Seattle cinch their CCL grasp with 2-2 draw at Pumas in first leg

Johan Abdu

Apr 28

MEXICO CITY — It was cards, kicks, and controversies for 90 minutes at the Olímpico Universitario stadium in Mexico City Wednesday night.

Seattle Sounders traveled to Mexico to face the home team Pumas for the first leg of the CONCACAF Champions League final. The game ended 2-2, giving Seattle the aggregate advantage on away goals, heading into the second leg in Seattle.

Pumas haven't exactly been on form as of late. They've only won a single game in their last five, drawing two and losing two. However, the home crowd was on their side; a sea of white, gold, and blue cascaded the seats. The team was confident, and why shouldn't they: Mexican sides have won every single CONCACAF Champions League (CCL) since 2006.

Meanwhile, Seattle has had their issues and anxieties leading up to Wednesday. They've lost their last two MLS matches and now sit 11th in the Western Conference. No American team had won the CCL pre-2Alfredo Talavera009, when it was called the Champions Cup. Only D.C. United and L.A. Galaxy stand as the sole American winners in the tournament's history.

First half

The game kicked off with the Pumas taking command of the opening possession, driving to the byline, and crossing it in for their top goalscorer Juan Dinenno.

Seattle chose a center-half partnership of Xavier Arreaga and Yeimar Goméz Andrade, who works pretty effectively on their own.

Unfortunately, they developed a habit early of running into one another to stop the forward runs of Pumas' Dinenno and attacking partner Rogério de Oliviera.

Come the 35' minute, after the second time of colliding with Dinenno, a penalty was given for Pumas, and Andrade was given a yellow. Dinenno rocketed in the opening goal from the spot.

The game came close with Seattle starting to show excellent attacking play between Jordan Morris, Nicolás Lodeiro, and Raúl Ruidíaz, including two good shots to force saves by Pumas keeper Alfredo Talavera late into the half.

Second half

Pumas instantly found themselves in a set-piece situation on the right edge of the box with their eyes on Juan Dinenno. An in-swinging corner found the forward to head it to the top corner, The Pumas were up by 2 in the 48' minute.

The Pumas were edging out possession with 53% and stamping out chances for Seattle to come back. The chances were coming and the away fans surely were screaming as loud and proud as anyone there.
In the 77' minute, as Ruidíaz headed wide with the ball for the through-ball into the box, it caught the hand of Pumas' Sebastián Saucedo. A penalty for Seattle!

Lodeiro scored and with the crucial away goal, Pumas suddenly played a bit more cautious. More pressure was piled onto Seattle, drawing more fouls and forcing more incomplete passing. As the minute was counting down, Pumas stopped playing for the draw to force Seattle out of the game.

It was a nail-biting first leg, regardless of the Pumas seemingly looking to finish the game having more goals. That all changed in extra time.

A controversial 92' minute penalty decision went to Seattle, with seemingly the last kick of the game. Pumas were livid, and the stadium was hushed before raining boos onto Lodeiro, ready to take the penalty. A top-right rocket made the final score 2-2.