Everything but the goals: Sounders settle for 0-0 tie

The Seattle Sounders opened their series with Cruz Azul in the Concacaf Champions Cup Round of 16 at home on Wednesday night. The two sides came away level after a 0-0 draw in which the two goalkeepers, Stefan Frei and Kevin Mier, combined for three saves, although that doesn’t include two Sounders shots that hit the woodwork and a goal that was ruled offside by the smallest margin.

The first half was largely played between the boxes. Seattle had a pair of good looks at either end of the half. First in the 15th minute Obed Vargas played his first of several outstanding through balls for the evening, this one setting up a potential 1-v-1 with the goalkeeper for Morris. As the GK challenged Morris a defender slid in and won the ball away before a shot developed. Then in the 43rd it was Morris once again with a chance to get the Sounders on the board, this time with a header on a cross from Pedro de la Vega. The play had started when Cristian Roldan found Paul Arriola with a line-breaking pass, and Arriola’s cross went through the box and ended up with de la Vega.

While the opening 45 minutes were primarily filled with action in the center of the park and a little bit of a spark near the goals, the second half involved a bit more danger. After only taking 2 shots in the first half, the Sounders generated 6 in the second while limiting Cruz Azul to three shots (seven shots on the night).

Seattle put together plenty of dangerous moments and threatening shots over the final 45 minutes, and even appeared to have gotten their opener in the 51st minute only to be foiled by an offside flag. De la Vega pounced on a loose ball after a series of 50/50 challenges progressed the ball towards goal and put it in the back of the net, but Arriola was ruled offside during the build-up to the play. The best look of the half fell to Morris, who got into yet another 1-v-1 with Mier and beat the ‘keeper with a shot to the far corner that hit the post squarely and bounced away to be cleared. Somewhat emblematic of the game as a whole, Frei didn’t make his first save until the 78th minute as he easily and calmly caught and collected a shot from distance.

The 0-0 result isn’t an ideal result for the team, particularly as the Sounders created enough chances to have claimed all three points. Seattle faced a limited Cruz Azul side, but regardless they recorded their first shutout of the season and go into the second leg with the ability to advance with a scoring draw because they denied the Liga MX side an away goal. First they’ll have to face LAFC at Lumen Field this weekend.

Key moments

15 - Through ball! Vargas plays a beautiful through ball for Morris, who times his run well but can’t get a shot off before the defender cuts out the play in the box.

43 - Shot! Morris gets a header that goes over the bar after possession is recycled following a fantastic through ball from Cristian Roldan to Arriola that results in a cross that goes through the box to de la Vega.

48 - Header! Cristian Roldan sends in a threatening cross from the left side that curls back for a header at the back post from Nouhou that hits the crossbar but goes out for a goal kick.

51 - Offside! De la Vega appears to give Seattle a lead, but Arriola is determined to be offside on the initial ball during the play.

64 - Cross! Rusnák plays a fantastic leading pass to Arriola down the left with Morris running centrally, but Arriola’s cross floats over everyone and out.

70 - Post! Jordan gets in behind the defense again and is able to get a shot off, but he hits the post after beating the ‘keeper and the ball is cleared.

73 - Wide! Alex Roldan gets a glancing header on a cross, but puts the shot just wide of goal.

78 - Save! Cruz Azul turn their possession into a shot from outside the area, and Frei catches it easily for his first recorded save of the night.

84 - Rip! Vargas has a hit from the top of the box that skips and Mier blocks it and gathers the rebound.

90 - Save! A near repeat of his first save as Frei drops low to catch and smother a shot from distance.

Quick thoughts

Throughball merchants: The last several games have shown an aptitude, a penchant for hitting those defense-splitting passes into space for teammates to run onto has spread throughout the team. There are numerous players more than happy to play those balls and more than a couple eager and willing to make the runs for them. Many of the best chances for the Sounders came as a product of one of those passes, whether it was sending Morris in on goal, or one of Arriola, de la Vega or Georgi Minoungou into space to play in a cross, everyone was getting involved. It’s a great way to play to the strengths of their best players, and it will pay dividends even if it hasn’t turned into goals in the last two games.

Bounce back game for Yeimar: Yeimar put in his best performance of the young season so far as part of the team’s collective effort to pitch a shutout. He only attempted two tackles, winning one, but he made six recoveries, five interceptions and four clearances. He won 9 of 14 duels, including 5 of 6 aerial duels, while also only missing 5 of his 45 attempted passes. More than all of that, he looked comfortable and confident throughout and didn’t have any clear errors. If Yeimar can be at his best consistently, the Sounders will have a real chance to carry on their defensive legacy of the last two seasons and build a successful season on that platform.

Crucial Cristian Roldan: It’s easy to miss just how important Cristian Roldan is to the Sounders. We all love him, but especially with how much he’s moved around the field his direct impact on the game can go unnoticed when he’s not scoring goals or assisting them. Now that he’s locked down his place in Brian Schmetzer’s double pivot it’s becoming clearer how he drives the team. His 95 touches led the team as he completed 65 of 79 passes, won 2 of 3 tackles and added 10 recoveries. He’s such a steady presence, and it makes life easier for everyone else and creates space for the attacking players to make something special happen.

Notable quote

Player spotlight

Alex Roldan – In his first game since the birth of his child Alex Roldan showed just what he offers. 2 chances created, 2 successful dribbles, 8 for 10 on duels including 1/1 aerial duels.