The Champions League round of 16 is in the books with two more MLS teams advancing. The New York Red Bulls shutout Olimpia 2-0 on the night and 3-1 on aggregate. Bradley Wright-Phillips opened the scoring at Red Bull Arena in the 54th minute with Sean Davis adding a goal in the 64th.
Obviously, they know they have to get a goal and if we keep a clean sheet we’re through to the next round,” Red Bulls defender Tyler Adams said. “I think that we emphasized building out of the back… trying to facilitate and find good spots.”
In the other round of 16 game, the Seattle Sounders shutout Santa Tecla 4-0 at home to advance 5-2 on aggregate. Will Bruin scored in the 47th minute with Nicolas Lodeiro doubling the lead in the 69th. Chad Marshall added a goal in the 81st. Magnus Wolff Eikrem scored two minutes later.
“We knew that once we got that first goal, we could get two, three or four and open up the game,” Bruin said. “It took the first half, but (coach) Schmetzer was saying that if we don’t score in the first half or early, just to keep possession, our chances were going to come, and they did.”
New York and Seattle join Toronto as the MLS representatives in the quarterfinals. All three MLS clubs will play Liga MX teams. New York vs Tijuana with the first-leg on March 6 with Seattle vs Chivas and Toronto vs Tigres on March 7.
The Washington Post’s Steven Goff lists the big stories for MLS in 2018. The Austin American-Statesman’s Kevin Lyttle talks to Columbus Crew investor-operator Anthony Precourt. Soccer America’s Paul Gardner on overly aggressive goalkeeping and what referees should be doing in response.
AP’s Rob Harris and Jan M Olsen report on Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s future with Manchester United and Sweden. The National’s Andy Mitten profiles former Premier League club Bolton Wanderers. FourFourTwo has Borussia Dortmund not producing official half-and-half scarves for their Europa League game with Red Bull Salzburg. ESPN FC’s Stephan Uersfeld relays that Salzburg will produce official half-and-half scarves. The Independent’s Miguel Delaney looks at soccer’s increasing part in global politics.
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(Photo by Mike Lawrence – ISIPhotos.com)
