The Seattle Sounders’ trophy case is a full one. Since they entered Major League Soccer in 2009, they’ve won four U.S. Open Cups, two MLS Cups and a Supporters’ Shield.
But after a 1-1 draw at New York City FC on Wednesday, the Sounders advanced to the Concacaf Champions League Final on 4-2 aggregate and will look to win their first, and the league’s first, CCL title.
“It means everything,” said goalkeeper Stefan Frei. “There’s very select opportunities to make history…There’s still one elusive one for MLS. If you can be that one, it’s going to be massive for your career, for the franchise, for everybody involved. What a massive opportunity.”
Since Brian Schmetzer took over as head coach in the summer of 2016, the Sounders have played in a final in six of the seven seasons he’s been at the helm. Schmetzer has led his hometown club to four MLS Cups, the Leagues Cup Final last year and now the CCL Final, becoming only the fifth MLS team to ever get this far.
“It’s a trophy that the club certainly covets,” Schmetzer said of the CCL championship. “That’s something that we have made public. [Sounders General Manager & President of Soccer] Garth [Lagerwey] when he came here said it was a goal of ours. The constant theme throughout this club, the culture of the club, is to win every game, every trophy, every competition.”
The result did not come easy on Wednesday. Seattle was buoyed by a crucial first-half away goal from Raúl Ruidíaz, but NYCFC desperately threw numbers forward in the final half hour and forced Frei into one match-saving stop after another. He finished with seven saves on the night despite being faced with 3.29 Expected Goals.
“We knew we were going to get a spirited NYCFC team, a committed, a motivated NYCFC team,” said Schmetzer. “We needed to match their effort, and I think in a lot of portions of the game, we did.”
Concacaf Champions League Final Tickets On Sale Now
The Seattle Sounders are going to the Concacaf Champions League Final for the first time in club history. Come support the team as we take on Liga MX's Pumas UNAM and try to become the first MLS club to win CCL and go to the FIFA Club World Cup!
Now, the Sounders turn their attention to the two biggest matches in club history. Not only would becoming the first MLS team to win the tournament after 13 years of Liga MX dominance forever cement Seattle into CCL and MLS lore, but it would also send the Sounders to the FIFA Club World Cup to face off against global giants, particularly from Europe and South America.
Seattle will meet Mexico’s Pumas UNAM, who dispatched fellow Liga MX side Cruz Azul on aggregate in the other semifinal on Tuesday. The Sounders will visit Estadio Olímpico Universitario in Mexico City in Leg One on April 27 (7:30 p.m. PT) before hosting Pumas in Leg Two at Lumen Field between on May 4 (7:00 p.m. PT | TICKETS).
Pumas are currently 10th in the Liga MX table, but the Sounders will not be overlooking the opportunity afforded them, one which they are keenly aware does not come around all that often.
“Ultimately, you want to play for trophies,” said Frei. “This franchise has a high standard. Sometimes, that means pressure, but the players enjoy that pressure. We appreciate the fact that we have opportunities to be in pressure moments. We have opportunities for trophies, and for some players in their careers it comes never.
“We’re excited that we find ourselves in another situation like that,” he continued. “We’re also very, very excited that we get to play the second [leg] at home. Hopefully with an amazing atmosphere, we can achieve something that nobody’s done before.”
Season Ticket Members can access a special pre-sale window to purchase tickets for the home leg of the CCL Final starting tomorrow, April 14 from 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. PT. The public on-sale begins at 3:00 p.m. PT and tickets are available exclusively online through SoundersFC.com.
