The Seattle Sounders drew Pumas UNAM 2-2 on Wednesday night at Estadio Olímpico Universitario in Mexico City in Leg One of the Concacaf Champions League Final. Juan Dinenno recorded a brace for Pumas to put them up 2-0 before a pair of Nicolás Lodeiro penalties late in the second half sent the tie back to Seattle level on aggregate.
Dinenno opened the scoring in the 38th minute on a penalty, the first of a total of three awarded in the match. Dinenno’s first penalty attempt was saved by Stefan Frei, but Frei was ruled to be off his line by Video Review. Dinenno stepped up to retake it and converted to give the hosts the lead.
Lodeiro had the best chance of the first half for the Sounders in the 40th minute when his free kick from the edge of the right side of the box was on target and pushed over the crossbar by Alfredo Talavera.
Dinenno earned his brace just three minutes after halftime when he headed home from 12 yards out.
Raúl Ruidíaz nearly halved the deficit in the 51st minute when Talavera miraculously saved his effort on the doorstep after a beautiful cross from Cristian Roldan.
The Sounders pulled one back in the 77th minute when Ruidíaz drew a hand ball penalty on Sebastián Saucedo. Lodeiro stepped up from the spot and buried it into the right corner.
With the match in the sixth minute of stoppage time, Roldan was fouled in the box and the Sounders were awarded another penalty upon Video Review. Lodeiro stepped up again and beat Talavera and earn a brace of his own.
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!
THREE TAKEAWAYS
Big night at home
The Sounders have a chance at history at Lumen Field next Wednesday (7 p.m. PT; FS1, TUDN, 93.3 KJR FM, El Rey 1360 AM | TICKETS). With the aggregate score tied, any win for Seattle secures the CCL title. A draw would send the match to extra time before penalties if necessary, and a Pumas win would clinch the trophy for the Mexicans. A reminder: The away goals tiebreaker is not in effect.
Captain Fantastic
Lodeiro lives for the big moments, and he showed his composure twice on Wednesday. He is now 20 for 21 in his Sounders career from the penalty spot and has converted some of the biggest moments in club history. From the do-or-die penalty in MLS Cup 2016 to an equalizer in in the 10th minute of stoppage time on the road in Mexico City, Lodeiro has established himself as one of the most clutch players in the history of the Sounders.
Mozo injury
A big storyline heading into the second leg next will be the health of Pumas right back Alan Mozo. The Mexican international is second in the tournament with four assists and exited in the first half with a scary-looking leg injury. His backup would be 19-year-old Jesús Rivas, who made his 16th career appearance on Wednesday and earned an assist on Dinenno’s second goal.
