Sports

Sounders top NYCFC 3-1 in 1st leg of Champions League semis

SEATTLE (AP) — Albert Rusnák and Jordan Morris scored within the first half, Nicolás Lodeiro transformed a penalty kick halfway by means of the second half, and the Seattle Sounders beat New York Metropolis FC 3-1 on Wednesday evening within the first-leg of the CONCACAF Champions League semifinals.

The 2-game, aggregate-goal collection noticed the Sounders take a snug benefit, however Seattle additionally allowed a key highway aim to NYCFC’s Thiago Andrade within the first half that would function a tiebreaker in subsequent week’s second-leg performed at Crimson Bull Enviornment in Harrison, N.J.

Rusnák’s aim got here within the sixteenth minute and was his first since signing with Seattle within the offseason. Morris made it 2-1 later within the first half and Lodeiro’s penalty kick within the 68th minute got here after a video evaluate that confirmed Raúl Ruidíaz being fouled within the penalty space by Thiago Martins.

The matchup between Seattle and NYCFC, the reigning MLS Cup champions, is the primary time two MLS groups have confronted off within the semifinals of the Champions League. The winner will meet both Pumas or Cruz Azul from LigaMX within the two-game, home-and-home remaining. Pumas holds a 2-1 lead after the primary leg performed Tuesday evening in Mexico Metropolis.

4 MLS groups have beforehand reached the Champions League remaining for the reason that present format was adopted in 2008 — Actual Salt Lake (2011), CF Montreal (2015), Toronto FC (2018) and LAFC (2020) — however none have come away with the title. Seattle can have the benefit at becoming a member of that foursome of MLS groups headed into subsequent week’s second-leg.

The Sounders have vocalized for years their need to be the primary MLS crew to win the Champions League and their spectacular performances within the knockout stage this season have strengthened that perception. Seattle has outscored its opponents 12-2 by means of 5 CCL video games this season.

Rusnák’s first aim for Seattle was arrange by the combo of Cristian Roldan and Morris. Roldan additionally assisted on Morris’ aim within the thirty fifth minute, drawing the cross from the top line again to the penalty spot the place Morris completed into the higher nook previous NYCFC goalkeeper Sean Johnson.

Regardless of Seattle’s convincing victory, Andrade’s aim was vital for NYCFC as a 2-0 win within the second-leg would ship the MLS champs by means of as a result of highway targets tiebreaker. It was NYCFC’s first semifinal match within the Champions League having by no means superior previous the quarterfinals beforehand.

___

Extra AP MLS: https://apnews.com/hub/major-league-soccer and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Seattle Sounders FC forward Jordan Morris, second from right, is congratulated by teammates, including midfielder Albert Rusnak (11) and forward Raul Ruidiaz, right, after scoring a goal against New York City FC during the first half of the first leg of a CONCACAF Champions League soccer semifinal Wednesday, April 6, 2022, in Seattle.



Source link

Related Articles

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Back to top button