RECAP: Sounders start bright but suffer 4-2 defeat to C.F. Monterrey

The Seattle Sounders suffered a 4-2 defeat to C.F. Monterrey in Leagues Cup play at Lumen Field on Sunday night, with Nicolás Lodeiro and Jordan Morris scoring for the Rave Green.

It was a dream start for the Sounders as Lodeiro and Morris powered a 2-0 lead over the Liga MX giants inside the first 10 minutes of the match.

After Raúl Ruidíaz drew a foul on the edge of Monterrey’s box, Lodeiro stepped up and curled the subsequent free kick into the top corner in the 2nd minute.

Four minutes later, Léo Chú intercepted a pass and drove behind the Rayados’ back line before clipping a ball to the back post that found the head of Jordan Morris, who guided the ball past the goalkeeper for a 2-0 lead. 

Monterrey got a goal back in the 31st minute when Germán Berterame forced Stefan Cleveland into a reflex save and then pounced on his own rebound.

The Rayados leveled the score when they were awarded a penalty on the brink of halftime, which Berterame stepped up and dispatched. 

Monterrey took the lead early in the second half as Jordi Cortizo picked out the bottom corner from outside the box in the 48th minute. 

Seattle nearly leveled the score 10 minutes later as Morris played a dangerous ball into the box that found the run of Lodeiro. The ball popped loose to both Ruidíaz and Obed Vargas, but Esteban Andrada came up with the save. 

Berterame completed his hat trick to make it 4-2 in the 63rd minute following a counterattack. 

The Sounders almost pulled back a goal in the 74th minute when Héber managed to flick a header toward the far post, but Andrada produced an impressive reflex save. 

In the final 10 minutes of the match, Ruidíaz struck the post twice but was ultimately unable to convert. Yeimar received a straight red card for a foul in the 86th minute.

THREE TAKEAWAYS

Leagues Cup Elimination

Following the defeat on Sunday, the Sounders have been eliminated from the 2023 Leagues Cup. Monterrey and Real Salt Lake will advance to the Round of 32 as the top two finishers from Group West 2. 

Chú and Morris Connection

Chu’s assist to Morris in the 6th minute of the match was his team-leading ninth of the season, six of which have been to the Mercer Island native. While the result was disappointing, Chú and Morris’ continued production will be a benefit as the regular season resumes.

Break In Play

After being eliminated from Leagues Cup, the Sounders will not play again until the team hosts Atlanta United (7:30 p.m. PT; MLS Season Pass on Apple TV | TICKETS) on August 20 at Lumen Field.