Seattle Sounders Dominate Pumas: "We Needed That"

 Is it starting to feel like 2022 for Seattle Sounders FC?

It certainly did during Monday's commanding 4-0 victory at Lumen Field against LIGA MX’s Pumas UNAM—the same team they defeated at the same venue to win the historic Concacaf Champions Cup two years ago.

This decisive win not only secured the Rave Green a spot in the Leagues Cup quarterfinals but also provided significant momentum for the remainder of the tournament and the 2024 season.

“We needed that game. It was such an exciting match,” said head coach Brian Schmetzer after the game.

“I hope the fans who came out and those watching on TV enjoyed it. It was a good game. Even though the scoreline suggests a blowout, there were plenty of shifts in momentum.”

Breaking down the match: Pumas were arguably the more dangerous side early on and looked poised to take the lead before Piero Quispe’s goal was disallowed for offside. But once Paul Rothrock scored in the 32nd minute, the Sounders took control. Jordan Morris (2g/0a) and Albert Rusnák (1g/2a) dominated in the second half, with Rothrock adding an extra touch of flair by nutmegging star Mexican international César Huerta.

“They didn’t like that. Pumas is a proud team. Huerta is one of their best players; he’s a $10 million player,” Schmetzer said. “And here’s our kid from Seattle’s Capitol Hill putting the ball between his legs in the corner. I understand why the Pumas players were upset.”

That frustration boiled over in second-half stoppage time when Lisandro Magallán was sent off for fouling Morris from behind in the penalty box. Morris converted the penalty, but Schmetzer was most impressed with how his striker responded.

“I’m extremely proud that Jordan, first and foremost, stood up for himself because that was a rough tackle. He could’ve been injured,” said Schmetzer. “He jumped up, confronted the player, and scored the penalty. Whether it was intentional or not, it showed that he cares and is ready to stand up for himself.”

The performance also highlighted the Sounders’ growth throughout the competition. Schmetzer compared this win to their group-stage loss to Necaxa.

“What I’m most proud of is that when things started to go sideways against Necaxa, we didn’t have a solution. Tonight, when Pumas was on top, we shifted the momentum back to ourselves,” Schmetzer said. “That’s what I’m most proud of—the statement that this group is ready for success this year.”

Looking ahead, the Sounders will face the winner of Tuesday’s match between LAFC and the San Jose Earthquakes (10:30 pm ET | MLS Season Pass) in the quarterfinals at home.

Don’t expect Schmetzer to make changes to a squad that has now delivered two consecutive dominant wins, following their 3-1 victory over the Western Conference-leading LA Galaxy in the Round of 32.

“This team that has started the last two games has performed very well,” Schmetzer said. “I previously wasn’t sure what our best lineup was for the rest of the season, but if this group continues to play well, we have our answer.”