Seattle Sounders make CCL history
The Raven Green became the first team in Major League Soccer to win the CONCACAF Champions League trophy under its new format.
It took 16 tournaments for a Major League Soccer team to win the CONCACAF Champions League trophy under its new format that was established in 2008. The Seattle Sounders defeated Pumas UNAM 3-0 in the second leg of the final, 5-2 on aggregate, at Lumen Field in a record-breaking attendance of 68,741 fans witnessing history on Wednesday night.
Raul Ruidiaz the hero
Sounders’ Raul Ruidiaz was the hero of the night and he was able to find the back of the net on the stroke of half-time. The Peruvian international scored the opening goal on a deflected ball to give Seattle the lead and making his second goal of the tournament at that moment.
In the second half, the Peruvian international scored his brace on the 80th minute mark to give the Sounders a commanding 2-0 lead and give Seattle a degree of tranquility with Pumas trying to bounce back. In the 88th minute, Nicolas Lodeiro scored his fifth goal of the campaign to make it 3-0 and secure the win. The Uruguay international also made history at Lumen field because he scored his 50th goal with the MLS franchise across all competitions.
This is the first time a Major League Soccer club has won the CCL under the new format with a 5-2 victory on aggregate over the Mexican side to lift the CONCACAF Champions League trophy and the first time in 16 tournaments that a Liga MX side does not win the intercontinental title.
The Seattle Sounders did what Real Salt Lake, Montreal Impact, Toronto FC and LAFC failed to do, win the Champions League. Now the MLS side has secured a spot for the 2022 FIFA Club World Cup, which is yet to be announced.