For the fifth time in the competition’s history, an MLS team has reached the CONCACAF Champions League final. The Seattle Sounders hope to be the first to emerge victorious.
The Sounders appear to be the first MLS team to win the CONCACAF Champions League trophy when hosting Pumas UNAM.
If it’s going to happen, now is the time. The Sounders have proven to be one of the strongest and most resilient MLS teams to start the season, and Pumas are a surprise finalist given their 11th-place finish in the Liga MX Apertura tournament and their current 12th-place finish in the Clausura. current Liga MX (Pumas qualified for the Champions League as runner-up of the Apertura 2020).
Still, given the history of the competition, there is no room for complacency. While the Sounders have put together a solid string of results both domestically and abroad, this is not a team that is beating the opposition on any front, and it will take a strong two-legged performance to make history. This should be an exciting and entertaining two-game matchup in several facets.
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Cougars vs Seattle head to head
This matchup will be the first meeting between these two clubs, who have never met before.
Seattle has had mixed success against Mexican clubs, with seven wins, three draws and nine losses all-time. The only club the Sounders have a winning record against is Tigres UANL, with two wins to just one loss. They have multiple wins against Santos Laguna, but also multiple losses.
Meanwhile, Pumas have also had mixed success against MLS clubs, posting four wins, one draw and four losses. The Mexican team has never won multiple games against any MLS team, only one victory each against New England, Dallas, Houston and NYCFC.
PLUS: Complete history of MLS vs. Liga MX in CONCACAF Champions League matches
MLSvs. Liga MX in the final of the CONCACAF Champions League
Since the start of the revamped CONCACAF Champions League in 2008-09, each tournament has been won by a Liga MX club. As you’ve probably realized, that means no MLS team has ever won the competition in its current format.
Only four previous MLS teams have reached any of the 13 Champions League finals, and all were beaten by a Mexican club at the final hurdle.
| Year | Final result (goals added*) | finals format |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Seattle Sounders vs. Pumas UNAM | Two legs |
| 2020 | tigers twoLAFC one* | single match |
| 2018 | Chivas 3Toronto FC 3 (4-3 pens) | Two legs |
| 2015 | America club 5Montreal Impact 3 | Two legs |
| 2011 | monterrey 3real salt lake two | Two legs |
* = The Tigres-LAFC 2020 final was a single-game final after the remaining quarterfinals, semifinals and final were held in Orlando due to scheduling affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Cougars vs. Seattle: How They Got Here
Obviously, given the history of the competition, Seattle has never won the CONCACAF Champions League. However, there will be a first either way, as Pumas UNAM have never won the Champions League in its current format, although they have lifted the continental title three times previously, all in the 1980s.
seattle probes
Pumas UNAM
* = Pumas advanced by penalty shootout
PLUS: Complete summary of the CONCACAF Champions League semifinal
Pumas vs. Seattle team highlights
The Sounders lost their first two MLS league games of the season (1-0 losses to Nashville SC and Real Salt Lake) and unexpectedly lost their last two (1-0 to Miami and 4-3 to San Jose). Those four setbacks have left them in 11th place in the Western Conference, five points out of the playoff zone and 12 points out of first place with one game remaining.
But the Sounders have been especially strong on the road, getting results in multiple locations. The team has played seven away games so far between MLS and the CONCACAF Champions League, drawing four and losing two. While that doesn’t exactly inspire a parade, picking up sweepstakes in places like Honduras and Mexico, and on a cross-country trip at NYCFC is certainly a positive thing.
Having Jordan Morris back to his best has been a boon to the club, and the link play between the Roldan brothers down the right flank has been impressive. Raúl Ruidíaz also appears finally healthy, an attacking momentum that had stalled with Will Bruin holding the starting job. The return of Nicolás Lodeiro has pushed Albert Rusnak to the number 8 position in which he has surprisingly excelled so far.
But there are also defensive difficulties in this matchup. While the backline hasn’t leaked by any means, he also hasn’t kept a clean sheet once in seven MLS matches, also conceding in each of his last three continental games.
None of the first-choice center backs appear in the top 20 of WhoScored’s defender rankings, with Xavier Arreaga at No. 31 and Jackson Ragen at No. 37. Only three players average at least two tackles per game, and Ragen does not. it does much more than clear the ball at incredible speed. Lastly, goalkeeper Stefan Frei is a club legend, but he hasn’t started the season very well either. There are defensive questions for manager Brian Schmetzer to answer.
Seattle Sounders Projected Lineup (4-2-3-1): Frei (GK) — Rowe, Arreaga, Ragen, A. Roldan — Rusnak, Joao Paulo — Morris, Lodeiro, C. Roldan — Ruidiaz.
Pumas is the epitome of an outstanding team. In recent seasons, due to economic problems, the club’s management has not made notable signings or notably strengthened the squad. However, the team boss, Andrés Lillini, has made magic with him.
The Argentine has known how to engage the university students local talent with unannounced foreign signings. Lillini has brought out the best in official players like Meritao, Diogo and Rogerio.
Pumas is currently in 12th place in the table with 19 points (5G-7L-4E), within the qualifying zone for the league playoffs The top 12 teams advance to the postseason. However, it has become clear that Lillini’s focus is on the CONCACAF Champions League as the team is hungry for a title: the last time they took silver was in the 2011 Clausura season. Since losing the final of the Apertura of the 2020 Mexican league, this continental competition has been Pumas’ best bet to achieve this goal.
The star player of the squad is, without a doubt, Alan Mozo. While the right-back can be a defensive problem at times, he is a powerhouse down the flank. He can send dangerous crosses into the box or shoot from afar.
Collectively, the team’s strength is its balance. Against the New England Revolution in the second leg of the quarterfinals, they showed they can score by coming back from a three-goal deficit on aggregate. Their main striker, Juan Ignacio Dinenno, is the top scorer in the Champions League with seven goals.
The Pumas can also defend very firmly when necessary. They shut down Cruz Azul’s potent offense in the second leg of the tournament semifinals to advance.
The main weakness of the team must be its depth. Aside from Rogerio and some youngsters, Lillini doesn’t have much to choose from on his bench. In the first leg of the final against Seattle Sounders FC, Pumas will be without their defensive pillar Arturo Ortiz, who was sent off in the last game against Cruz Azul. The question is, how much does Pumas have left?
Pumas Projected Lineup (4-4-2): Alfredo Talavera (GK) — Velarde, Freire, Galindo, Mozo — Corozo, Lopez, Meritao, Diogo — Dinenno, Alvarez.
What channel is Pumas vs Seattle?
1st stage
- Date: Wednesday, April 27
- Weather: 10:30 p.m. Eastern Time
- Television channel: FS1 (USA), TUDN (USA), OneSoccer (Canada)
- Transmission: fuboTV
Wednesday’s game between the Seattle Sounders and Pumas will be broadcast on FS1 (English) and Univision and TUDN (Spanish) in the US One Soccer will broadcast the game on television and broadcast in Canada.
can also be broadcast on fuboTV in both nations, and new users can take advantage of a free trial.
2nd stage
- Date: Wednesday, May 4
- Weather: 10 p.m. Eastern Time
- Television channel: FS1 (USA), TUDN (USA), OneSoccer (Canada)
- Transmission: fuboTV
The second leg in Seattle will also air on FS1 (English) and TUDN (Spanish) in the US, as well as OneSoccer in Canada.
can also be broadcast on fuboTV in both nations, and new users can take advantage of a free trial.
Reference-www.sportingnews.com