Sounders maintain 100% record in Leagues Cup

Seattle Sounders FC 2-1 FC Tijuana

SEATTLE, WA–Seattle Sounders FC are off to the quarterfinals of the Leagues Cup with a 2-1 victory of FC Tijuana and a 100% record in Phase One–the only team in the competition to accomplish that. The loss eliminates Tijuana from the competition.

Seattle entered Wednesday’s match knowing that a win of any kind would see them through to the quarterfinals. Indeed, the Sounders started the better of the two sides and were unlucky to hit the woodwork twice in the 16th minute through Yeimar and then Jesus Ferreira off the rebound. They would be further unlucky to be a goal down before halftime.

The Sounders were awarded a penalty in first half stoppage time after Aaron Mejia handled the ball off a corner kick. However, Albert Rusnak’s kick would go off the post and Obed Vargas’s rebound shot went wide. A minute later, Tijuana went down the other end of the pitch and would go ahead as Kevin Castañeda scored from just outside the box.

Photo: Nate Koppelman

The hosts would equalize in the 56th minute as Ryan Kent’s cross would be headed in by Osaze De Rosario. Seattle were more likely to score the go-ahead goal in the second half, and they eventually did in the 88th minute when Danny Musovsky headed in off a flick-on header from Cristian Roldan. Tijuana finished the match with ten men after Ramiro Franco was sent off for a denial of a goalscoring opportunity.

The Sounders move on to quarterfinals with the next match on Wednesday, August 20th in Leagues Cup play. Inter Miami is the only other MLS team thus far to clinch a quarterfinal spot while Toluca, Pachuca, and Tigres have done so on the Liga MX side.

The Sounders return to MLS play on Sunday at LA Galaxy. Kickoff is at 7pm PT on Apple TV and FS1.

Photos by Nate Koppelman