Chivas rode incredible luck, incredible defense, and a botched penalty cal by the ref to earn a nil nil draw against the Sounders in front of a sold out crowd at Century Link. The Sounders had the best of the chances, including a penalty call in the eighteenth minute. Alvaro Fernandez orchestrated the play, and forced Umana into making the handball play. Fernandez stepped up to the spot, but couldn't slot the ball in. He struck the post instead, the ball rebounding off of Dan Kennedy's back and out for a corner kick. From then on the Sounders had the majority of the chances, but simply could not put them away. The match's frustrations culminated in the eighty ninth minute, when Lamar Neagle made his way into the box and was bowled over by Chivas defender David Junior Lopez. Referee Kevin Stott deceivingly initially pointed to the spot, but then apparently changed his mind and signaled for a goal kick. That makes twice in a row now that Stott has botched a penalty call in the Sounders' favor, when the Sounders travelled to Houston last season Steve Zakuani was tripped up in the box and Stott handed Zakuani a yellow card for diving instead of calling the penalty. Coincidentally a yellow was involved this time around as well, being handed to Erik Friberg for dissent over the ref's deceitful call. Next up the Sounders face Communicaciones to open up the group stages for the CONCACAF Champions league.
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