The Seattle Sounders played to a scoreless draw on Thursday in San Pedro Sula, Honduras, in the first leg of their Round of 16 Concacaf Champions League series against F.C. Motagua.
In their first competitive match of the 2022 season, the Sounders came out in a 4-2-3-1 formation. Long a Head Coach Brian Schmetzer staple, Seattle reverted to their usual shape after a 2021 season in which they primarily utilized a three-center back system.
Motagua nearly found the opener just 13 minutes in when Marcelo Santos hit the crossbar from a few yards out after a ball skipped through on a corner kick.
The Sounders’ best chance of the first half came in the 22nd minute when Nicolás Lodeiro dropped a pass back for Albert Rusnák, whose one-timed shot went wide of the net.
The two teams went into the halftime break scoreless, and neither team could find a second-half breakthrough. A reminder that the away goals rule is in effect and is the first tiebreaker in the series.
The Sounders will host Motagua in Leg 2 at Lumen Field next Thursday, Feb. 24 (7:30 p.m. PT | TICKETS).
THREE TAKEAWAYS
Rusnák debuts
Rusnák, arguably the biggest MLS free agent acquisition, started on the right side in the band of three. He was lively in his club debut and was on set piece duty while João Paulo was back in Seattle after arriving late in preseason. It’ll likely take a little time for Rusnák to fully settle in to his new club, but the talent is there and he’ll expect to be a huge part of the Sounders’ attack this season and beyond.
Vargas makes second start
In João Paulo’s absence and with Josh Atencio and Danny Leyva staying home with injuries, 16-year-old Obed Vargas made his second career start. After starting against Austin FC last summer at 15 while signed to an MLS Extreme Hardship contract, Vargas became a full member of the First Team this past offseason and was thrown straight into the ringer. Vargas did not look out of place, playing with a poise and maturity beyond his years.
Healthy Morris/Lodeiro
The Rusnák deal stole the headlines, but two of the Sounders’ biggest additions to this year’s roster are the return of Lodeiro and Jordan Morris. Each missed almost the entirety of last season through injury, and the pair of 2020 MLS Best XI players are some of the best attackers in the league. A starting quartet of Morris, Lodeiro and Rusnák underneath Raúl RuidÃaz is one of MLS’ most dangerous combos, and Seattle will be relying on them all season to carry the offensive load.
