Seattle Sounders successfully stifle Lionel Messi and Miami for Leagues Cup championship victory
In a thrilling night of football, Seattle Sounders FC secured their first Leagues Cup title, becoming the first Major League Soccer (MLS) team to win every major North American title possible for a U.S.-based club.
The match, held at Lumen Field, was attended by a record-breaking crowd of 69,314 spectators, surpassing the previous attendance record of 69,274 set by the Sounders in 2019. The stands were predominantly Sounders' supporters, with a few Inter Miami fans present.
In the 26th minute, Osaze De Rosario scored the opening goal for the Sounders, setting the tone for the remainder of the game. Cristian Roldan, who was named "Man of the Match," played a crucial role in the team's offensive efforts. His younger brother, Alex Roldan, scored the winning goal for the Sounders in the 84th minute, securing their victory.
The Sounders coach, Brian Schmetzer, made strategic substitutions shortly after the 60th minute, bringing on Kalani Kossa-Rienzi and Danny Leyva. The changes seemed to invigorate the team, as they pressed with urgency and created multiple chances in the final stages of the game.
The match was not without its drama. De la Vega and Messi, playing for Inter Miami, had a spat on the field, which required referee intervention from Juan Calderon Perez. Despite Messi's best efforts, he was unable to score a goal in the match.
Meanwhile, Jonathan Klinsmann took over the role of goalkeeper for LA Galaxy during the Leagues Cup when the regular goalkeeper was injured. Georgi Minoungou entered the match in the 78th minute for Jesús Ferreira.
De Rosario's impressive performance in the tournament earned him the title of Best Player. He has four goals in the tournament so far. The Sounders offered to swap Messi jerseys for Rothrock's jerseys, limited to 100 jerseys.
With this win, the Sounders earned a bye into the Round of 16 of the 2026 CONCACAF Champions Cup tournament. It's a historic achievement for the club, and a testament to their relentless pursuit of success.
The Leagues Cup single-match record was also broken, previously set at 50,675. It was indeed a night to remember for Seattle Sounders FC and their fans.
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