Two goals from U.S. international Herculez Gomez helped Mexican side Santos Laguna to a 6-1 thrashing of the Seattle Sounders on Wednesday and a semifinals berth in the CONCACAF Champions League.
The Sounders won the first leg of the quarterfinal 2-1 in Seattle, but four second half goals from Santos Laguna, including Gomez's double, meant the tie finished 7-3 on aggregate.
Santos Laguna is set to play the winner of Wednesday*s late game between Major League Soccer teams Los Angeles Galaxy and Toronto FC in the semifinal, with the first leg set to take place on March 27.
Santos Laguna went two goals up inside the first ten minutes, with Ecuadorian Christian Suarez dribbling past two defenders and scoring with a right-footer from outside the area in the 8th minute.
Mexico international Oribe Peralta turned a defender and slotted in two minutes later, but a header from Uruguayan Alvaro Fernandez in the 37th brought the match level at 3-3 on aggregate.
Gomez got his first goal four minutes after halftime, finishing from a Daniel Luduena pass, and increased Santos Laguna*s lead in the 68th by beating the defender to tap in.
The U.S. international was injured while scoring the goal and substituted straight after.
Suarez added his second in the 77th, with Carlos Ochoa wrapping up the scoring for Santos Laguna.
The Sounders' loss means no MLS team has defeated a Mexican team over two legs since the continental competition changed its format in 2008.
