Atletico Madrid increased their qualification breaches from FIFA Club World Cup Group B with a 3-1 victory over Seattle Sounders, who left the competition after collapsing to three consecutive home reports for the first time since March 2011.
Match report
After a 4-0 mauling through the hands of Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico wanted to put down an early marker and created a few early chances by Alexander Sorloth and Julian Alvarez. However, it did not take too long for the Spaniards to break the impasse, while Pablo Barrios beat a brilliant first strike of the first time in the bottom of the bar.
Sorloth revered a golden chance to double their lead, before Jan Oblak was called in action on the other side to deny Danny Musovski in a lively opening of 20 minutes.
Match Statsopta by Statspleform
Sørloth experienced a frustrating first half, with the Norwegian thwarted by Sounders Shot stopper Stefan Frei in a one-on-one chance. Brian Schmetzer's side gathered well, but thought they had admitted a penalty when Reed Baker-Whiting was initially punished for a challenge on Giuliano Simeone. A VAR review, however, has established controversially that there was no mistake, with a drop ball instead.
Diego Simeone would have been irritated that his side was not out of sight at HT, and they could have even vomited their leadership if Baker-Whiting had been more accurate with his long-distance effort.
But Axel Witsel came from the bank prior to the restart to double the lead of Atleti and nodded home of point-white range of the cuts of Robin Le Normand, after Frei could only parry Marcos Llorente in the path of the defender in the path of the defender.
But just when Simeone's side was on its way to a comfortable victory, Albert Rusnak benefited from defensive indecision with a clinical finish of close-range to halve the shortage.
Momentumopta by Statspleform
However, the joy was short-lived for the MLS outfit, with a purpose that hardly covered the defense of the Sounders in glory. A long throw -in found its way to Barrios to put the simplest finishes along Frei after the ball could bounce in the box. Jesus Ferreira thought he had set up a potentially dramatic end of the game when he went home late, but was refused by the flag of the linesman.
This was a hard lesson for the courageous Americans, who showed a lot of striving without the genuine quality to considerably ensure one of Europe's heavyweights.
The Rave Green have now admitted at least two goals in each of their last four games, before they close the tournament against PSG on Monday. In the meantime, Atletico is confronted with a crucial collision with Botafogo on the same day in their search to reach the knockout phases.
Match -Events
11 'goal! Seattle Sounders 0-1 Atletico (Pablo Barrios)
40 'Criminal objective! Seattle Sounders Atletico
47 'goal! Seattle Sounders 0-2 Atletico (Axel Witsel)
50 'goal! Seattle Sounders 1-2 Atletico (Albert Rusnák)
55 'goal! Seattle Sounders 1-3 Atletico (Pablo Barrios)
Line-ups
Seattle Sounders XI: Stefan Frei, Albert Rusnák, Cristian Roldán, Danny Musovski, Jon Bell, Pedro de la Vega, Reed Baker-Whiting, Jackson Ragen, Obed Vargas, Paul Rothrock, Kalani Kossa-Rienzi
Subs: João Paulo, Kee-hee Kim, Jordan Morris, Yeimar Gómez Andrade, Kent, Nouhou, Jesús Ferreira, álex Roldán, Jacob Castro, Danny Leyva, Travian Sousa, Osaze de Rosario, Cody, Cody, Cody, Cody, Cody, Cody, Cody, Cody, Cody,, Georg,, Georg,, Georg,, Georg,, Georg,, Georg, Cody, Cody, Cody, Cody, Cody, Cody, Cody, Cody, Cody, Cody, Cody, Cody,, Georg,, Georg,, Georg,, Georg.
Atletico XI: Oblak, Koke, Sørloth, De Paul, Gimenez, Llorente, Le Normand, Galan, Alvarez, Giuliano Simeone, Barrios
Subs: Witsel, Azpilicueta, Griezmann, Lemar, Musso, Correa, Mandava, Molina, Gallagher, Lino, Riqueelme, Javi Serrano, Ilias Kostis, Carlos MartÃn, Antonio Gomis, Antonio Gomis