These two have some history and what better way to pick up where they left off than in the Leagues Cup in a game for a spot in the quarter-finals, when Seattle Sounders FC hosts Pumas on Monday at Lumen Field at 10:30 p.m. ET on MLS Season Pass via Apple TV.
Both Sounders FC and UNAM have battled to reach this point of the most important North American tournament after a hard-fought group stage that left them in second place of West 6 and West 1, respectively, and then a dominating performance in the Round of 32.
The MLS team opened up the tournament with a win over Minnesota United that proved to be enough to advance, after a loss against Necaxa to wrap up the first round. In the start of the knockout stage, Seattle Sounders FC took control of their game against LA Galaxy after a first half to remember with three goals on their way to a 3-1 win.
Los Auriazules had a similar path, after dropping their first game with Austin FC and then drawing in 90 minutes with CF Monterrey and reaching the next round with a penalty shootout win. In the Round of 32, Pumas was all over Vancouver Whitecaps FC in their 2-0 victory.
Now, fireworks are expected in this elimination game as these two teams don´t forget the last time they met each other on the pitch. Back in the 2022 Concacaf Champions League Final, Pumas could not hold on to a lead in the first leg and Sounders came back in the game to tie on the road; in Seattle the story was different as the home team was creating chances from all over the field and it paid off after a 3-0 win to crown themselves champions of that tournament.
The wound is still open for Pumas and they look for revenge in a game that gives a ticket to the Leagues Cup quarter-finals to the winners and sends the losers back home ending their tournament dreams. In a highly anticipated matchup, Seattle Sounders FC and UNAM start the Round of 16 as the trophy is in sight for both of these teams. The team that advances will face the winner of the LAFC and San Jose Earthquakes game.
