The Seattle Sounders’ chances of advancing to the knockout stage of the Club World Cup are pretty much over after Thursday’s 3-1 loss to La Liga giants Atletico Madrid. Similar to their game first loss to Botagofo, the Sounders showed grit, determination, and costly mistakes. In the Atletico match, the La Liga giants showed their intent to atone for a first-round thrashing at the hands of PSG.
ON THE FRONT FOOT
Less than two minutes into the match, Atletico had the first corner kick of the game. The opportunity went begging after a miss by striker Alexander Sørloth, whose header went wide of the Sounders’ goal. A second opportunity was squandered when Julian Alvarez’s shot from the center of the box hit the post. Atletico continued to turn the screws and took the lead in the 11th minute on an exquisite counter attack.
Giuliano Simeone rambled down the left flank and laid it all off to Pablo Barrios, who hit a laser-beam shot past Stefan Frei. The Sounders held their nerve and nearly equalized in the 17th minute on Danny Musovski’s shot, which was saved by Jan Oblak. Both sides had partial possession, with the Sounders somehow finding a way to slow down Atletico’s vaunted counterattack.
“ The effort and way we recovered. I think we did that. Freddy and the coaching staff had a specific exercise before this tournament started that focused on a particular basic defending principle, specifically recovery, “said head coach Brian Schmetzer in his post-game press conference.
LET OFF BEFORE THE HALFTIME BREAK
Atletico looked like it had found a way to unlock the Sounders’ defense for a second time in the 35th minute. Reed Baker-Whiting was whistled for a penalty while defending Atletico midfielder Rodrigo De Paul inside the Sounders’ goal box. A VAR check reversed the decision, and the Sounders were given a lifeline. While they were unable to take advantage and find the equalizer, the Sounders went into the halftime break down 1-0.
FAST AND FRENZY TEM MINUTES
Both coaches’ halftime speeches brought determination and energy to their sides. Three goals were scored in ten minutes. Atlético doubled its lead two minutes into the second half on an Axel Witsel header after Marcos Llorente’s shot rattled off the crossbar and stayed in play. The Sounders showed grit and bit back three minutes after Albert Rusnâck’s right-footed shot from the box whizzed by Atletico keeper Jan Oblak to cut the deficit to 2-1.
The visitors restored their two-goal margin five minutes later. An Ifated clearance by Jon Bell landed at the feet of an onrushing Barrios, who wasted no time with a laser beam shot that beat the hapless Stefan Frei. Despite the two-goal deficit, the Sounders continued to push forward and had several chances to get back in the game.
CONTINUED PUSH UP FRONT
Sensing a need for energy and speed in his attack, Schmetzer inserted Jesus Ferreira Musoviski and Ryan Kent for Pedro de la Vega. The Sounders responded to the substitutes and began pushing the ball forward, finding spaces in the Atletico defense. What was lacking was creative play inside the attacking third. The insertion of Alex Roldan for Paul Rothrock, Joao Paulo for Rusnak, and Georgio Minoungou disrupted the Sounders’ attack. Minoungou’s shot in the 82nd was saved. Three minutes later, Jon Bell’s header from a Minoungou cross was also saved. The game ended with the Sounders hunting but with no luck.
IMAGES BY FRANCINE SCOTT
BIG PICTURE
The Sounders entered the game with the right mentality, fight, and determination to play against Atletico. What they lacked was the sophistication and technical ability in the finer moments. The ability to finish chances on the attacking end and play innovative and technical defense. In no way did the Sounders embarrass themselves—quite the contrary. The Sounders demonstrated that they can compete with the best in Europe for extended periods. They don’t have the talent to do it for 90 minutes.
MATCH NOTES
- The result puts Seattle in fourth place in the Group B standings with one match remaning for the Rave Green in group play. Paris Saint-Germain leads the group with three points and a plus-four goal differential at time of writing.
- Albert Rusnák’s goal in the 50th minute was good for his team-leading ninth of the season in all competitions and 31st since joining the club, one behind Will Bruin for ninth in club history.
- Brian Schmetzer made five changes to the starting lineup from Sunday’s match against Botafogo, with Kalani Kossa-Rienzi, Jonathan Bell, Reed Baker-Whiting, Pedro de la Vega and Paul Rothrock replacing Alex Roldan, Kim Kee-hee, Nouhou, Jesús Ferreira and Ryan Kent, respectively.
- Danny Musovski recorded his 50th all-competition appearance for Seattle with his start today. The striker joined Seattle prior to the 2024 season.
- Seattle is one of three Major League Soccer teams competing in the tournament alongside Inter Miami CF and Los Angeles FC. Miami sits second in Group A following its 2-1 win over FC Porto in its second match of the tournament. LAFC currently sits in third place in Group D, facing off against Espérance Sportive de Tunis tomorrow, also its second match of the Group Stage.
- Following today’s result, Seattle concludes its Group Stage play with a match against 2025 UEFA Champions League winner Paris Saint-Germain on Monday, June 23 on the Emerald Queen Casino Pitch at Lumen Field (12:00 p.m. PT / DAZN).
MATCH SUMMARY
Seattle Sounders FC 1 – Atlético Madrid 3
Thursday, June 19, 2025
Venue: Lumen Field
Referee: Yael Falcon
Assistants: Maximiliano Del Yesso, Facundo Rodríguez
Fourth Official: Campbell-Kirk Kawana-Kaugh
VAR: Hernán Mastrángelo
Attendance: 51,636
Weather: 66 degrees and cloudy
SCORING SUMMARY
ATM – Pablo Barrios (Giuliano Simeone) 11’
ATM – Axel Witsel (Robin Le Normand) 47’
SEA – Albert Rusnák 50’
ATM – Pablo Barrios 55’
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY
ATM – Rodrigo De Paul (caution) 42’
SEA – Paul Rothrock (caution) 63’
ATM – Conor Gallagher (caution) 77’
LINEUPS & STATS
Seattle Sounders FC – Stefan Frei – Captain; Kalani Kossa-Rienzi (Georgi Minoungou 79’), Jackson Ragen, Jonathan Bell, Reed Baker-Whiting; Obed Vargas, Cristian Roldan; Pedro de la Vega (Ryan Kent 60’), Albert Rusnák (João Paulo 79’), Paul Rothrock (Alex Roldan 65’); Danny Musovski (Jesús Ferreira 60’)
Substitutes not used: Andrew Thomas, Jacob Castro, Kim Kee-hee, Yeimar Gómez Andrade, Cody Baker, Nouhou, Travian Sousa, Danny Leyva, Osaze De Rosario, Jordan Morris
Total shots: 17
Shots on goal: 4
Fouls: 11
Offside: 3
Corner-Kicks: 4
Saves: 4
Atlético Madrid – Jan Oblak; Javier Galán, Robin Le Normand, José Giménez (Axel Witsel HT), Marcos Llorente; Rodrigo De Paul (Conor Gallagher 65’), Jorge Resurrección (Ángel Correa 70’), Pablo Barrios, Giuliano Simeone; Julián Alvarez (Nahuel Molina 82’), Alexander Sørloth (Antoine Griezmann 65’)
Substitutes not used: César Azpilicueta, Antonio Gomis, Ilias Kostis, Thomas Lemar, Samuel Lino, Reinildo Mandava, Juan Musso, Rodrigo Riquelme, Javi Serrano, Carlos Martín
Total shots: 15
Shots on goal: 7
Fouls: 13
Offside: 0
Corner-kicks: 2
Saves: 3
