By Tony Álvarez
As Phase One of the Leagues Cup wraps up, the Seattle Sounders have a golden opportunity to stay perfect and secure a top seed in the knockout stage. Standing in their way Wednesday night at Lumen Field (11:00 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass on Apple TV) is a desperate Club Tijuana side fighting to stay alive.
HEAD TO HEAD
- 1st ever meeting
- Record at Leagues Cup: Seattle (5-4), Tijuana (1-5)
LAST FIVE GAMES
- Seattle Sounders
- 3 Wins, 0 Draws, 2 Losses
- No. 1 team in the tournament thus far, courtesy of 7-0 and 2-1 wins over Cruz Azul and Santos.
- Club Tijuana
- 3 Wins, 0 Draws, 2 Losses
- Started off the tournament with a 5-2 loss to the Galaxy, but bounced back with a 2-1 win over the Rapids.
MAIN STORYLINES
- Sounders are in the midst of their best stretch of the season, they'll be looking for a third straight win in Leagues Cup and have gone 8 straight games without a loss.
- Eight different players have scored for Sounders in the current Leagues Cup. That's more than any other teams total for the most (Minnesota next most with 7).
- The Sounders have only conceded one goal in the tournament, their +8 goal differential is by far the best in the tournament.
- Club Tijuana is coming off their first ever win in Leagues Cup play.
- 16-year-old Gilberto Mora has scored two goals this tournament.
KEY FACTORS
- Seattle Sounders
- With a win will clinch the no. 1 seed for the MLS heading into the quarterfinals.
- Georgi Minoungou scored a goal in the win over Santos, but received a red card so he will not be available
- Have taken advantage of playing at home in Lumen Field. They have gone six games without a loss at home (4-2-0).
- Club Tijuana
- Forced to put out their best eleven in a do or die game, who makes that cut.
- At 16 years old, Gilberto Mora, is already becoming a key cog of the Xolos midifield.
- Must stay disciplined on defense, the six goals conceded thus far this tournament is tied for 2nd most.
WHAT TO EXPECT?
Seattle have been nothing short of dominant. After a seven-goal second half explosion against Cruz Azul and a strong win over Santos Laguna, the Sounders sit atop the tournament table. With eight different goal scorers so far, their depth and balance make them one of the most dangerous teams in the competition.
Club Tijuana, meanwhile, rebounded from a shaky start. After conceding five goals in a loss to LA Galaxy, manager Sebastián Abreu’s side regrouped and secured their first-ever Leagues Cup win against Colorado Rapids. But the mission is far from over — Xolos must win in regulation and likely by multiple goals to overcome a -2 goal differential and sneak into the knockouts.
Keep an eye on 16-year-old Gilberto Mora, the rising star who has already made waves with a two-goal performance and appearances in both the MLS vs. Liga MX All-Star Game and the Gold Cup with Mexico.
It’s win-or-go-home for Club Tijuana, while Seattle are looking to close out Phase One with a statement. Expect intensity, urgency, and plenty of action as both sides chase their Leagues Cup dreams.
