Seattle bitter Pumas party in Concacaf first leg final


Pumas and Seattle Sounders tied at two, with goals from Argentinean Juan Dinenno for the locals and Uruguayan Nicolás Lodeiro for the visitors, three of these scored from eleven steps, to leave the final open in the Concacaf Champions League. The Mexican team clings to the possibility of winning its first championship in 11 years and maintaining the supremacy of the Liga MX teams in this contest, on a rainy night that, despite the time (9:30 p.m.), did not prevent fans will pack south of Mexico City.

A crowd of 42,617 fans, according to the official figure, gathered outside the University Olympic Stadium hours in advance waiting for their turn to enter, in lines that turned and stretched to under the low bridge of Insurgentes Avenue, with water running up and down.

However, once they passed through the access controls, a party atmosphere awaited them inside the venue for many reasons: the last time Pumas, one of the “big four” of Mexican soccer, won a title was in 2011 ( MX League); the last time they won the tournament in the area was 33 years ago and the last time they played in the final was in 2005, leaving a bitter taste in their mouths, as it was the last time a Mexican team lost the tournament (against Saprissa of Costa Rica); Since then, Liga MX teams have won 16 consecutive times.

In addition, the team from the Mexican capital does not have the opportunity to pass the playoff of the current tournament in the Liga MX beyond the 11th or 12th place and therefore will not play that phase at home, that is why its big bet is in the Concachampions .

Further promoting the blue and gold pride, former soccer player Jorge Campos, champion with Pedregal in the 1990/91 season and who lifted the then Concacaf Champions Cup trophy with this team in 1989, presented the trophy of the edition current.

The house made itself felt before the game started with chants, flags, fireworks, boos to the visitors and cheers to the locals, especially for Andrés Lillini, the unexpected technical director who rescued them two years ago, taking them to a final and Liga MX semifinal, and now to the fight for the Concachampions trophy, coming back from 0-3 against New England Revolution and then leaving Cruz Azul in the semifinals.

Putting all the meat on the grill from the start, Lillini played the game with the scoring leader, the Argentine Juan Dinenno, as the starter despite a recent injury to his right leg; his participation was decided at the last minute, along with that of midfielder Leonel López.

The Argentine striker responded. He was fouled at minute 32 in the area and the referee awarded a penalty. Although the American goalkeeper, Stefan Frei, saved the ball that Dinenno sent right to the center, the whistler ordered the shot to be retaken when the VAR told him that he had gone ahead. The Argentine did not repeat the same mistake, he sent it to the corner away from the goalkeeper to make it 1-0 on the scoreboard.

Returning from the break the rain forgave, but Dinenno did not, at minute 48 the striker finished off with a header to increase the lead and put the fans back on their feet, who were only in their seats for the three minutes of the second half that the striker took tick. When the actions resumed, Lillini had a hard time giving directions given the public noise.

The attacker has been essential to the feline offense. Of the 13 goals that the Pumas have, nine have been scored by him, so he is on the verge of an individual scoring title.

Despite the support of the fans, the rivals found the courage to come out of adversity. At minute 72, the whistle scored a penalty in favor of the Seattle Sounders that the Uruguayan Nicolás Lodeiro effectively charged to the left leg of Alfredo Talavera.

On added time, when the fans took out their cell phones to light up the stadium and start celebrating the victory, the Seattle Sounders captain cut off their inspiration. He repeated the dose after another penalty marking by the whistle.

“We never quit, the culture of the team is to always be there,” US team coach Brian Schmetzer said.

Also, Alan Mozo, a valuable piece in Lillini’s scheme, was injured before halftime and at the end of the game he was seen entering the field with crutches.

“Alan has a sprain and tomorrow they are going to do tests to see how serious it is. He told me it hurts but it’s not a great pain,” explained the auriazul coach.

The return final will be played next Wednesday, May 4 at Lumen Field, in the United States. “We have to be careful with Pumas because it is a team that does not give up, but neither does our team, so it will be a good final,” said Schmetzer, who considered that his players were not at their full potential on Wednesday.

Of the 16 teams that qualified for this edition of the Concacaf Champions League, Seattle is the only one that remains undefeated, with three wins and four draws, numbers that allowed them to secure the definition of the title on their own ground.



Leave a Comment