Morris leads way as Seattle gain advantage over NYCFC

SEATTLE, Washington – Jordan Morris scored a goal and had an assist to help the Seattle Sounders collect a 3-1 victory over New York City FC in the first leg of their 2022 Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League Final semifinal on Wednesday night at Lumen Field in Seattle, Washington.

There was action from the very start and it would be Seattle who would score first through Albert Rusnak in the 16’. It was a well-worked build-up from the Sounders, ending with Morris slipping a pass into Rusnak, who fired in for a 1-0 lead.

NYCFC would respond, though, as Valentin Castellanos did well to knock down a header in between two Seattle defenders, allowing Thiago Andrade to redirect into net to level the score 1-1 in the 27’.

But back came the Sounders and they regained the lead, 2-1, in the 35’ when Morris hammered in a right-footed shot off the cutback pass from Cristian Roldan.

Both defenses firmed up to start the second half until the 68’ when after a VAR review, the referee ruled there was a NYCFC foul in the area, resulting in a penalty kick for the Sounders, and Nicolas Lodeiro converted from the spot to make it 3-1.

NYCFC looked to pull a goal back and had a good look through Alfredo Morales in the 75’, but Seattle GK Stefan Frei was alert and made the save.

In the end, the Sounders managed to see things out to carry a two-goal advantage into next week’s second leg.