overlap down the left, but it’s cut out. Here come Seattle again, spreading the play. Mears lofts in a cross from the right that Morris goes up for, but can’t control.

Now Seattle have a free kick halfway inside América’s half after Valdez got clattered...

6 mins: The turf, for what it’s worth, does indeed seem to be playing a little slower than other games I’ve watched at this stadium. Of course just as I write that Jordan Morris falls over on it inside the América box.

4 mins: It’s a high tempo, if not very precise, start to the game.

2 mins: Seattle go up the other end and the ball bobbles out to the edge of the box for the onrushing Alonso to lash a low shot just beyond the near post. He may have had a little more time than he thought, but it was a decent looking low drive. Early looks for both teams.

Nearly off

A crisp evening in Seattle — perfect conditions.

Looking through that Club America line up a little more closely by the way, there are six changes from the weekend’s line up.

Mr Morris

With all of the hype around Jordan Morris and the attention his international appearances while still a college student have drawn, it seems strange to be writing that he’s about to make his professional debut, but that’s exactly what’s happening.

What we have seen of him in a US shirt has suggested he won’t be overawed. Morris is smart in his movement, has pace, positivity in the final third and looks very much like a Seattle player. And under the circumstance he needs to look like a Seattle player...fast. Will he add to his burgeoning reputation tonight? Is it fair to even ask?

Advantage Mexico

The Queretaro vs D.C. game has just finished 2-0 to the hosts, and D.C. will be kicking themselves for not taking at least one of several presentable chances, while Queretaro buried both their best looks at goal. On paper this tie looked like offering the best chance for an MLS side to advance, but D.C. have a wafer thin margin for error in the second leg now.

The grass is not always greener

Seattle have just relaid their infamous turf — which was the primary reason Thierry Henry, among others, was never seen taking a pre-game trip up the Space Needle during his time in MLS.

Funnily enough, the famously turf-averse Henry was happy enough to play on Portland’s artificial turf, which is of a variety that the Sounders have now emulated. Clint Dempsey for one, has already noted that the new turf is easier on the joints for being less hard, while other team mates have called it “night and day” from the old surface.

Not that the old turf didn’t have its uses. Aside from stripping opposition teams of players worried about playing on turf, the surface was also seen as something of an advantage for a Sounders team familiar with its speed and bounce. The new turf plays a little more closely to regular grass surfaces apparently.

Mind you Sigi Schmid for one does not buy into the fact that the turf is that big a deal - telling MLSsoccer.com:

“Our advantage is our 40,000 fans that come. The turf has played a part in the past but our real advantage is our crowd, our fans and our atmosphere ... That’s our advantage.”

Meanwhile, elsewhere, part two...

As I hit “send” on that last post, Queretaro just scored another one. So there’s that. 2-0.

Meanwhile, elsewhere...

D.C. United were on the road and facing Queretaro at altitude in the first of the quarter finals, starting earlier this evening. They’ve had plenty of chances, and hit the bar early in the second half, but they’re currently a goal down late on, and understandably look to be wilting as the relative differences in fitness begin to tell. A 1-0 deficit would not be the worst result to take back to D.C., mind you.

Club América

The champions have been in muted form in recent months and this game is sandwiched between a couple of tricky league games for them. They’re in danger of losing touch in Liga MX and have a tricky game against Tigres this weekend, so theoretically there’s always a possibility of a weakened side from them tonight.

That said, the team are looking for some momentum from somewhere. Dario Benedetto, for example, hasn’t scored all year. Even so, any side that features Oribe Peralta is always going to be dangerous regardless of form. Peralta will be a definite starter as he’s out of the weekend’s game with Tigres having been red-carded for an elbow on Francisco Javier Rodriguez in a wild 3-3 draw with Cruz Azul last week. Peralta scored in that game and was at the heart of Club America’s attacking threat and as a serial tormenter of Concacaf opponents in recent seasons, you can be sure he’s at the top of Seattle’s list of concerns.

Though if we’re in the business of making lists, Seattle will also have to deal with some potential combination of Andres Andrade, Osvaldo Martinez, Darwin Quintero and Rubens Sambueza running at them.

Perhaps they could take some tips from Montreal…

Perhaps not.

Mind you, the above video is a reminder of more innocent times — the cutaway shot to Concacaf President Jeffrey Webb takes us back to a time when a man could wear his 11 luxury watches to a game in peace, without the State Department getting all persnickety and taking them for bail security.

Seattle Sounders

So Obafemi Martins is off to China, which rather takes the gloss off the coup of persuading Jordan Morris to stay in the USA.

In case you wondered how valuable Martins has been for Seattle and how much they’re going to miss him, this short highlight reel might make for sobering viewing.

It’s left Sigi Schmid with a headache after yet another underwhelming playoff exit — the team took FC Dallas to penalties in the conference semi-finals but were frequently overrun over the two legs and looked burnt out by the end. At least Schmid could hope that Martins would be good for driving some of those dominant patches of form the Sounders seem to enjoy every season. When Martins and Clint Dempsey have been at their best, the Sounders have swept all before them domestically, while they’ve looked toothless without them.

Schmid has been experimenting with a 4-3-3 formation in pre-season, in the hope that Morris, Dempsey and 32 year old Nelson Valdez can gel into a free-flowing creative attack. It’ll put more pressure on Ossie Alonso on the defensive side, especially facing a packed Club America midfield, but it will also be dependent on Andreas Ivanschitz’s ability to provide the telling passes out of midfield that allow the attacking trio to do damage.

And the Sounders need to do damage — the prospect of going to the Azteca with anything less than a lead should be incentive enough to make then take a few risks this evening. Not that they’re ever set up to play it safe…

Preamble

Evening all, and welcome to the knockout rounds of the 1977-78 2015-16 Concacaf Champions League — in which a series of bleary-eyed MLS teams awaken from winter hibernation to the dawning horror that they are on a field with fully warmed up Mexican teams 3-5-2-ing them to death, while the MLS teams frantically try to remember exactly why they’re there in the first place.

A quick splash of NRG Drink™ to the face and a sideline glance at wikipedia will of course reveal that their ancestors (15 months is a lifetime in MLS) won some local trophies in 2014, then their ancestors’ descendants won some group stage games in 2015, and now, with the 2016 MLS domestic season still two weeks away, the proud owners of some team-themed “Hello, my name is _______” badges will be competing for their new team’s honor on the continental stage.

It’s a tall order — as explained here, the idiosyncratic scheduling of the MLS season is only one factor working against the MLS sides. And tonight’s match up illustrates that all too clearly — Seattle are trying to reinvent their attack (more of that in a moment) in the wake of losing Obafemi Martins, while facing up to the reigning Concacaf champions Club America. Among other inconveniences, that means a return trip to the intimidating environment of the Azteca Stadium in the second leg.

Certainly of the four MLS teams up against Mexican teams in these quarter finals, arguably only RSL, up against the in-form Apertura champions Tigres, have a tougher tie than the Sounders.

I’ll be back in a bit with more build up, team news and homeopathic treatments for artificial turf burns, but in the meantime you can always tweet me at @KidWeil or email graham.parker@theguardian.com with your thoughts, predictions and unfounded optimism for the new season.

Graham will be here shortly. In the meantime, read his preview of this week’s Concacaf Champions League games: