The Seattle Sounders defeated Inter Miami 3-0 in the Leagues Cup Final in front of nearly 70,000 fans on Sunday at Lumen Field behind goals from Osaze De Rosario, Alex Roldan and Paul Rothrock.
The Sounders had an early look at goal in the third minute when Jackson Ragen clipped a ball in from the right side for De Rosario, but it was just a little too high for him to generate enough power on it.
Lionel Messi looked to have a chance in the box in the 12th minute, but Obed Vargas made a massive intervention to poke the ball away.
Ragen made another stellar defensive stop in the 20th minute when Rodrigo De Paul was played in behind on the right side, but Ragen came sliding across to block the shot and send it out for a corner.
The Sounders found the breakthrough in the 26th minute when Jesús Ferreira played a great ball into the right flank for Roldan, who whipped in a lovely cross to the back for De Rosario, who was wide open and headed home from close range for the lead.
Ferreira nearly doubled the lead in the 40th minute when his shot from the right side of the box looked to pick out the far corner, but it rattled back off the post.
Messi had a chance to level it in the 50th minute when Luis Suárez played a cheeky slip pass in the box, but Messi’s first-time effort from close range soared over the crossbar.
Miami had another golden opportunity to equalize in the 60th minute when Suárez set up Tadeo Allende with a one-on-one chance with Sounders goalkeeper Andrew Thomas, but Allende pushed his shot wide.
Seattle almost added a second in the 69th minute when Maximiliano Falcón attempted from his goal line to clear a shot from Vargas, and a blocked effort from Rothrock nearly deflected into the net.
Rothrock had a breakaway in the 73rd minute when Reed Baker-Whiting sent a ball in over the top for him to run into, but Rothrock was denied by Inter Miami goalkeeper Oscar Ustari.
Seattle earned a crucial penalty in the 82nd minute when Georgi Minoungou led a 3-2 counterattack and was fouled in the box by Yannick Bright. Roldan stepped up from the penalty spot two minutes later to all but seal the victory.
Rothrock iced the match in the 89th minute when he capitalized on a pass from Roldan and fired a shot across his body into the far corner.
THREE TAKEAWAYS
Five-for-five home finals
The Sounders made it a perfect five-for-five in finals inside the friendly confines of Lumen Field. Seattle had won its 2010 U.S. Open Cup, 2011 U.S. Open Cup, 2019 MLS Cup and the 2022 Concacaf Champions Cup at home. The Sounders also completed their trophy cabinet, having won every available trophy to them.
De Rosario coming out tournament
It was a Leagues Cup to remember for De Rosario, who started the season in MLS NEXT Pro with Tacoma Defiance. After signing a First Team deal earlier this year, De Rosario exploded for four goals in the tournament, including the final’s opener.
Roldan comes up clutch
Roldan had two assists on the night as well as stepping up and calmly burying a late penalty to put the match out of reach. He also did his part defensively, helping Seattle earn the clean sheet.
