Could this be the year for MLS to take the CCL title, a historic club in the Sounders are now on the brink. They have a full week to prep for this, thank you MLS. Sadly this round, the away goals mean zilch. Both PK’s that lead to their scores, were legitimate, but if you need the ref’s whistle to get your points on the board, not a good thing. Both teams played well, neither imposed their will on the other, neither took any real chances, that will change in Seattle especially later in the game. In that their goals were on PK’s it does make the tie a bit weak, but it looks the same in the scoreboard. That will be fodder for PUMAS as they prep over the next week, that they did not get tied by the team, but the official. It will serve to get the point across to the Sounders that it will not happen again and they must find the back of the net.
Rather early at 18’ there was a 25 yard DFK for PUMAS, due to a handball on Rusnak, it went just high over the bar. Roldan who would be fouled a lot throughout the game, is fouled yet again, this time also slapped in the face, no card issued but the whistle was blown. Seattle gets called for a PK, a player got sandwiched, as he was hit by both, the ball did hit him again in the chest, still getting a play on the ball. It went to VAR, talking heads felt it was not a PK, it was upheld by VAR. The Sounders GK was on fire facing NYCFC, would he continue that hot streak here, yes, he made the save, VAR however clearly showed he moved very early, the 2nd kick was true. Yemar is carded in his first game back in sometime, it will not affect his next game, all cards were reset one round ago, so there are players who had to be very careful tonight, not so much a week in the future. The lone goal off the run of play was a long struck ball into the area and headed so well into the back of the net for PUMAS. A close chance as the first half comes to a close by Jao Paulo, striking the ball as he is falling back and it sails a bit high at 45’. Diaz finds Roldan, but the GK steers it clear for a corner at 72’. Lodiero gets the 2nd PK and though the GK guesses right, he is unable to stop it with just too much power behind it. VAR showed on a different angle that the player was kicked mid thigh just barely in the area. Velarde yet again fouled Roldan, the PK is awarded as it was called by the ref. It is converted well beyond extra time and just after the kickoff the gem ends all knotted up.