Sounders drop Leagues Cup finale against Chivas

Seattle Sounders FC 1-2 Chivas de Guadalajara

SEATTLE, WA–Seattle Sounders FC finished their Leagues Cup campaign with a 2-1 loss to Chivas de Guadalajara, who also conclude their Leagues Cup run, at Lumen Field. The Sounders fielded a makeshift lineup with a few callus from their MLS NEXT Pro side, Tacoma Defiance, with one eye on a Cascadia Cup tie with Vancouver Whitecaps on Sunday.

For a while, the younger lineup was giving Chivas all they could handle and took the lead in the 13th minute. Antino Lopez headed a ball across goal and it was knocked in by Gallain Sandnes for the opening score. Osage De Rosario nearly made it 2-0 three minutes later, but Oscar Whalley would make the save.

Stefan Frei would make a several outstanding saves to keep the Sounders ahead, but Chivas’s quality would overcome the young Sounders squad in the second half. Luis Rey would equalize at the hour mark with a left-footed strike and then took the lead eleven minutes later as Santiago Sandoval headed in a looping ball from Luis Romo ending whatever faint hopes Seattle had of advance to defend their Leagues Cup title. Results elsewhere assured Chivas would not advance either.

For Seattle, they will look to rescue their league campaign starting on Sunday when they host Vancouver Whitecaps at 7:30pm PT on Apple TV.

Photos by Paul Kahl