SEATTLE – A shift in role for Jordan Morris keyed the Seattle Sounders’ 3-0 thrashing of FC Dallas in their Western Conference semifinal opener at CenturyLink Field on Sunday.
After deploying the rookie striker centrally as the lone forward at the top of Seattle’s 4-2-3-1 formation for much of the latter part of the regular season, Sounders interim head coach Brian Schmetzer opted to start veteran Nelson Valdez in that role on Sunday, moving Morris to the left wing.
Morris didn’t score a goal. but the 22-year-old could make a credible case for being the best player on the field, using his dynamic pace and explosiveness to create multiple opportunities and tally the assist on Seattle’s second goal – a tap-in from midfielder Nicolas Lodeiro that gave the Sounders a 2-0 lead in the 55th minute.