The troubles for Major League Soccer teams in the CONCACAF Champions League continued on Thursday night as the Seattle Sounders lost and the New York Red Bulls managed a draw in the round of 16 opening legs.
The Seattle Sounders suffered a 2-1 defeat to Santa Tecla FC in El Salvador while also losing Jordan Morris to an injury.
Nicolas Lodeiro put Seattle ahead in the 15th minute with a spectacular first-time chip from 40 yards, but Gerson Mayen put home a deflected shot in the 67th minute to equalize.
15' GOALLLLLLL SOUNDERS!!!!
— Seattle Sounders FC (@SoundersFC) February 23, 2018
Nico Lodeiro one-times a loose ball home from 45 yards out. WOW!
1-0 | #SCCL2018 pic.twitter.com/5xl1dFXp7k
And nine minutes later, Mayern added a second goal for the hosts from the penalty spot after defender Ricardinho drew a foul in the box.
The Sounders will have to make up the deficit in their home leg next Thursday, but they may be without Morris, as the U.S. striker was helped off the field late after Seattle had made all three substitutes.
The New York Red Bulls fared slightly better by securing a 1-1 draw against Honduran side Olimpia, in a match played in Costa Rica.
Daniel Royer headed home a cross from Bradley Wright-Phillips to push New York ahead after a half hour, but in the second half Aurelien Collin conceded a penalty that Bryan Moya converted to share the spoils.
The Red Bulls will have a slight advantage with their away goal when the teams meet again in New Jersey next week.
The results mean all four American sides in the competition failed to earn a victory in their opening legs, following the Colorado Rapids' defeat 2-0 to MLS champion Toronto FC on Tuesday, and FC Dallas' 1-0 loss to Tauro FC in Panama on Wednesday.
In Thursday's other game, Mexican giants Chivas secured a 2-0 win over Cibao in the Dominican Republic.
Jesus Sanchez opened the scoring five minutes before half-time before Jose Macias provided a second late on.