COUVA, Trinidad – Though they were more than 5,000 miles from Seattle, the Sounders FC felt right at home at Ato Boldon Stadium on Thursday night.

That was because 13 fans traveled from Seattle to Trinidad to support the club and were joined in the stands behind the Sounders bench by several other local fans who wanted to join in the festivities as the Sounders topped Caledonia 3-1 in the CONCACAF Champions League group stage match.

The support drives the team when they are on the road, where Seattle has had success over the last two years in the group stage of Champions League, going 3-0-1.

“It’s incredible. The willingness to fly all the way down here to Trinidad from as far away as Seattle just shows the enthusiasm of our fans,” said midfielder Alex Caskey, who had a goal and an assist on the night. “We appreciate it more than they know.”

Added forward Sammy Ochoa, who also had a goal and an assist, “It means a lot. It’s extra motivation to know that we have people from Seattle coming down to watch our game.”

The plans of those fans before and after the match varied. Some traveled to California for Seattle’s 6-2 win over Chivas USA on Saturday, then to Trinidad and Tobago for a few days of vacation before the match on Thursday. They will also fly back through Dallas to catch Seattle’s match against FC Dallas on Sunday.

Some others flew on Wednesday and will remain in Trinidad on vacation.

Meanwhile, Mark Provenzano and Chris Leadbetter flew in on Wednesday for the Thursday night match and will stay in the Caribbean to watch the US National Team take on Jamaica in a World Cup Qualifier on Friday, September 7 in Kingston, Jamaica.

“It was a total no-brainer. It is a combination of die-hards and people who just love to travel,” Provenzano said of the group that joined him at Ato Boldon Stadium on Thursday. “How often in life do you have an excuse to come to such a beautiful place?”