The Seattle Sounders exited the Club World Cup in their opening match, a 1-0 defeat to Egyptian stalwarts Al Ahly. While the Sounders’ attacking weapons, including a returning Raúl Ruidíaz, showed promise, they could ultimately not hold on through 94 minutes. The sides totaled three shots on target, with the Egyptians club’s only effort finding the back of the net. Al Ahly now progresses to face European champions Real Madrid in the semifinal match, with Copa Libertadores winners Flamengo set to match up against Al Hilal, the winner of the day’s earlier game.
While the loss leaves a bitter taste in the mouths of Seattle and MLS fans at the trimming of the league’s first opportunity on the world stage, it’s important to remember how wide open the door now is for American and Canadian teams to build a global reputation. The evidence is now there for more MLS clubs to place importance on the Champions League, to know that there’s been a team who’ve done it. Look for this year’s crop of sides to bring their absolute best team into these matches, and realize that it’s worth watching.
Seattle began the match quite passively, ceding the majority of the possession to Al Ahly over the first thirty minutes save a single five-minute spell midway through the half and looked to use Yeimar’s line-breaking passes to find Jordan Morris in behind.
As the game wore on, the Rave Green grew into the match, taking the initiative through the final 15 minutes of the first half and generating the best chances from either side. Ruidíaz took advantage of a missed clearance from Al Ahly goalkeeper El Shenawy with a flick to Albert Rusnák, but the chance was spurned as the ball sailed wide.
By the end of the half, there was a hopeful idea that Seattle was not looking fully like a side in preseason and that their early struggle with possession was looking to be a thing of the past, though it’d be questioned in the second period. The tactical variety, stemming from the dual wide threats of Cristian Roldan and Morris, also a product of the match’s progression, would be vital to their second-half hopes.
However, the second half saw the tactical discipline that headlined the first half begin to disintegrate as they struggled to create chances. João Paulo’s introduction midway through the half allowed for momentary relief, but they looked tired as a shot cannoned off of the crossbar, then was deflected in at the second attempt by Mohamed Magdy in the dying embers.
Ahead of the game, I spoke about three of the Sounders’ tactical questions, and they were decided, at least for the interim, today. The on-paper lineup showed, as expected, a commitment to the 4-2-3-1 that was expected before the match. That meant that Nouhou began at left-back, behind an attack-minded Morris, and was more defensively conscious than his opposite number.
Alex Roldan, in at right back, was able to find his way into the attack on multiple occasions, especially in the first half, when Seattle funneled most of their creative focus towards the right flank. His elder brother, Cristian Roldan, retained his place on the right wing as well. The two combined for the majority of the match, working with a stellar performance from 21-year-old defensive midfielder Josh Atencio to pick apart the Red Devils’ defense.
Ruidíaz began the match as the lone forward atop the formation. Still, the 90th-minute decision to bring Fredy Montero and Héber on to demonstrate the experimentation suggests the remaining consideration of a two-forward set, even as a tactical tweak based on game state. It’s something that Schmetzer spoke about following the preseason matches against Hammarby and Wolfsberger, and it’s obvious that it’ll impact the remainder of Seattle’s year. Brian Schmetzer and his staff now turn their attention towards the impending regular season, with their first match set for an opening-day home stand against the Colorado Rapids on February 26, at 5:00 PM. The match will be one of a few on national television, though every match will be streaming free on Apple TV as the league transitions towards their new broadcasting agreement with the tech giant (read more about how that impacts Seattle here).
