The Seattle Sounders suffered a 3-1 defeat against Inter Miami on the road at Chase Stadium on Tuesday night. Jordi Alba, Leo Messi and Ian Fray all found the back of the net for the hosts, while Obed Vargas got on the scoresheet for the Rave Green.
For the first ten minutes of the match, both sides traded possession but were unable to translate ball control into chance creation.
That all changed in the 12th minute when Miami pounced on a midfield turnover before finding Messi in a pocket of space. The Argentine No. 10 drove at Seattle’s back line before slipping a pass to Alba, who took one touch to settle before firing his shot past Stefan Frei for the 1-0 lead.
Miami continued to pepper Seattle’s goal, with Fray forcing Frei into a save in the 16th minute.
The Sounders got their first good look of the match five minutes later as Jesús Ferreira uncorked a powerful shot from distance that was saved by goalkeeper Oscar Ustari.
In the 28th minute, Messi received a long ball behind Seattle’s back line but could only put his close-range shot off the post.
Five minutes later, Frei was called into action once again as he made a diving reflex save to deny a headed shot from Fray at the back post.
Miami doubled their lead in the 41st minute as Alba played a teasing cross to the far post that Messi dispatched with a one-touch, sliding effort.
The Sounders’ first clear-cut chance came in first half stoppage time as Paul Rothrock picked Noah Allens’ pocket and launched a counterattack, but his breakaway shot was saved by Ustari.
The hosts picked up where they left off to start the second half as Fray made it 3-0 with a powerful header from a corner kick in the 52nd minute.
Seattle generated a golden opportunity to pull one back three minutes later. Substitute Albert Rusnák played an inch-perfect through ball for Georgi Minoungou, who squared his pass to Osaze De Rosario, but the striker was unable to steer his point-blank shot on target.
The Sounders finally got on the scoresheet in the 69th minute. Ferreira won back possession, poking the ball into the path of Brunell, who one-timed it to Rusnák. Seattle’s attacking midfielder then threaded a pass into Jordan Morris in the box, who pulled the ball back for Vargas to smash home.
Miami nearly scored a fourth in the 76th minute, but Frei denied Messi in a 1-v-1 with a kick save.
In the 88th minute, Minoungou and Brunell played a quick 1-2, resulting in a first-time shot for Danny Musovski that Ustari did well to save.
THREE TAKEAWAYS
Morris Ramping Up
After missing almost two months due to an AC joint injury, Morris made his return to the pitch on Sunday with a ten-minute cameo against the Galaxy. Seattle’s star striker continued to build up his fitness ahead of the postseason push with 30 minutes against Miami, and even pitched in with an assist on their lone goal.
Minoungou Magic
In a frustrating first 60 minutes on Tuesday night, one of the few bright spots was the play of Minoungou on the wing. The Burkina Faso international repeatedly dribbled past opponents all evening, gliding past defenders and playing dangerous passes into the box.
Back in Action
The Sounders face a quick turnaround as they travel to Texas this weekend for a road match against Austin FC at Q2 Stadium (4:00 p.m. PT; Watch on MLS Season Pass, Apple TV+).
