Seattle Sounders FC drew 2-2 with Pumas UNAM at Estadio Olímpico Universitario in the first leg of the 2022 Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League Final. Captain Nicolás Lodeiro converted two kicks from the spot to send the Rave Green back to Seattle all level with the Liga MX side, with a chance to lift the intercontinental trophy for the first time in club history.
Pumas opened the scoring first in the 38th minute when striker Juan Ignacio Dinenno drew a foul on Sounders FC defender Xavier Arreaga inside the area and converted the ensuing penalty. Dinenno completed his brace in the 48th minute, getting his head on a cross that found the back of the net.
Later in the second half, after a Pumas defender committed a handball in the area, Lodeiro bagged the penalty kick, sneaking the ball past the outstretched fingers of Pumas goalkeeper Alfredo Talavera. Seattle then equalized at the death, winning a penalty after Cristian Roldan drew a foul that was confirmed by VAR. Lodeiro converted again, this time rocketing the ball into the right side of the net to level the score in the 99th minute. It is the latest goal ever scored in club history, breaking the record held by Brad Evans, when he scored in the 97th minute against CD Olimpia on August 19, 2015.
Following tonight’s first leg in Mexico City, the series shifts to the Emerald City, where Sounders FC is hosting Pumas on Wednesday, May 4 (7:00 p.m. PT / FS1, TUDN, 93.3 KJR FM, El Rey 1360 AM). The continental title is on the line at Lumen Field, along with a slot in the FIFA Club World Cup, a competition no MLS team has ever reached.
With more than 50,000 tickets sold for the second leg at Lumen Field, seats in the 300 level of Lumen Field are still available via SoundersFC.com/Tickets. Fans are encouraged to secure their tickets for this historic match, with one of the largest crowds in Seattle soccer history expected to be on-hand.
MATCH NOTES
• Sounders FC is now 7-9-4 all-time against Liga MX opponents in SCCL and Leagues Cup play, including a 1-5-3 record in Mexico.
• Tonight’s match was the Rave Green’s first official contest against Pumas UNAM, and just the club’s second-ever contest in Mexico City (March 2, 2016 at Club Ámerica).
• No MLS team has ever won a Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League title. The second and deciding match between Sounders FC and Pumas is slated for May 4 at Lumen Field (7:00 p.m. PT / FS1, TUDN, 93.3 KJR FM, El Rey 1360 AM).
• This marks the seventh appearance for Seattle in the regional tournament, which crowns the best team from North America, Central America and the Caribbean.
• This year marks the Rave Green's best run in SCCL play, with the club advancing to at least the Quarterfinals in four of its previous six appearances. Seattle is the fifth MLS team to advance to the SCCL Final.
• Neither Seattle nor Pumas has lifted a SCCL trophy, guaranteeing a new champion will be crowned at the conclusion of the second leg in Seattle.
• Head Coach Brian Schmetzer made one change to his starting lineup from Saturday’s MLS match in San Jose, slotting Yeimar Gómez Andrade into central defense for Jackson Ragen.
• Tonight’s match marked Yeimar’s first start since March 12 at Austin after suffering a high ankle sprain. The Colombian came on as a substitute over the weekend against the Earthquakes.
MATCH SUMMARY
Seattle Sounders FC 2 – Pumas UNAM 2
Wednesday, April 27, 2022
Venue: Estadio Olímpico Universitario
Referee: Ivan Barton
Assistants: David Moran, Zachari Zeegelaar
Fourth Official: Juan Gabriel Calderon
VAR: Ismael Cornejo
Attendance: 42,617
Weather: 60 degrees and rain
SCORING SUMMARY
PUM – Juan Dinenno (penalty) 38’
PUM – Juan Dinenno (Jesús Rivas) 48’
SEA – Nico Lodeiro (penalty) 77’
SEA – Nico Lodeiro (penalty) 90’+9’
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY
SEA – Yeimar (caution) 35’
SEA – Cristian Roldan (caution) 83’
PUM – Alfredo Talavera (caution) 90’+8’
PUM – Washington Corozo (caution) 90’+8’
LINEUPS & STATS
Seattle Sounders FC – Stefan Frei; Alex Roldan, Yeimar, Xavier Arreaga, Nouhou; João Paulo, Albert Rusnák, Cristian Roldan, Nico Lodeiro, Jordan Morris (Kelyn Rowe 87’); Raúl Ruidíaz (Fredy Montero 90’+5’)
Substitutes not used: Stefan Cleveland, Jackson Ragen, Jimmy Medranda, Obed Vargas, Will Bruin
Total shots: 10
Shots on goal: 4
Fouls: 10
Offside: 1
Corner-kicks: 7
Saves: 2
Pumas UNAM – Alfredo Talavera; Alan Mozo (Jesús Rivas 45’+2’), Nicolás Freire, Ricardo Galindo; Higor Meritão, Favio Álvarez, Leonel Lopez, Efraín Velarde; Juan Dinenno, Rogério de Oliveira (Sebastian Saucedo 63’), Diogo de Oliveira (Washington Corozo 63’)
Substitutes not used: Julio González, Jorge Ruvalcaba, Santiago Trigos, José Luis Caicedo
Total shots: 12
Shots on goal: 4
Fouls: 15
Offside: 0
Corner-kicks: 4
Saves: 2
