In an epic Seattle Sounders vs Tigres CONCACAF Champions Cup quarterfinal second leg at Lumen Field, Sounders won 3-1 (Rusnák brace, Musovski goal) to tie aggregate 3-3, but Tigres UANL advanced to semis via away goals rule. Rusnák struck in 11′ and 82′ (long-range stunner), Musovski netted 3 mins after subbing on, vs. Samir’s header equalizer; Sounders dominated 69% possession (club record), but Tigres hold firm for Nashville clash.
The Sounders’ first goal of the evening came in just the 11th minute. Albert Rusnák capped off the move with an exquisite finish from a lofted Cristian Roldan pass. That goal sent the stadium wild! The Sounders fans went crazy, chanting “Rapids Green!”
Tigres answered almost immediately, tying it up in the 31st minute. It was Samir that headed Juan Brunetta’s corner kick to get the Mexican side back in a contest. It put quite a bit of pressure on the Sounders defense to achieve that goal. It was a very physical game for both teams in the first half, but the score stayed even at 1-1.
Danny Musovski and the fans had their hero in the second half. Three minutes after coming on in the 48th minute, he turned home a low ball from Jordan Morris. The Sounders were out in front once again at 2-1! Musovski’s was the goal that really felt as though it swung this battle of “Seattle Sounders vs. Tigres.”
Rusnák doubled his account with a blistering half-field Long-Range bomb in the last 8 minutes of play. The score was 3-1, making it a total of 3–3 on aggregate. One more goal and the Sounders wouldve won on aggregate but Tigres defense stood by their own goal. The stadium was a mix of emotions at the end, happy for the Sounders but sad in some ways as well.
For the seventh time in their last nine CONCACAF appearances, Tigres UANL have made it to the semifinals. Four championship titles each in 2015-16, 2016-17 and 2020, two more by way of FA Cup triumphs in 1994 and 2001, Champions League victories so far in 1997,2002 and now also onto the league title record which swells to eight for good measure as of this May – along with one further piece of silverware still scheduled this very season: the European Supercup – not exactly bad going. And, next up, they come up against Nashville SC in a clash that promises to be just as electrifying as the “Seattle Sounders vs. Tigres” battle.
Possession: The Sounders held 69% possession setting a new club record in CONCACAF competition since tracking began in 2017. They beat their record staying at 64% for the match against Olimpia of the year 2020!
Danny Musovski: Came on as a substitute and scored three minutes sage Weise Street. It represents his second goal off the bench in the CONCACAF qualifying campaign. He is only the second player goals in Sounders history to score two goal as a substitute, afterPaul Rothrock.
Albert Rusnák: 2 Goals His shooting, both finishing and distance shots were phenomenal.
Jordan Morris: Kept his-three assist streak from (Oct.
Cristian Roldan: Notched his ninth assist dating back to 2018! He now finds himself at the top of the leaderboard next to Luis Quiñones (he did this in 21 matches opposed to Quiñones’ 23). Key Match Statistics
Seattle Sounders vs Tigres Match Stats
| Category | Seattle Sounders | Tigres UANL |
|---|---|---|
| Aggregate Score | 3 | 3 (Tigres advance on Away Goals) |
| Possession | 69% (Record) | 31% |
| Goals | Rusnák (two), Musovski (one) | Joachim (one) |
| Assists | Roldan, Morris | Brunetta |
| Shots on Target | 12 | 5 |
The Sounders hope this “Seattle Sounders vs. Tigres” match serves as motivation. The win at home, the high possession rate and what their substitutes gave, offers hope. This experience translated into Tigres’ progress to the semi-finals through away goals. Still, plenty of drama to come with exciting matches in the CONCACAF Champions Cup!
This is not a defeat for Sounders fans but a lesson. Those three on the field together (and really, just those three) proved that they are more than capable of being the best MLS midfield trio. Good luck in Tigres, but Sounders will return! This is football — impatient and thrilling.
