MATCH RECAP: Seattle earns 3-1 win over New York City FC in first leg of 2022 Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League Semifinals

In the first-ever all-MLS matchup in the Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League Semifinals, Sounders FC defeated New York City FC 3-1 Wednesday evening in the first leg of the two-game aggregate series. Albert Rusnák scored his first goal as a member of the Rave Green, with Jordan Morris and Nicolás Lodeiro adding strikes to secure the win. A win or draw in next Wednesday’s second leg at Red Bull Arena would see the Rave Green advance, as would a loss by less than two goals. A two-goal defeat could still send Seattle through if the club scores twice in the second leg, as away goals are the first tiebreaker.

Rusnák opened the scoring for Seattle in the 16th minute off a beautiful team sequence that saw Cristian Roldan play a ball into Morris from outside the area, who fed Rusnák for a shot that went past the hands of goalkeeper Sean Johnson and into the back of the net. It was Rusnák’s first goal with the club after the Designated Player was signed this offseason. 

NYCFC leveled the scoring in the 27th minute courtesy of Thiago Andrade, on an assist from Valentín Castellanos. Morris quickly broke the tie in the 34th minute when Roldan crossed into the middle of the area, meeting a speeding Morris, who rocketed a shot into the top corner of the net. The strike marked Morris’s fourth this season across all competitions and it was Roldan’s fifth assist in 2022 SCCL play, currently leading all players in the tournament.

Lodeiro made it 3-1 for Seattle in the 68th minute, converting from the spot after Raúl Ruidíaz drew a penalty in front of goal. It was Lodeiro’s second goal in 2022 CCL play and his fourth all-time in the tournament for Seattle.

Seattle has a week off before taking its 3-1 aggregate lead to Harrison, New Jersey for the second leg of the Semifinals next Wednesday, April 13 at Red Bull Arena (6:00 p.m. PT / FS1, TUDN, iHeartMedia, El Rey 1360 AM). Should Sounders FC advance, the club would become just the fifth MLS side to play for a continental championship in the Concacaf Champions League Final. 

MATCH NOTES

• Sounders FC now heads into next Wednesday’s second leg with a two-goal advantage. A win or draw would see the Rave Green advance, as would a loss by less than two goals. A two-goal defeat could still send Seattle through if the club score twice in the second leg, as away goals are the first tiebreaker.

• Seattle is now 5-2-3 across all competitions this season. The club is currently riding a six-match unbeaten streak (4-0-2) across MLS and Concacaf Champions League play. 

• Albert Rusnák scored his first Sounders FC goal with the match’s opening strike. The Designated Player signed with Seattle this offseason after five years at Real Salt Lake, where he tallied 41 goals and 39 assists in MLS play. 

• After recording his first assist of 2022 against Minnesota over the weekend, Jordan Morris tallied a goal and an assist in the first half this evening against NYCFC. The Mercer Island native has three SCCL goals this year, tied with Fredy Montero for the team lead. He is third overall in the 2022 tournament in scoring. 

• Nico Lodeiro scored his first goal of the 2022 campaign via penalty kick in the second half, his fourth career tally in SCCL play.

• Cristian Roldan’s assist on Morris’ goal gives him five helpers in 2022 SCCL play, leading the tournament in assists. 

• With the start on Wednesday Raúl Ruidíaz made his 100th career appearance for Sounders FC across all competitions since joining the club in 2018.

• Sounders FC leads the 2022 SCCL with 15 total goals scored. 

• This marked the sixth all-time meeting between Seattle and NYCFC across all competitions, with the series even at 3-3-0. The two clubs last met on July 3, 2019, a 3-0 loss for the Rave Green. 

• Coach Schmetzer deployed a 4-2-3-1 formation today with one change to the starting XI from the Minnesota match on April 2, with forward Ruidíaz replacing Will Bruin up top.

MATCH SUMMARY

Seattle Sounders FC 3 – New York City FC 1
Wednesday, April 6, 2022

Venue: Lumen Field
Referee: Enrique Santander
Assistants: Alberto Morin, Christian Espinosa
Fourth Official: Diego Montano
VAR: Fernando Guerrero
Attendance: 31,074
Weather: 56 degrees and clear

SCORING SUMMARY

SEA – Albert Rusnák (Jordan Morris) 16’
NYC – Thiago Martins (Valentin Castellanos) 27’
SEA – Jordan Morris (Cristian Roldan) 34’
SEA – Nico Lodeiro (penalty) 68’

MISCONDUCT SUMMARY

NYC – Alfredo Morales (caution) 79’
SEA – Xavier Arreaga (caution) 80’

LINEUPS & STATS

Seattle Sounders FC – Stefan Frei; Alex Roldan, Jackson Ragen, Xavier Arreaga, Kelyn Rowe; João Paulo (Fredy Montero 87’), Albert Rusnák, Cristian Roldan, Nico Lodeiro (Obed Vargas 85’), Jordan Morris (Jimmy Medranda 84’); Raúl Ruidíaz (Will Bruin 87’)

Substitutes not used: Stefan Cleveland, Léo Chú, Abdoulaye Cissoko

Total shots: 12
Shots on goal: 6
Fouls: 13
Offside: 2
Corner-kicks: 7
Saves: 4

New York City FC – Sean Johnson; Thiago Martins (Nicolas Acevedo 77’), Alexander Callens, Malte Amundsen, Tayvon Gray; Alfredo Morales, Valentin Castellanos, Keaton Parks (Gedion Zelalem 85’); Thiago Andrade, Santiago Rodriguez, Talles Magno

Substitutes not used: Luis Barraza, Christopher Gloster, Heber Araujo, Vukashin Latinovich, Gabriel Pereira

Total shots: 9
Shots on goal: 5
Fouls: 10
Offside: 0
Corner-kicks: 0
Saves: 3