Seattle Sounders vs Pumas UNAM Preview

Winner-Takes-All in Sounders vs Pumas Second Leg

Liga MX has dominated the CONCACAF Champions League for the better part of two decades, but the Seattle Sounders have their sights on putting that to an end. Pumas UNAM are trying to become the 17th consecutive Mexican team to win CONCACAF’s most prestigious club competition. With the first leg of the final ending in a 2-2 draw, the winner of the Sounders vs Pumas UNAM second leg will be crowned champion.

Seattle Sounders vs Pumas UNAM Preview

Location: Lumen Field, Seattle, WA
Date & Time: Wednesday, 10 p.m. ET
TV: FS1, FuboTV

Head-to-Head

First Leg:

• Pumas UNAM 2-2 Seattle Sounders

Coming into last week’s first leg, Pumas UNAM were favored by the CONCACAF odds and they took a 2-0 lead early in the second half. Juan Ignacio Dinenno, the Pumas striker who had missed the previous two games, scored a brace by the 48th minute. It certainly looked like Pumas would get the win in Mexico City and take a lead into the second leg, but Seattle had other ideas.

The Sounders drew a penalty in the 77th minute on a hand ball in the box, which Nicolas Lodeiro converted. The Sounders tied the game in dramatic fashion after Lodeiro converted another penalty in the dying embers of the match. The rally set up a winner-takes-all in the second leg.

Sounders off to Uneven Start

• Form (All Competitions): D,L,L,D,W
• Injuries and Suspensions: M Dylan Teves (hamstring)

Seattle has gotten off to a rocky start in the MLS this season, with just two wins from their first seven games. With no game on the weekend, Sounders have had a whole week of rest in between the first and second legs of the CCL final. In its latest MLS match a couple weekends ago, Seattle conceded four goals to San Jose and followed it up by conceding two to Pumas last week.

Defense has been a huge concern for Brian Schmetzer’s team as the Sounders have conceded in their last nine matches in all competitions. With the likes of Jordan Morris, Raul Ruidiaz, Cristian Roldan and Lodeiro, Seattle has a dangerous front line to make up for it.

Pumas Clinch Wild Card in Liga MX

• Form (All Competitions): W,D,L,L,W
• Injuries and Suspensions: D Arturo Ortiz (groin), D Alan Mozo (knee)

Pumas clinched a wild card spot in the Liga MX by defeating first-place Pachuca 2-0 on Sunday. Substitute Dinenno scored another brace in a big win that was just their second in the last seven matches in all competitions. Unfortunately, Arturo Ortiz, who missed the first leg of Sounders vs Pumas UNAM, came off with an injury and is doubtful for Wednesday’s match.

The odds weren’t in Pumas favor heading into Sunday as Andres Lillini decided to rest players for the CCL final. It didn’t matter, though, as an improvised group along with a handful of academy players put in a solid performance.

What to Watch

Seattle Sounders vs Pumas UNAM should have an excellent atmosphere as the Sounders announced that they’ve sold more than 61,000 tickets for Wednesday night’s match. That would break the attendance record for a CONCACAF Champions League final.

CONCACAF betting odds slightly favor Pumas UNAM to lift the trophy as they’re priced at -120 to -110 for Sounders. History is against Seattle in this one as the last MLS side to hoist the trophy was the Los Angeles Galaxy back in 2000. However, the Sounders have outscored their opponents 11-1 at home in the CCL this season and will certainly feed off their home fans.

Pumas has done well to make it to this stage, but had a losing record in both the Apertura and Clausura phases of the Liga MX this season. The odds reflect the fact that this match could go either way and, given how inconsistent both teams have been, expect the unexpected.