Liga MX’s Club León defeated the Seattle Sounders 3-2 in the Leagues Cup Final on Wednesday at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.
The first half was a scoreless but open affair, with each team pushing but unable to find the breakthrough. León came closest a minute into first-half stoppage time when Jean Meneses missed a header wide from five yards out off a corner kick.
The Sounders broke the deadlock three minutes into the second half when Cristian Roldan finished a one-timed shot off a beautiful dropped pass from Jimmy Medranda. Raúl Ruidíaz started the play by chipping a ball over the León defense and into Medranda’s path.
Seattle came close to doubling its lead in the 56th minute when Roldan played in Ruidíaz, but his one-timed shot caromed off the outside of the post.
León equalized in the 61st minute when Ángel Mena tapped home from a yard out off a cross that went across the box from the left side.
Mena scored the go-ahead goal in the 81st minute when he converted a penalty he drew after Shane O’Neill took him down in the box.
Club León iced the match in the 85th minute when Emmanuel Gagliotti finished a rebound off a brilliant Stefan Frei save on a breakaway.
Nicolas Benezet scored a late consolation goal for the Sounders in the second minute of stoppage time when his deflected shot off a pass from Will Bruin found the back of the net.
THREE TAKEAWAYS
First international trophy waits
The Sounders were unable to capture their first international trophy as a club. Seattle will have another chance to capture the Leagues Cup title in 2023 in a newly released format that will involve every club in MLS and Liga MX.
Roldan shines
Roldan was everywhere for the Sounders on Wednesday, taking up a ton of space in the offensive end and making timely runs along the back line. His goal was deserved and he was admirably filling in for Nicolás Lodeiro, who is sidelined again after undergoing knee surgery earlier this week.
Massive match looming
The Sounders have a quick turnaround in a huge match at the top of the Western Conference standings when they visit Sporting Kansas City on Sunday (4 p.m. PT; FS1, 950 KJR AM, El Rey 1360 AM). This will be the second of three meetings in the regular season between these two clubs and is a potential Western Conference Championship preview.
