Sounders FC drew with Liga MX side Club León 1-1 at Estadio León Thursday evening in the second leg of the 2022 Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League Quarterfinals. After taking a 3-0 advantage in the first leg, Seattle was able to hold its lead, add one more goal and move onto the Semifinals via a 4-1 aggregate scoreline. It marks the fourth time Seattle has advanced past a Liga MX team in the knockout round of a tournament. The Rave Green reach the competition’s Semifinal stage for just the second time in club history, facing fellow MLS side New York City FC over two legs. Match dates and kickoff times are being announced by Concacaf.
Fredy Montero opened the scoring in first-half stoppage time via a penalty after João Paulo was able to draw a penalty in the area. Montero rocketed the ball into the back of the net for his 72nd goal with the Rave Green in all competitions – the most in club history – and his tenth career Concacaf Champions League strike.
León pulled one back in stoppage time of the second half, when Fidel Ambriz was able to get his head on a cross from a right-sided cross, heading the ball home to level the score and make it 4-1 on aggregate.
Brian Schmetzer’s side now faces a quick turnaround as it returns to MLS action this weekend, taking on Austin FC (2-1-0, 6 points) at Q2 Stadium on Sunday, March 20 (1:30 p.m. PT / FS1, 1090 KJR AM, El Rey 1360 AM). Seattle and Austin met twice in 2021, with the Rave Green going 1-0-1, including a 1-0 victory in Texas on July 22.
MATCH NOTES
Sounders FC advances to the Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League Semifinals for the second time in club history. The club’s first Semifinal appearance came during the 2012-2013 campaign, where the Rave Green fell by a narrow margin to Liga MX side Santos Laguna. Losing 2-1 on aggregate over two legs, Herculez Gomez and Darwin Quintero provided the goals for Santos, negating Lamar Neagle’s tally for Seattle.
The Rave Green now face fellow MLS side New York City FC in the two-legged Semifinals for a shot at the Concacaf Champions League Final. Due to COVID-related scheduling quirks, this is Seattle’s first matchup against NYCFC in any competition since July 3, 2019, a 3-0 win for NYCFC. The Rave Green are 2-3-0 all-time against NYCFC.
Sounders FC is 7-9-3 all-time against Liga MX opponents in SCCL and Leagues Cup play, including a 1-5-2 record in Mexico. This marks the fourth time the Rave Green have advanced past a Liga MX side in a knockout round of a tournament.
Tonight marked Fredy Montero’s 200th appearance for Sounders FC across all competitions (151 MLS regular season, 11 MLS postseason, 22 Concacaf Champions League, 13 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, 3 Leagues Cup).
Head Coach Brian Schmetzer deployed a 5-4-1 formation for tonight’s match, with two personnel changes from Saturday’s win over the LA Galaxy. Jackson Ragen started for the injured Yeimar Gómez Andrade and Kelyn Rowe replaced Obed Vargas.
Nouhou is now suspended for the first leg of the Semifinals vs. New York City FC due to yellow card accumulation. The Cameroonian picked-up a caution in the 58th minute of tonight’s match.
MATCH SUMMARY
Seattle Sounders FC 1 – Club León 1
Thursday, March 17, 2022
Venue: Estadio León
Referee: Jose Raul Torres
Assistants: Juan Zumba, Helpys Feliz
Fourth Official: Randy Encarnación
VAR: Said Martinez
Weather: 45 degrees and clear
SCORING SUMMARY
SEA – Fredy Montero (penalty) 45+3’
LEO – Fidel Ambriz 90+1’
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY
SEA – Nouhou (caution) 58’
LEO – Gary Kagelmacher 65’
SEA – Obed Vargas 73’
LINEUPS & STATS
Seattle Sounders FC – Stefan Frei; Alex Roldan, Jackson Ragen, Xavier Arreaga, Nouhou; Cristian Roldan, João Paulo (Danny Leyva 88’), Jordan Morris (Obed Vargas 61’), Kelyn Rowe (Aboulaye Cissoko 81’), Albert Rusnák; Fredy Montero (Will Bruin 62’)
Substitutes not used: Stefan Cleveland, Samuel Adeniran, Léo Chú
Total shots: 6
Shots on goal: 3
Fouls: 15
Offside: 1
Corner-kicks: 0
Saves: 7
Club León – Rodolfo Cota; Andrés Mosquera (José Ramírez 52’), Gary Kagelmacher, William Tesillo, Ángel Mena, Jean Meness, Óscar Villa, Fidel Ambriz, Elias Hernández, Juan Rangel (Santiago Ormeño 46’), Víctor Dávilla
Substitutes not used: Alfonso Blanco, Iván Rodríguez, Santiago Colombatto, Isaac Muñiz
Total shots: 26
Shots on goal: 8
Fouls: 16
Offside: 3
Corner-kicks: 15
Saves: 2
