Seattle Sounders taking nothing for granted in CCL semi-final 2nd leg vs NYCFC | OneFootball

Though they hold a 3-1 advantage, the Seattle Sounders are taking nothing for granted ahead of their Concacaf Champions League semi-final second leg against NYCFC.

Goals from Albert Rusnak, Jordan Morris, and Nico Lodeiro put the Sounders in a commanding position as they travel to Red Bull Arena on Wednesday. That, coupled with NYCFC's slow start to the 2022 MLS season - taking just four points from five games - should leave most Seattle supporters feeling very confident of setting up a CCL final date with Pumas.

But NYCFC are still MLS Cup champions and in the likes of Taty Castellanos, Maxi Moralez and co., have enough quality to beat any side in Concacaf on their day.

"When we get to New York we know they’re going to step it up a notch. It’s a do-or-die situation, they need two goals minimum," midfielder Cristian Roldan told reporters ahead of the match. "For us, it’s about being solid defensively and taking it up a notch as well.”

Roldan added: “We understand we’re going to get chances in front of goal, we can create those, but it’s about keeping them to zero as long as possible and settling their confidence and keeping their confidence to a low."

Sounders head coach Brian Schmetzer is positive Ronny Deila will get a better tune out of NYCFC soon enough, but believes getting the first goal could be vital in killing off this tie quickly given the mountain it would leave the hosts to climb.

“The warning is: New York City can play better, I know they can play better,” he said. “I know their coach is going to get them to play better, so we have to be prepared for the entirety of the game and not just focused on one singular event. But having said that, would it be nice to score a goal in the first half? Yes, absolutely it would.”