The Seattle Sounders fell 3-0 to Columbus Crew SC in MLS Cup 2020 on Monday at MAPFRE Stadium behind two goals from Lucas Zelarayán and another from Derrick Etienne Jr.
Columbus nearly found the back of the net in the 17th minute when Gyasi Zardes forced Stefan Frei into a brilliant one-handed save.
Zelarayán opened the scoring in the 25th minute on a volley from the left side off the box from a cross by Harrison Afful. Etienne Jr. doubled the advantage six minutes later when he finished a one-timed right-footed shot to the far post off a feed from Zelarayán.
Head Coach Brian Schmetzer made two halftime changes, bringing on Gustav Svensson and Brad Smith for Joevin Jones and Nouhou, respectively.
Nicolás Lodeiro nearly pulled one back for Seattle in the 71st minute when his one-timed effort just skipped past Eloy Room’s goal. Jordan Morris almost scored on a header in the 80th minute, but Room parried it away from the top corner.
Zelarayán iced the match in the 82nd minute with a left-footed finish from the top of the box.
THREE TAKEAWAYS
NO COMEBACK
Seattle couldn’t do what it did against Minnesota United in the Western Conference Final and come back from two goals down to get back into the match.
STREAK SNAPPED
The Sounders had won eight consecutive Audi MLS Cup Playoffs matches dating back to the second leg of the 2018 Western Conference Semifinals. The apex was last year’s 2019 MLS Cup win, the second in franchise history.
SHUTOUT
Monday was the first time the Sounders have been shut out in the postseason in their last 10 matches, dating back to the 2-0 loss to Toronto FC in MLS Cup 2017.
