LEON 0, SOUNDERS 1: Even though they only had about 25% of the ball in the first half, the Sounders were able to score a goal and take the away goal tiebreaker through Fredy Montero in the first half. Moments after an apparent injury, Jordan Morris found João Paulo with a pass on the edge of the box, who then pushed into the box and pulled a foul. Montero coolly completed the chance for his 10th CCL goal of his career, the most tied for any MLS player.
LINEUPS: The Sounders return to their three-center set in part to accommodate the loss of Yeimar, but also in an attempt to stop the back line for this game. Jackson Ragen effectively replaces Yeimar, while Kelyn Rowe returns as left-back.
The Seattle Sounders lead in the second leg of today against Club León with a seemingly strong 3-0 lead. But they only need to look one night ahead to see how precarious this lead can be, as the New England Revolution blew an identical lead against the Pumas before it finally fell into the penalty area.
On the line is a spot in the Concacaf Champions League semifinals where New York City FC was waiting. This would be just the second time the Sounders have ever gone so far in this tournament, and the first time since 2013.
The story of the MLS teams in Mexico is not particularly encouraging. MLS teams are only 5-54-10 all the time and they have only managed to advance to 3 of 31 knockout round meetings when the second leg is in Mexico. That said, the Sounders have now played León twice over the previous eight months and have surpassed them collectively 5-3, but with no reunion in Mexico.
Progress scenarios clearly favor the Sounders, who simply have to avoid losing by three goals or more and can even lose by three as long as they shoot. The only scenario in which this match would go to the penalties is if León wins this leg 3-0.
Leon
OUT OF: Omar Fernandez, Osvaldo Rodríguez, Luis Montes, Jaine Barreiro
Sounders
OUT OF: Jimmy Medranda
FRESH: Nicolas Lodeiro, Raul Ruidiaz, Josh Atencio
REF: José Raul Torres; AR1: Juan Zumba; AR2: Helpys Feliz; 4 eem: Randy Encarnación Solano; WHERE: Said Martinez; Ast. WHERE: Tristley Bassue
Match Date /Time: Thursday, 5:30 p.m. PT
Plaz: Estadio León, León
Online Streaming: Fubo TV (affiliate Link), TUDN.com, FoxSports.com
National English TV: FS1 (John Strong & Maurice Edu)
Local Radio: 1090 AM, iHeartMedia (Costigan, Zakuani)
Locto Spainh Radio: El Rey 1360 AM (Rodriguez, Maqueda, Tapia)
National Spanish TV: TUDN (Pablo Ramírez, Jesus Bracamontes & Felix Fernandez)
Highlights will be posted as the match progresses.
This is Seattle Sounders at Club León; check with us
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