Sounders drop second match to Atletico

Seattle Sounders 1-3 Atletico Madrid

SEATTLE, WA–Seattle Sounders FC’s hopes of advancing to the knockout stage of the FIFA Club World Cup are now slim and none and slim is at the gate for departure after they lost, 3-1, to Atletico Madrid. There is still a chance for the Sounders to advance, but that requires a win by four goals over PSG and hope Botafogo (who upset PSG on Thursday) defeats Atletico on Monday (both matches at noon PT on DAZN).

Atleti just needed eleven minutes to pull ahead as Pablo Barrios headed in a cross from Giuliano Simeone. The match stayed 1-0 for the rest of the first half, but two minutes into the second half, the lead became 2-0. Marco Llorente shot one off the crossbar. The rebound was pounced on by Robin Le Normand who fed Axel Witsel for an easy finish.

Photo: Nate Koppelman

The Sounders, though, were determined to make a game of it again and pulled one back three minutes later. Paul Rothrock’s header set up Albert Rusnak to make it 2-1. The two-goal lead was restored, though, in the 55th minute as the Sounders failed to deal with a long throw-in.

Monday will see the final group matches for Group B with the Sounders hosting PSG at Lumen Field and Atletico Madrid playing Botafogo of Brazil at the Rose Bowl. Kickoff for both matches will be at noon PT on DAZN.

Photos by Nate Koppelman