Pumas UNAM vs. Sounders recap: one small step for Seattle

Seattle Sounders traveled to Mexico City to face Pumas UNAM in the Concacaf Champions League first leg and returned home with a spectacular draw. After losing 2-0, the Sounders earned two second-half penalties to respond to the hosts and tie the game, 2-2. Both penalties, one deep in stoppage time which required a VAR consultation to be called, felt like more than a bit of poetic justice. Pumas opened the scoring with a soft penalty – though it was unlikely to be changed on review, however called on the pitch – in the 38th minute. Both had chances throughout the first half, but the best of them fell to the Pumas side, requiring some impressive saves from Stefan Frei. One of those saves came on the penalty, but Frei was judged to have come off his line early and the ensuing rebound was scored.

The Pumas doubled their lead early in the second half, when a series of defensive lapses left a cruiser wide open to send a ball through. Yeimar jumped in but timed it wrong, and Juan Dinenno got up and headed the ball home to secure his brace. Seattle kept pushing, but seemed particularly lamenting a missed chance just after the Pumas’ second goal when Raúl Ruidíaz had a look just past goal, but his shot was just on a defender on the line. Regardless, in the 73rd minute Ruidíaz forced his defender into a handball and Lodeiro approached the penalty spot. After some antics from the opposing keeper, Lodeiro smashed his penalty into the side netting, beating the keeper despite putting a finger on it. Deep in stoppage time, Cristian Roldan was kicked into the penalty area and the referee watched the video and called a second PK for the Sounders. Lodeiro also stepped this one up and left no doubt about it as he powered the ball over GK as the game went past the originally allotted 6 minutes of stoppage time.

10 minutes into regulation time, the referee blew the whistle to end the first leg and send both teams level with Seattle at 2-2. Heated exchanges broke out between the players after the full-time whistle, with the main focus appearing to be a continuation of the words shared between Lodeiro and the Pumas keeper during and after the two penalties.

Clearly, these two have a lot more in store for next week’s edition. The Sounders have a week to rest and prepare before hosting the Pumas at Lumen Field, with a chance to lift the CCL trophy in front of us all.

11′ — The Pumas approach the Sounders area, but Yeimar crosses just in time and tackles the ball before any real danger can develop.

16′ — The Sounders hold the ball in the attack for a pressure spell, but it ends when Jordan Morris takes the ball on the right and releases a shross that goes out.

26′ — Xavier Arreaga steps forward to challenge a dribbler but misses, leading to a shot that Stefan Frei leaves no doubt about as he dives and drives away for a corner.

35′ — After a bad penalty, Stefan Frei saves the shot but is deemed to have come off his line early. Juan Dinenno scores from the penalty spot on the return. 1-0 Pumas

40′ — On the other side, Alex Roldan takes a free kick at the entrance to the surface for a handball, and Nico Lodeiro’s shot forces a nice save.

45’+5 — The Sounders are able to recycle possession and Lodeiro sends a cross to the back post. Raúl Ruidíaz directs the ball towards João Paulo, whose shot is well over the bar.

48′ — Dinenno doubles the lead with a powerful header. A cross is sent from the left side of the Sounders without pressure, and the finish is solid. 2-0

50′ — The Sounders respond almost immediately, as a Jordan Morris header flies wide. A few seconds later, Ruidíaz looks at the goal but his shot is saved for a corner.

73′ — Ruidíaz shoots a penalty for a hand ball. After a bit of VAR, Lodeiro intervenes on the spot. The keeper gets his hands on it, but Lodeiro defeats him! 2-1

90’+7 — Cristian Roldan is kicked into the penalty area by a defender, giving Lodeiro a second chance from the spot. Lodeiro slams it into the net! The pollsters attach it! 2-2

The Concacaf brand meat grinder: As Black & Red United Jason Anderson said it, “The Concacaf Champions League is a machine designed to annoy.” And it is informative. CCL, like most federation competitions tend to be, is a meat grinder that breaks you down physically, mentally, emotionally, really in every way you can imagine breaking down. Opponents, environments and referees crush and tear you apart until all that’s left is a big pile of what was once a football team, but the Sounders have proven they’re just as capable. to be part of this machine than any team in the region. Against the Pumas, like every other team they have faced so far in CCL, they were just as often the team that caused frustration.

magical moments: More than a few of the Sounders appeared to be almost done as the game reached the hour mark. Nico Lodeiro was throwing in bad touches and struggling to do the kinds of things he often makes as easy as breathing. Player after player they failed to show their quality in the most important moments. Then Raúl Ruidíaz, whose shot saved in the box had been Seattle’s best chance so far, fired a penalty and Lodeiro did exactly what he used to do from the spot. And then he started again! Even when things aren’t going their way, or players aren’t at their best, this team and these players are still capable of those magical moments, and they’ll need a little more if they’re going to lift. the CCL Trophy at Lumen Field next week.

A look at history: You’ve heard it before. Whether it’s Garth Lagerwey, myself, Jeremiah Oshan, Dave Clark or anyone else on this site or the national football media, you’ve heard this is our chance to reach the story. An opportunity to put the Seattle Freaking Sounders in the record books. Become the first MLS team to win the Concacaf Champions League. That’s right, and we’re a little closer. There are still 90 – or 100, as this game has shown – minutes to go. Or maybe 120, or penalties, I can’t predict the future. But they will be played at home. Seattle took care of business in the first leg, coming from 2-0 down to level the game and make it easy next Wednesday: win and you become immortal. The Sounders – we – just have to win and live forever in history and in the record books like the first ones. Making history is a habit for the Seattle Sounders. Whether it’s the youngsters or the first team, it’s in their blood. So let’s do some more history.

Missing a penalty? Nico Lodeiro would never do that.

56.6% — The Sounders have won 56.6% of the duels against the Pumas.

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