Every indication has been that the Seattle Sounders are going to take their CONCACAF Champions League experience seriously. The amount the tournament has been advertised, the quotes given by players and coaches, and the mentality of the ownership and office all seem to say that Seattle intends to use a successful Champions League run as a springboard to international recognition.

If that is going to be the case, the Sounders will need to score more goals.

While the largely second-string lineup that took the field against Isidro Metapan on Wednesday night dominated the game, it took a fluke goal to give the Sounders a precious 1-0 victory at home in the first match of the two-leg qualification series.

Fredy Montero, who had come on as a sub just seconds earlier, took a speculative shot in the 60th minute that befuddled the Metapan goalkeeper and crept into the net.

To be fair, the Sounders dominated the entire match, outshooting the visiting El Salvadorian side 15-2. And they did not allow Metapan to score an away goal, something that may prove crucial in the series.

“I thought we had chances to score more than just the one, and we’re disappointed that we didn’t get more,” said coach Sigi Schmid. “But it’s most important not to give up a goal at home. We have a lead.”

The ‘lead’ means that Seattle only needs a draw in El Salvador on Tuesday to ensure qualification for the group stage of the competition, and they can even go through with a loss. If the Sounders score and lose by one goal, they advance. A 1-0 defeat will send them to extra time, and a two-goal loss or worse would eliminate them completely.

“Having that lead means that they have to beat us by two,” said goalkeeper Kasey Keller. “And I feel very confident that we can go down there and not concede a goal, and be comfortable in scoring two or three.”

Keller was one of the few regulars who began the game on the pitch for the Sounders. Montero and Steve Zakuani entered the game as substitutes, neither of the team’s starting central defenders saw action, and the team’s hyped new signing, Blaise Nkufo, wasn’t on the bench.

The starters weren’t all needed to control the run of play. In the first half the Sounders were dominant, although they couldn’t find the net. Sanna Nyassi and James Riley, in particular, were constantly marauding down the right wing to send in dangerous crosses.

It was Nyassi who brought about the best first-half scoring opportunity for Seattle. Breaking free on a run down the wing, he smashed a cross across goal just in front of the head of Nate Jaqua. Miguel Montano was wide open at the back post, but the cross had too much pace and he couldn’t direct his header on goal.

Metapan, on the other hand, didn’t manage so much as a single shot in the first half. And the second half would follow the pattern of Seattle dominating without scoring – until Montero came onto the pitch.

“We always try to make it beautiful,” Montero said of his shot. “This time maybe not so beautiful, but it was incredibly important and I’m very happy about it.”