Sounders FC defeated Club León 3-0 at home Tuesday evening during the first leg of the 2022 Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League Quarterfinals. Fredy Montero supplied a brace with Jordan Morris adding a third goal as Seattle takes a 3-0 aggregate lead into the second leg of the Quarterfinals on Thursday, March 17 at Estadio León (5:30 p.m. PT / FOX Sports, TUDN, iHeartMedia, El Rey 1360 AM).
Montero opened the scoring in the 31st minute via a penalty kick after Cristian Roldan was fouled inside the 18-yard-box, blasting his spot-kick past the goalkeeper into the right side of the net. Montero then doubled the home side’s lead in the 39th minute, when Roldan’s cross from the right flank found Montero in stride for a finish across the face of the goal. The club’s all-time leading scorer across all competitions, Montero now has 70 goals as a member of the Rave Green, including eight in Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League play, also the most in club history.
Jordan Morris tacked on one more Seattle goal in the 90th minute, with Roldan tallying his second assist of the night. Roldan sent a cross in from the right side that met the feet of a sliding Morris, who guided the ball into the back of the net. It marked Morris’ 44th career goal for the club across all competitions, passing Obafemi Martins for fifth in club history.
Before heading to Mexico, Brian Schmetzer’s side returns to league play for a nationally televised contest against the LA Galaxy on Saturday, March 12 at Lumen Field (12:30 p.m. PT / FOX, 1090 KJR AM, El Rey 1360 AM).
MATCH NOTES
• Sounders FC brings a three-goal advantage to the second leg next Thursday, March 17 at Estadio León. Seattle’s shutout means León tallied zero away goals, which is the first tiebreaker after 180 minutes of play over two legs.
• Brian Schmetzer’s side is now 2-2-1 this season across all competitions, with an 8-2 goal advantage.
• Fredy Montero’s first-half brace gives him 70 career goals across all competitions for Sounders FC, the most in club history. His eight goals for Seattle in SCCL play are also the most in franchise history.
• Jordan Morris scored his second goal across all competitions this season. It was his 44th career goal for the club across all competitions, passing Obafemi Martins for fifth in club history.
• Cristian Roldan’s pair of assists gives him four assists in 2022 SCCL play, after a pair of helpers (plus one goal) vs. F.C. Motagua on February 24.
• Tonight marked Roldan’s 250th career appearance for Sounders FC across all competitions, the third player in club history to reach the milestone (Osvaldo Alonso 339, Stefan Frei 284).
• This marked Seattle’s second all-time meeting with Club León, following the 2021 Leagues Cup Final in Las Vegas on September 22 last season, where León won 3-2.
MATCH SUMMARY
Seattle Sounders FC 3 – Club León 0
Tuesday, March 8, 2022
Venue: Lumen Field
Referee: Brian López
Assistants: Luis Aroldo Ventura, Juan Tipaz
Fourth Official: Walter López Castellanos
VAR: Benjamin Pineda
Attendance: 29,196
Weather: 45 degrees and clear
SCORING SUMMARY
SEA – Fredy Montero (penalty) 31’
SEA – Fredy Montero (Cristian Roldan) 39’
SEA – Jordan Morris (Cristian Roldan) 90’
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY
SEA – Nouhou (caution) 17’
LEO – William Tesillo (caution) 86’
LINEUPS & STATS
Seattle Sounders FC – Stefan Frei; Alex Roldan (Kelyn Rowe 46’), Yeimar, Xavier Arreaga, Nouhou; João Paulo, Obed Vargas, Cristian Roldan, Albert Rusnák, Jordan Morris (Jackson Ragen 90’+5’); Fredy Montero (Danny Leyva 82’)
Substitutes not used: Stefan Cleveland, Sam Adeniran, Léo Chú, Reed Baker-Whiting
Total shots: 14
Shots on goal: 9
Fouls: 18
Offside: 1
Corner-kicks: 4
Saves: 1
Club León – Rodolfo Cota; Andrés Mosquera, William Tesillo, Jaine Barreiro; Fidel Ambríz, José Ramírez (Armando León 83’), Iván Rodríguez (Santiago Colombatto 46’), Luis Montes (Oscar Villa 66’); Victor Favila, Ángel Mena (Elías Hernández 46’), Jean Meneses (Federico Martínez 46’)
Substitutes not used: Alfonso Blanco, Gary Kagelmacher
Total shots: 3
Shots on goal: 1
Fouls: 12
Offside: 2
Corner-kicks: 2
Saves: 6
