Guadalajara bail out Liga MX in classy defeat of the Seattle Sounders

AP Images

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AP Images

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Chivas Guadalajara rode three classy second-half goals to a 3-0 win against the Seattle Sounders in the CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinals to put them through to the semifinals courtesy of a 3-1 aggregate scoreline.

The win prevented a clean sweep of three CCL quarterfinals pitting Major League Soccer clubs against Liga MX rivals after the New York Red Bulls advanced past Tijuana and Toronto FC dispatched Tigres on Tuesday night.

The hosts, trailing 1-0 after last week's first leg in Seattle, put Stefan Frei to work early on when Eduardo Lopez redirected a Rodolfo Pizarro cross on frame, but the shot went right at the Sounders keeper and he easily corralled it.

Seattle was forced into an early substitution after Will Bruin was involved in a collision with two Chivas players and took a knock to his head. After trying to play on for several minutes, Brian Schmetzer was forced to bring on Lamar Neagle in his stead.

The visiting side was short on chances in the first half, with Clint Dempsey's shot from extremely long range on 20 minutes providing the sternest test for Rodolfo Cota, who had to backtrack to his line and palm the attempt over the crossbar.

Chad Marshall was the second Sounder to make way in the first half for a substitute after appearing to take a shot to his right eye while defending a shot from Lopez. Kim Kee-Hee, who just joined Seattle at the start of the season, came on for the veteran defender in the 35th minute.

Despite dominating possession and chances in the first half, Chivas went to the dressing room in a goalless draw and still trailing 1-0 on aggregate.

But the Liga MX side came out firing in the second half and Oswaldo Alanis soon had the opener, beating Frei with a perfect free kick from 25 yards after Kim brought down Pizarro.

And minutes later the lead was doubled with an exquisite goal from Lopez who played the ball over Frei after picking up an inch-perfect pass from Pizarro then nodding home to make it 2-0,

With Seattle still just needing an away goal to pull ahead on aggregate, Chivas dealt the final blow. A Sounders giveaway in their own area allowed Isaac Brizuela to square to Jesus Godinez, whose neat back-heel flick made it 3-0 and sent the crowd into delirium.

Chivas will host the New York Red Bulls in the first leg of the semifinals, which begin on Tuesday, April 3.