Sounders get by on penalties

Seattle Sounders FC 0-0 Club Puebla (Sounders advance 4-3 on penalties)

SEATTLE, WA—Seattle Sounders FC advanced to the semifinals of the Leagues Cup 4-3 in a penalty shootout over Club Puebla following a 0-0 draw after 90 minutes. 

Most of this match had nothing really to talk about as neither team scored and the chances were few and far between. The second half was an improvement 

The Sounders had 13 shots total on the on the night and 71-29 possession, but just two of the shots would be on target leaving people to wonder if the Sounders are now entering a scoring slump following last week’s shutout af Milwaukee. 

Things came to a head in the 76th minute. The Sounders’ Danny Musovski would be booked for simulation by referee Juan Gabriel Calderon following a collision with Nicolas Diaz. Musovski was then shown a red card for contacting Calderon shortly thereafter. 

Puebla did not take many chances (just five) and the two they did get on target were saved. So it was off to a penalty shootout. Both teams missed their first kick and each made their next three. In round five,  Obed Vargas would score, but Nicolas Diaz would have his spot kick saved by Andrew Thomas to send the Sounders to the Leagues Cup semifinals. 

Thomas, who hadn’t had much to do until the spot kicks, felt confident.

“I was feeling fairly confident going into that one,” said Thomas. “I tried to smile at the guy a little bit. He was feeling the pressure more than I am, so as much as I can get in his head and make him realize how big the moment is, the better it is for me. Getting through is the most important thing. It’s the only thing that matters.”

Sounders head coach Brian Schmetzer complimented his opposite number on keeping his team off the score sheet for 90 minutes. 

“They had a good game plan,” said Schmetzer. “They must have watched the Minnesota film. I mean, I didn’t ask him, but I’m assuming he did, you know, but credit to [Interim coach] Martin [Bravo], he did a great job.”

In those semifinals, the Sounders will travel to LA to play the Galaxy next Wednesday (8:45p PT, Apple TV/FS1). Next up in the league is a Sunday match with Sporting Kansas City (6:15pm CT).

 (Editor’s note:  Added quotes from Andrew Thomas in an updated version.)

SCORING SUMMARY:
None

BOOKING SUMMARY:
PUE-Alejandro Organista (caution, dissent) 69
SEA-Danny Musovski (caution, simulation) 76
SEA-Danny Musovski (sent off, contact with official) 76
PUE-Nicolas Diaz (caution, tactical foul) 84
PUE-Ricardo Marin (caution, tactical foul) 90+4

PENALTY SUMMARY:
SEA-Cristian Roldan (miss)
PUE-Ricardo Marin (saved)
SEA-Alex Roldan (goal)
PUE-Esteban Lozano (goal)
SEA-Jackson Ragen (goal)
PUE-Owen Gonzalez (goal)
SEA-Jesus Ferreira (goal)
PUE-Fernando Monarrez (goal)
SEA-Obed Vargas (goal)

PUE-Nicolas Diaz (saved)

SEATTLE SOUNDERS FC (4-2-3-1):  #26-Andrew Thomas; #16-Alex Roldan, #25-Jackson Ragen, #28-Yeimar, #5-Nouhou (#75-Danny Leyva 90+3); #7-Cristian Roldan, #18-Obed Vargas; #14-Paul Rothrock (#95-Osaze De Rosario 78), #9-Jesus Ferreira, #10-Pedro de la Vega (#93-Georgi Minoungou 64); #19-Danny Musovski

Subs not used:  #24-Stefan Frei, #29-Jacob Castro, #3-Travian Sousa, #15-Jon Bell, #20-Kim Kee-Hee, #21-Reed Baker-Whiting, #33-Cody Baker, #37-Snyder Brunell, #75-Danny Leyva, #85-Kalani Kossa-Rienzi, #95-Osaze De Rosario

PUEBLA (3-4-3):  #1-Julio Gonzalez; #2-Juan Fedorco, #4-Efrain Orona, #3-Luis Gabriel Rey; #6-Nicolas Diaz, #18-Ariel Garnarra, #24-Alejandro Organista (#17-Esteban Lozano 82), #14-Jesus Rivas; #7-Fernando Monarrez, #11-Emiliano Gomez (#21-Owen Gonzalez 71), #19-Ricardo Marin  

Subs not used:  #23-Juan Pablo Gomez, #33-Jesus Rodriguez, #5-Franco Moyano, #6-Miguel Ramierez, #12-Iker Moreno, #20-Jose Pachuca, #22-Carlos Baltazar, #192-Eduardo Navarro, #206-Jafet Cortes, #302-Mateo Gonzalez

EXPECTED GOALS:  SEA 1.1-0.3 PUE
TOTAL SHOTS:  SEA 13-5 PU
SHOTS ON GOAL:  SEA 1-2 PUE
FOULS:  SEA 12-16 PUE
OFFSIDES:  SEA 0-0 PUE
CORNER KICKS:  SEA 10-0 PUE
SAVES:  SEA 2-1 PUE

Referee:  Juan Gabriel Calderon
Referee’s Assistants:  Juan Carlos Mora, William Arrieta
4th Official:  Keylor Herrera
VAR:  Erick Miranda
AVAR:  Diana Borja
Weather:  Sunny and 68º
Attendance:  18,362
Man of the Match:  Andrew Thomas (SEA)

Photos by Paul Kahl and Nate Koppelman

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