Seattle Sounders Beat UNAM Pumas, Win the CONCACAF Champions League

The Seattle Sounders have made history, defeating UNAM Pumas to win the CONCACAF Champions League title. They are the first MLS team to win this competition since the format change in 2008.

The Sounders were ferocious at home, recording a 3-0 win and breaking the rivals with 5-2 on aggregate. We need to mention that the game at Lumen Filed drew a record-breaking number of fans, 68,741.

Things were tough for the hosts, who took the lead at best possible time. After 45 minutes of harsh battle, Raul Ruidiaz scored in the closing moments of the opening half. His shot from the edge of the box deflected one of the Pumas players deceiving the goalkeeper Alfredo Talavera and entering the net.

Ruidiaz scored the second goal too. After 35 minutes of back and forth play in the second half, the Peruvian forward struck a beautiful curl that pretty much sealed the fate of, at that moment, dazzled Mexicans.

Ruidiaz’s partner from upfront, Nicolas Lodeiro, put an end to this event with a goal in the 88th minute. Jordan Morris took a shot, Talavera deflected it, but the Uruguayan offensive midfielder was there to place the ball into the open net.

That record-breaking crowd at Lumen Field went wild, with numerous famous figures and notable athletes attending the contest. Pretty much all the players of the other professional sports teams from Seattle were there to support the Sounders.

After the match, Ruidiaz was thrilled because of the success, saying that underlining that his team was the first-ever MLS crew to win the CCL in this format.

“I’m very proud of this group, of belonging to this club, we deserved this happiness. It was difficult, but we’re here. This championship was very important, we’re the first side to do it for the MLS.”

Sounders’ win broke the 16-year domination of the Mexican Liga MX teams, who were reigning the CCL even before the new format was established. In 2020, LA Galaxy was stopped in the finals, when UNAL won the trophy, while two years earlier, Toronto FC lost after the penalties.

The Seattle Sounders are the 1st MLS team to win the CONCACAF Champions League since it came into existence in 2008-2009.

Seattle is the 1st MLS team to take home a continental title since the LA Galaxy won the Champions Cup in 2000. pic.twitter.com/mFhvk7kLw8

— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) May 5, 2022

The Sounders have become only the third US team to win the continental crown following last night’s victory. The first two were DC United back in 1998 and LA Galaxy, who was the champion in 2000. That only explains how big of a success this was for the franchise from Seattle and its fans.

Goalkeeper, Stefan Frei, explained it the best.

“It means everything. It’s a Wednesday and we’re packing this place with 68,000 people. The passion is so strong in this city and we appreciate it.”

With this triumph, the Sounders clinched a berth at the next year’s FIFA Club World Cup, where they meet the champions of the remaining continental football associations. They have also increased the trophy collection, adding this piece of silverware to four US Open Cups, two MLS Cups, and one Supporters’ Shield.

Seattle is currently 12th in the MLS Western Conference, but that is because they played the fewest number of games due to the CCL obligations. The Sounders have seven points in seven events, winning two games, losing four, and posting a draw. But we are pretty sure that Ruidiaz, Lodeiro and the boys will improve that over the next few weeks. Their next meeting is against FC Dallas on the road on Saturday night.