Sounders await Jordan Morris injury news after 2-1 Leg one loss to Santa Tecla FC

 

The Seattle Sounders were brutally honest with themselves after last Thursdays 2-1 loss to Salvadorian side Santa Tecla FC in Leg one of the Two-legged CONCACAF Champions League round of 16 knockout stage. They did not play their best and let a golden opportunity slip away.

To make matters worse the Sounders could be without forward  Jordan Morris for an extended time due to a reported torn right ACL injury.

After taking a 1-0 lead into the halftime break courtesy of a dream goal by captain Nicolas  Lodeiro in the 15th minute the Sounders gave up two second-half goals.

“A game is a game whether it’s in Central America, North America or South America,” said Head Coach Brian Schmetzer after the game. “Santa Tecla played well. I think we can play better. I can’t blame the astroturf, I can’t blame the travel. My players fought hard, but at the end of the day, they scored two and we only scored one.”

While the two goals were lucky and suspicious, they were both scored by Tecla forward  Gerson Mayen in the 67th and 76th minute. A collision in the Sounders goal between two Rave Green defenders left a wide open  Mayen for a tap-in. Mayens game-winner was a converted penalty after Chad Marshall was whistled for a soft penalty in the Seattle box.

While the Sounders were missing starters Kelvin Leerdam, Clint Dempsey, Osvaldo Alonso and Roman Torres,  Schmezter’s side  had some quality players on the pitch who had the ability to accomplish the task. That in its self-was part of the issue, while there were quality players on the pitch the communication and familiarity were lacking.

New signs Jordan McMcreary, Waylon  Francis were given their first start alongside, Tony Alfaro, Henry Wingo , Jordy Delem Christian Roldan Harry Ship, Lodeiro, Stefan Frei and Jordan Morris.

While they might play in lower league Santa Tecla was out to prove a point against the MLS giants. Sounders Midfielder Cristian Roldan agreed with his coach in that the Sounders let one slip away

“We at times didn’t come to play, and that’s our own fault. The conditions were difficult, we expected that, but Santa Tecla played well and they bossed the game for a bit,” Roldan said after the game.

“It was a difficult game, they controlled most of it and the majority of the chances, but we had that one shot, that one goal that changed the game and we have to be tighter defensively and not let them score those two goals because it changed the series.”

 

MORRIS INJURY
Sounders forward Jordan Morris suffered his knee injury in the 82 minute and the team finished the game with ten men due to the team having used up its allocated three substitutions. While there has been no official word from the Sounders Morris injury is reported to be serious and could take months to health.

 

Leg Two will be Thursday, March 1st 7:00 PM PT at CenturyLink Field and Schmetzer is pretty confident his side can push through to the next round with a  diligent effort from beginning to end and the backing of the home crowd.

“The mathematics are if we win 1-0, we can go through,” said Schmetzer. “We’ll go through all the scores. But at the end of the day, we have to just play a little bit better at home, pick the tempo up, make sure we’re putting pressure on them in the right moments and make them feel our crowd. Make them feel our pressure to make them make mistakes so that we can score some goals.”

MATCH SUMMARY
 
Seattle Sounders FC 1 – Santa Tecla FC 2
Thursday, February 22, 2018
 
Venue: Estadio Las Delicias
Referee: Melvin Matamoros
Assistants: Melvin Cruz, Helpys Feliz
Fourth Official: Hector Said Martinez
 
SCORING SUMMARY
 
SEA – Nicolás Lodeiro 15′
ST  Gerson Mayen 67′
ST  Gerson Mayen (penalty) 76′
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY
 
SEA  Jordy Delem (caution) 68′
ST  Gerson Mayen (caution) 90’+4′
 
LINEUPS & STATS
Seattle Sounders FC  Stefan Frei; Jordan McCreary, Chad Marshall, Tony Alfaro, Waylon Francis; Henry Wingo (Alex Roldan 59′), Jordy Delem (Gustav Svensson 78′), Cristian Roldan, Harry Shipp (Will Bruin 57′); Nicolás Lodeiro – captain, Jordan Morris
Substitutes not used: Bryan Meredith, Nouhou, Zach Mathers, Lamar Neagle
Total shots: 5 (Lodeiro, 2)
Shots on goal: 4 (Lodeiro, 2)
Fouls: 14 (Roldan, 5)
Offside: 0
Corner-kicks: 3 (Lodeiro, 3)
Saves: 5 (Frei, 5)
 
Santa Tecla FC – Joel Almeida; Bryan Tamacas, Yosimar Quinones, Roberto Dominguez, Juan Barahona; Fernando Quintanilla, Aldair Rivera (Gilberto Baires 66′), Gerson Mayen, Marlon Cornejo; Ricardinho (Liber Quinones 82′), Wilma Torres (William Canales 90’+2′)

Substitutes not used: Hector Ramirez, Alexander Mendoza, Jacobo Moreno, Harold Alas

Total shots: 15 (Mayen/Ricardinho, 3)
Shots on goal: 7 (Mayen, 3)
Fouls: 12 (Quintanilla, 3)
Offside: 1 (Ricardinho, 1)
Corner-kicks: 6 (Mayen, 6)
Saves: 3 (Almeida,

 

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