Nicolás Lodeiro was built for the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs.
With his passionate, fiery disposition on the pitch, Seattle’s Uruguayan midfield maestro seems to always elevate his game around this time of year. In Seattle’s 2-0 win over Real Salt Lake on Saturday, Lodeiro tallied a goal and an assist, sending the Sounders back to the Western Conference Final for the third time in four seasons.
Dating back to when he spurred the Sounders to their first-ever MLS Cup back in 2016, the club captain has notched six goals and four assists from just 15 postseason matches.
“He’s been a massive part of our club since 2016,” Head Coach Brian Schmetzer said on Tuesday. “You listen to his comments after the games and listen to him on the field with his teammates, he carries a lot of weight around this organization.
“So, we’re happy to have him… I love the fact that I’ve got some talented, experienced guys to help us in these situations [and] to help us get on top of teams.”
Schmetzer noted after the match that the team’s defensive scheme was set up to clog up the middle of the pitch for RSL, forcing their possession out to the flanks. This benefitted Lodeiro immensely, as he was afforded space to launch transition moments when Seattle regained the ball.
From there, he did what he does best, dictating tempo and carving the opposition apart with lethal, inventive passes.
“He’s always so active and involved in so much of our play, our build up and creating chances for us,” winger Jordan Morris said after the match. “Obviously, he had that chance in the beginning and was unlucky not to score that one. When he comes out and is [firing] on all cylinders, it obviously helps us.”
As Morris noted, the Sounders captain was in inspired form from the opening whistle. In the fifth minute, he curled a long-distance effort that beat RSL goalkeeper Nick Rimando but crashed back off the post.
Lodeiro megs Everton Luiz (left) and nearly sets up a third goal with a no-look pass to Víctor Rodríguez (right)
With Rimando standing on his head through the first hour of the match, it seemed like Seattle simply couldn’t breach the RSL goal. But in the 64th minute, Lodeiro drove an inch-perfect corner kick onto the head of Gustav Svensson, who flicked the ball into the net for the opening goal.
RSL ratcheted up the position after falling behind, as they looked desperately for an equalizer. But as he’s done time-and-time again in the postseason, Lodeiro put the match out of reach with an individual moment of magic.
“Tonight, [Rimando] was awesome because he was stopping everything,” Lodeiro said after the match. “It was very difficult to score. We only have one way: It’s golazo or nothing.”
As Seattle’s creative fulcrum, the team’s ability to generate chances and dictate tempo often flows through Lodeiro’s feet. Surrounded by offensive weapons like Raúl Ruídiaz, Joevin Jones and Morris, Lodeiro and the Sounders boast an attack capable of beating any team in the league.
On Tuesday, the Sounders will head South to take on the 2019 Supporters’ Shield winner, LAFC, in the Western Conference Final. The match will feature two high-octane offenses squaring off for a spot in MLS Cup.
With Lodeiro in playoff mode, the Rave Green can inflict some serious damage.
