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MLS Seattle Sounders FC

Morris Hat Trick Propels Sounders FC in Thrilling Extra Time Win over FC Dallas in First Round of Audi 2019 MLS Cup Playoffs

October 19, 2019 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Seattle Sounders FC News Release


Jordan Morris' hat trick secured a victory for Seattle Sounders FC
Jordan Morris' hat trick secured a victory for Seattle Sounders FC
(Seattle Sounders FC, Credit: Mike Fiechtner / Sounders FC Communications)

SEATTLE, WASH. - Jordan Morris recorded his first professional hat trick as Sounders FC defeated FC Dallas in an entertaining 4-3 win after extra time in the first round of the Audi 2019 MLS Cup Playoffs. Raúl Ruidíaz also scored for Seattle, who now faces the winner of Real Salt Lake and the Portland Timbers in the Western Conference Semifinals on Wednesday, October 23 at CenturyLink Field (7:00 p.m. PT / FS1, FOX Deportes, 950 KJR AM, El Rey 1360 AM).

In front of an energetic home crowd of 37,722, Seattle got off to a fast start on Saturday afternoon. Ruidíaz bagged his fourth postseason goal in just three Audi MLS Cup Playoffs matches, receiving a pass in midfield from Cristian Roldan in the 18th minute. Ruidíaz took aim from distance, beating Dallas goalkeeper Jess Gonzalez to his right from roughly 30 yards. For the Peruvian, the strike was his 12th goal in 2019.

Four minutes later, Mercer Island native Morris doubled the home side's advantage, receiving a through ball from winger Joevin Jones on the left flank. Morris slotted a smooth left-footed shot past Gonzalez, giving the Rave Green a 2-0 lead. Ruidíaz initiated the attack, earning a second assist on the play. For Morris, the goal was his 11th overall tally in 2019, as the forward continues a remarkable comeback season after missing all of 2018 with a torn ACL.

Before halftime, FC Dallas defender Reggie Cannon pulled the visitors back to within a goal. Receiving a cross from teammate Michael Barrios, Cannon deftly brought the ball down and finished calmly past Stefan Frei to make the scoreline 2-1 heading into the break.

Dallas came storming out of the halftime intermission to level the score at two goals apiece, as Matt Hedges skied over Seattle's backline on a corner-kick, heading a shot into goal. Barrios once again provided the service on the set piece.

Morris earned his second of the night 10 minutes later, as Sounders FC hit back with a corner-kick goal of its own. Captain Nicolás Lodeiro sent the ball into Dallas' area, with Morris using his outstretched left foot to tuck the ball away past Gonzalez once again. However, with a 3-2 lead, Dallas would equalize once more, this time through Bryan Acosta on a second-consecutive corner.

Deadlocked at 3-3, the contest advanced into extra time, where a poised Morris completed his first professional hat trick in the 113th minute. Following a shot from Ruidíaz that was deflected and sent the ball rattling around the top of Dallas' six-yard-box, the United States Men's National Team forward headed his team back into the lead. Sounders FC saw the match out, completing a thrilling 4-3 first-round victory in the new single-elimination Audi MLS Cup Playoffs.

MATCH NOTES

With today's result, Sounders FC advances to the Western Conference Semifinals to face the winner of Real Salt Lake and the Portland Timbers. The Conference Semifinals will be played on Wednesday, October 23 at CenturyLink Field at 7:00 p.m. PT on FS1 / FOX Deportes.

Single-match tickets for Sounders FC's Western Conference Semifinals match go on sale to the public starting tomorrow, Sunday, October 20, at 10:00 a.m. PT at SoundersFC.com/Tickets or by calling 877-MLS-GOAL.

Sounders FC today improved to 3-2-2 all-time against FC Dallas in the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs, including a 3-0-1 mark at CenturyLink Field. Including postseason, the Rave Green have lost to FC Dallas just once in 16 meetings at CenturyLink Field (12-1-3).

Jordan Morris recorded his first career hat trick, and the first hat trick in Sounders FC playoff history. He now owns five goals in nine career playoff matches. Morris is tied with Nicolás Lodeiro for second all-time in postseason scoring, behind only Clint Dempsey (six goals).

Raúl Ruidíaz has now recorded four goals and two assists in three career playoff games, and has scored in each of those three games. Today's goal was his first since September 1 vs. the LA Galaxy, a game in which he also recorded an assist. Ruidíaz today also notched the first two-assist game of his career.

Joevin Jones has now recorded an assist in three of his last four playoff games. Today's assist was his sixth in 12 career playoff matches. Jones is Sounders FC's all-time leader in playoff assists, three more than second-place Víctor Rodríguez.

Gustav Svensson earned his first career playoff assist in his eighth match. He totaled one assist during the 2019 regular season.

Lodeiro earned his third career playoff assist today, while Cristian Roldan recorded the second assist of his playoff career. MATCH SUMMARY

Seattle Sounders FC 4 - FC Dallas 3

Saturday, October 19, 2019

Venue: CenturyLink Field

Referee: Nima Saghafi

Assistants: Ian B. Anderson, Jason White

Fourth Official: Baldomero Toledo

VAR: Edvin Jurisevic

Attendance: 37,722

Weather: 50 degrees and light rain

SCORING SUMMARY

SEA - Raúl Ruidíaz (Cristian Roldan) 18'

SEA - Jordan Morris (Joevin Jones, Raúl Ruidíaz) 22'

DAL - Reggie Cannon 39'

DAL - Matt Hedges (Michael Barrios) 64'

SEA - Jordan Morris (Gustav Svensson, Nicolás Lodeiro) 74'

DAL - Bryan Acosta (Reto Ziegler) 82'

SEA - Jordan Morris (Raúl Ruidíaz) 113'

MISCONDUCT SUMMARY

DAL - Bryan Acosta (caution) 25'

DAL - Reggie Cannon (caution) 44'

DAL - Jesse Gonzalez (caution) 88'

LINEUPS & STATS

Seattle Sounders FC - Stefan Frei; Kelvin Leerdam (Luis Silva 111'), Román Torres, Kim Kee-hee, Brad Smith (Víctor Rodríguez 67'); Gustav Svensson, Cristian Roldan, Joevin Jones (Nouhou 97'), Nicolás Lodeiro - captain, Jordan Morris (Jordy Delem 114'); Raúl Ruidíaz

Substitutes not used: Bryan Meredith, Harry Shipp, Xavier Arreaga

Total shots: 24 (Ruidíaz, 6)

Shots on goal: 10 (Morris, 3)

Fouls: 12 (Ruidíaz, 4)

Offside: 0

Corner-kicks: 7 (Lodeiro, 7)

Saves: 5 (Frei, 5)

FC Dallas - Jesse Gonzalez; Reggie Cannon, Hatt Hedges, Reto Ziegler - captain; Bressan (Paxton Pomykal, 77'), Ryan Hollingshead; Bryan Acosta, Brandon Servania (Edwin Cerrillo 108'); Michael Barrios, Jesus Ferreira (Santiago Mosquera 78'), Zdenek Ondrasek (Jacori Hayes 90'+5')

Substitutes not used: Jimmy Maurer, Eric Alexander, John Nelson

Total shots: 24 (Acosta, 6)

Shots on goal: 8 (Mosquera/Servania, 2)

Fouls: 21 (Acosta/Servania, 4)

Offside: 1 (Cannon, 1)

Corner-kicks: 9 (Ziegler, 6)

Saves: 5 (Gonzalez, 5)

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Jordan Morris' hat trick secured a victory for Seattle Sounders FC
Jordan Morris' hat trick secured a victory for Seattle Sounders FC
(Mike Fiechtner / Sounders FC Communications)		   



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