The game in 200 words (or less): How about one word? Insanity. Simply put, an all-time classic in MLS Cup Playoffs history. It’s a small sample size, no doubt about it, but MLS’s new single-elimination playoff format appears to have solved the problem of uninspiring early-round action. Seattle advanced to the Western Conference semifinals, where they’ll face the winner of Real Salt Lake versus Portland Timbers, with a 4-3 extra-time victory, but it wasn’t without 120 minutes of nonstop drama. Seattle went from 2-0 up inside the first 25 minutes, to level at 2-2 inside 65, to 3-2 up 10 minutes later, to level again with under 10 minutes of regular time remaining. They needed 113 minutes to do it, but Seattle broke the deadlock for the final time when Jordan Morris completed the first hat trick of his career.
JORDAN MORRIS IN EXTRATIME!! HAT TRICK!!#SEAvDAL // @Audi #MLSCupPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/5uUReh5SGQ
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) October 19, 2019
[ MORE: Lampard “pleased for Pulisic,” praises subs in Chelsea win ]
What did we learn?
- Sounders making magic out wide: No matter how many times they saw it, Dallas simply couldn’t slow down the Sounders wide attackers and full backs from creating superb scoring chances from out wide. This has been one of the Sounders’ greatest strengths for a couple seasons now, yet Dallas seemed wholly unprepared for it. The speed and crossing ability they have out wide is a huge problem for a lot of teams, especially when Morris and Raul Ruidiaz are moving around freely in the box.
Jordan Morris slots another one past Jesse Gonzalez to double the lead for @SoundersFC! pic.twitter.com/TZeEvlw7H7
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) October 19, 2019
- Sounders’ defensive struggles unsolved: For all the chances they created on one end, Seattle couldn’t control the game or even slow it down in middle and defensive thirds. Whether it was on the counter-attack, through sustained possession by Dallas or set pieces, Seattle struggled in the worst way. Even after going ahead in extra time, Seattle stood idly by as Dallas created a couple of golden scoring chances and were so close to finding themselves level again at 4-4. They won’t have (m)any more “get out of jail free” cards to play as they advance to the latter rounds.
Right back in it. @ReggieCannon15 gets one back for @FCDallas! #SEAvDAL // @Audi #MLSCupPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/nGiWq0c5kb
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) October 19, 2019
MADNESS! We're level AGAIN!#SEAvDAL // @Audi #MLSCupPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/mmuICeyN92
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) October 19, 2019
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Man of the match: Jordan Morris
Goalscorers: Ruidiaz (18'), Morris (22', 74', 113'), Cannon (39'), Hedges (64'), Acosta (82')
