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Pictured: Seattle Sounders FC fans. Photo Credit: Abbie Parr (IMAGN / USA Today Photos)
Seattle’s team and fans are ready. More than 60,000 fans are anticipated for the second leg of the Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League Final as Seattle Sounders FC host Pumas UNAM on Wednesday at Lumen Field (10 p.m. ET, FS1 / TUDN). With the series tied 2-2 following Leg 1, at stake is a regional title and a coveted spot in the FIFA Club World Cup.
Home-field advantage will be in the Sounders’ favor, as Seattle supporters are expected to show up in droves to create an electrifying environment. With fewer than 1,000 tickets remaining, the Sounders are expected to break the CCL attendance record held by Club América (66,208). After shutout wins at home in every round of the competition this year, Sounders FC remain unbeaten in 2022 CCL action and could become just the fifth team ever to win the tournament without recording a loss (C.F. Monterrey 2011, 2013 and 2021; Club América 2016). Of note, in 88 percent of the finals, the club that won the second leg playing at home was crowned champion.
Earning a berth in the FIFA Club World Cup, Wednesday’s winners will advance to take on the best clubs from around the world including the likes of recent FIFA Club World Cup winners Chelsea (2021), Bayern Munich (2020), Liverpool (2019), and Real Madrid (2018).
Key Sounders to Watch
Powered by stars expected to feature in the 2022 FIFA World Cup, Seattle’s success has come off the boots of U.S. Men’s National Team midfielder Cristian Roldan, who leads all CCL in assists (five), with his USMNT counterpart Jordan Morris (three goals, one assist) contributing to the highest team scoring tally (15 goals) in the competition. Seattle’s Xavier Arreaga of Ecuador has logged 90 minutes across all seven of Seattle’s CCL matches, making his impact felt alongside Raúl Ruidíaz , who averages more than 78 minutes per CCL match, as his home nation Peru gets set for an intercontinental playoff.
Pumas Packs a Punch
After many reports that Dinenno would miss the first leg with an injury, the Pumas Argentine striker started and scored two big goals in Leg 1. Dinenno is the CCL’s leading scorer this campaign with nine goals and he added two goals off the bench for Pumas this past weekend in a massive win over Pachuca that secured Pumas’ place in the Liguilla (the LIGA MX playoffs).
Additionally in the back field, Pumas will get a strong reinforcement as center back Arturo Ortíz returns for the second leg. The Mexican international missed the first leg last week because of a red-card suspension.
What they are saying: Fredy Montero
“Every single emotion is running through my mind: Happy, pressure, stress, motivation. A lot. I can’t describe only one.
“But all that I know – and I want to tell you all – is that we are ready. We’re prepared for this game.
“We know that the championship was going to be [decided] here and we are looking forward to the game.”
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