Lackluster León puts on woeful display in Seattle
MLS goes 2-0 on the night
The MLS appears poised to send two teams to the Concacaf Champions League semifinals after dominating home performances by Seattle Sounders and NYCFC.
Seattle thoroughly outplayed Liga MX club León, roughing up the Esmeraldas 3-0. The MLS side could have won by an even more comfortable margin if not for León goalie Rodolfo Cota who made six splendid saves.
León coach Ariel Holan got his tactics wrong from the outset and the Esmeraldas never could figure out how to unlock Seattle’s five-man midfield. It did not help that winger Jean Meneses and defender Stiven Barreiro had woeful games.
The Sounders struck in the first half from the penalty spot behind Fredy Montero and the Colombian striker added a second in minute 39, beating Barreiro to the near post to flick home a cross from Cristian Roldán. Jordan Morris slotted home in minute 90 after another in a long line of León turnovers in their own end.
The MLS team was the better side throughout, forcing León errors then breaking out swiftly on the counter. Seattle outshot “La Fiera” 14-3 and the visitors only got 1 shot on goal.
Despite being shut out in both its MLS games this season, the Sounders looked crisp and confident, while León seemed indecisive and slow.
The 3-0 loss was the second straight time the Esmeraldas fell by that score to an MLS team on the road in the ConcaChampions. León’s last CCL appearance came in 2020 and they were eliminated in the Round of 16 by LAFC. After winning 2-0 at home, “The Green Machine” collapsed in Los Angeles, falling 3-0 to Carlos Vela and the MLS Western Conference giants.
Holan must now get his squad ready to take on the third-place Tigres on Saturday at home before Seattle visits on March 17 for the return leg.
‘Bronx Blues’ take control late
NYCFC held off a game challenge from Guatemala’s Comunicaciones to grab a 3-1 win in their first-leg quarterfinals series.
Valentin Castellanos put the home side up in the first half but defender Manuel Gamboa tied it with a header in minute 60. “The Pigeons” reacted quickly and decisively with Maxi Moralez putting NYCFC back ahead 5 minutes later then providing the assist on Santiago Rodríguez’s goal in minute 71.
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NYFC will travel to Guatemala City next week for the return leg scheduled for March 15.