New York City FC fall to Seattle Sounders 4-2 on aggregate in CONCACAF Champions League Semifinals

Courtesy: NYCFC

By Chris Tsakonas

The Champions League run for New York City FC came to an end tonight at Red Bull Arena, as a 1-1 draw wasn’t enough to overcome a two goal aggregate deficit and the Seattle Sounders advanced on a 4-2 aggregate scoreline.

“I think [the players] did everything except put the ball in the net more. We talked before the game about showing the intensity and energy that this team can do,” manager Ronny Deila said after the match. “And today [we] were all over Seattle, who are a really good football team.”

The first good opportunity came in the 11th minute, when a cross from Malte Amundsen was corralled by Sounders keeper Stefan Frei. 

Seattle got the opening goal in the 28th minute. Nouhou threaded a ball into the box for Raul Ruidiaz, and he beat Sean Johnson to open up a three goal aggregate lead.

Ruidiaz almost added another in the 43rd minute, when Lodeiro intercepted the ball and found him in the area, but this time Johnson made the save.

Santi Rodriguez got the equalizer in the 51st minute, finishing off a ball from Thiago Andrade.

“I think Seattle got more tired - the game got more open,” Deila said. “We wanted to switch the play, we wanted to have the wingers more 1v1 - every time we put the ball into the box we got chances.”

New York City FC applied the pressure as the second half went on, outshooting the Sounders 19 to 3 in the final 45 minutes.

“I think we created enough to score at least three goals,” Deila said. “But [Frei] was unbelievable today.”

Seattle nearly tacked on another in the 68th minute, when a shot from Jordan Morris was cleared off the line by Thiago Martins.

Talles Magno had a golden opportunity to get another goal in the 71st minute, finding himself one on one with Frei. But the veteran goalkeeper got the better of Magno, and it remained 4-2.

Another late chance came in the 87th minute, when a cross from Keaton Parks found Castellanos, but the header was stopped by Frei.

With the loss, New York City FC exit the Champions League having tied their best finish in the competition. They return to action on Sunday, hosting Real Salt Lake at Yankee Stadium.

“If we put out this performance on Sunday, then we are going to do really well,” Deila said. “But we have to do the hard work.”