CONCACHAMPIONS Preview: Sounders Head South for the Second Leg
After failing the secure a result at Lumen against Cruz Azul’s B side, the Sounders head to the belly of the beast to face a full strength “Los Celestes”.
Your Seattle Sounders head to Mexico City later this evening to take on Liga MX giants Cruz Azul in a showdown to determine who stays alive in the Concacaf Champions League. I refuse to acknowledge it as anything other than CCL. After a scoreless draw in the first leg in Seattle, the decisive match now takes place, which, historically, heavily favors Liga MX clubs. But can the Sounders, the only MLS club to win the competition, challenge that trend and shock Los Celestes at the Estadio Olímpico?
God, I hope so.
This match has massive emotional implications for both clubs. Cruz Azul possesses the history and dedicated home crowd, but a string of three consecutive draws, including the one in Seattle, has some fans and national pundits in doubt. Meanwhile, the Sounders are still riding that high after that demolition job against LAFC, but now they will need to weather the intensity of one of the world's greatest stadiums with one of the hardest atmospheres in the region. A quarterfinal spot is at stake; it is a day of reckoning for both sides.
The winner will face either Club America or Chivas, who won the first leg 1-0 with an own goal from Club America’s Sebastian Caceres. The Sounders have the most challenging road to the final, as they will face all Liga MX giants: a terrifying FC Cincinnati side with Evander, who loves scoring against the Sounders, or a disheveled reigning MLS Cup champs, the LA Galaxy.
Key Players to Watch
Sounders
Jordan Morris
This is the obvious one. Jordan has yet to make a significant impact in this years CONCACAF Champions League run, but he also just broke the Sounders’ all-time goal-scoring record, so he’ll be riding that high into tonight's match. He’ll have his hands full with Lira, Piovi, and Ditta, who shut him down at Lumen and are expected to start.
FC Dallas Boys
New Paul has already proven to be a fantastic addition to this Sounders team. He has been able to slot in on the left easily, already has two goals in his name, and is contributing up and down the pitch. With Pedro de la Vega out for this one, Paul may be asked to do more offensive work, depending on who and what formation Brian Schmetzer rolls out. He was quiet in the first leg against Cruz Azul, but if Schmetz rolls out a 3421, I’m sure we’ll see him thrive even more on the left-hand side.
Jesus Ferreira got his first start as a Sounder against LAFC and put in a fantastic shift, getting himself an assist in the first half. With Pedro de la Vega out, I expect him to get his second start in a row. Depending on how the Sounders lineup, I’d expect him on the opposite wing of Paul Arriola in a 343 or as one of the dual tens with Albert Rusnak in a 3421. I’m hoping for the second option, as he looked his best in this role. As long as the FC Dallas boys start together, I expect their chemistry to go a long way in this tie.
Cruz Azul
Willer Ditta
What a game Ditta had in the first leg. He shut down every attack the Sounders brought and didn’t let Jordan Morris in behind all that much. Ditta won the most tackles (3), hit 71/75 passes with a 95% passing rate, played six passes into the final third as a CB, won 60% of his duels, and recorded two blocks. Cruz Azul will have everyone available for this second leg, so Ditta won’t need to do all the work, but I still expect him to shut everything down again. I wouldn’t mind having Willer Ditta as a potential replacement for an aging Yeimar!
Mateusz Bogusz
Bogusz has always had the Sounders' number. He loves scoring against this team. Nouhou did a fantastic job preventing the young Polish international from scoring, but he was still all over the final third, causing the Sounders’ defense problems. Bogusz got an assist in Cruz Azul’s draw against Monterrey, so I expect him to get the start again and create even more chances.
Giorgio Giakoumakis
Giakoumakis has proven to be a handful for MLS sides from his time with Atlanta. He has also proved too much for a stout Sounders defense, as he scored a brace in his only match against us back in 2023. He has been out with a minor hamstring injury, but he came on for the first time in two weeks for 28 minutes against Monterrey and looked decent. Since moving to Mexico, he has made a significant impact, racking up nine goals and seven assists across 26 appearances. The veteran, Angel Sepúlveda, who missed the first leg, has been one of the best players in CONCACAF play so far, but Giorgio is Cruz Azul’s guy. If he is fit, then I’d fully expect him to start and to be the central striker leading the line for Los Celstes.
Where to watch Cruz Azul vs. Seattle FC: Live stream, TV channel
TV channel: FS1, TUDN, ViX
Live stream: Fubo, YouTube
This game is available for live TV broadcast on FS1 in the United States. Streaming options are available on Fubo with a subscription and in Spanish for free on the CONCACAF YouTube channel.
Fubo offers a free trial for new subscribers to watch the match for free and then cancel the subscription if you’d like. That is precisely what I’ll be doing because who can actually afford Fubo or Fox Sports?
Cruz Azul vs. Seattle Sounders start time
Date: Tuesday, Mar. 11
Time: 8:30 p.m. ET | 5:30 p.m. PT
Cruz Azul and Seattle FC will kick off at 8:30 p.m. ET on Tuesday, March 11, from Estadio Olimpico Unviversitario, Mexico City, Mexico.