Sounders put pressure on Rapids after comeback win
Jordan Morris' instinctive finish and Nicolas Lodeiro's smooth penalty gave the Seattle Sounders a 2-1 comeback win over the Colorado Rapids in Tuesday's first leg of the Western Conference Final.
Kevin Doyle had delivered the visiting Rapids a 13th-minute lead courtesy of a deflected effort that fooled goalkeeper Stefan Frei.
But rookie sensation Morris - who made a timely recovery from a hamstring injury - pounced on a rebound six minutes later to level the match.
Head coach Pablo Mastroeni would have taken a 1-1 draw back to Denver - where the Rapids haven't lost all season - for Sunday's second leg.
His wishes were denied by careless defending.
Marc Burch put in a lazy foot to trip up Lodeiro, who had been running away from goal, and conceded a costly spot-kick in the 61st minute.
Nico Lodeiro netted his 4th goal of the #MLSCupPlayoffs, making him the #Sounders all-time postseason leading scorer https://t.co/dCCdL8hx4z
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) November 23, 2016
The 27-year-old dispatched the penalty down the middle of the net for his fourth goal of the MLS Cup playoffs. Despite joining the team midway through the season, he is now the Sounders' all-time leading scorer in postseason play.