Seattle continues to show signs of life in the 2024 campaign as they put four past Pumas in the Leagues Cup last-16 showdown at Lumen Field.
Scorers: Rothrock 32′, Morris 58′, 90+2′ (P), Rusnak 71′ (P)
Pumas came into the affair looking for revenge after losing the Champions Cup final at Lumen Field only two years ago, but luck was clearly not on their side in that pursuit in the first-half.
The Liga MX side appeared to take a vital lead in the opening half-hour, but a Piero Quispe goal was ruled out after a VAR review revealed he was offside before tapping the ball home.
It quickly went from bad to worse for the visitors, as Seattle grabbed the lead thanks to burgeoning star Paul Rothrock.
That lead would prove to be unassailable for the hosts, and the floodgates opened after the break. Hometown hero Jordan Morris doubled the Sounders’ lead in style before the hour mark, all but closing the door on a Pumas turnaround.
A late Albert Rusnak penalty put the hosts three ahead, and the visitors capitulated from there. The Pumas frustration was clear when Lisandro Magallán was sent off in for a bad foul in the box in stoppage time, leading to a fracas between the two sides.
The resulting penalty was dispatched coolly by Jordan Morris, putting the cherry on top of a dominant Sounders win. The MLS side will now await the winner of LAFC and San Jose in the quarterfinal.
Meanwhile, Pumas will return to Mexico to resume their Apertura campaign.
Image: © Troy Wayrynen-USA TODAY Sports
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