The Seattle Sounders played a decent offensive first half but had nothing to show for as they went into the halftime break tied 0-0 . Despite the 0-0 scoreline, the team was confident. That confidence turned into utter retribution in the second half. I would add devastation.
PERFECT SECOND HALF
Three minutes into the second half, the Sounders scored the first goal of the game and kept on scoring until one minute of stoppage time. The first goal to put a hole in the dam was a Yeimar header from an Alber Rusnâk corner kick. A bigger hole was opened two minutes later when Obed Vargas shot at the top of the Azul box, which was deflected into the back of the net by Willer Ditta for the two-zero lead.
With the dam leaking, the Sounders turned the flowing water into a gusher. Jesus Ferreira made it three-zero when he one-timed the goal into the back of the net after a Cristian Roldan flick header from a Rusnák corner kick. It was a redemption goal for Ferreira, who had a goal disallowed minutes earlier due to a razor-thin offside call.
DEROSARIO MAKES IT TWO GOALS IN TWO GAMES
The dam was broken wide open when a Vargas pass to the left flank was collected by Ryan Kent, who slotted the ball to Osaze DeRosario for the fourth goal of the game. The rising star had his second goal in as many games and celebrated accordingly with a dance to honour his late MLS legend, Dwayne DeRosario. The water works went from a broken dam to a straight-up typhoon in the 76th minute. Minutes after entering the game, Pedro Dela Vega right-footed a Ferreria pass into the back of the net to make it five-0.
BEST FOR LAST
Sensing a leg-weary, head-bowed, and bewildered opponent who had long lost the desire to fight, the Sounders continued to pursue the wounded prey. In the 88th minute, the Sounders increased the lead to 6-0 when Nouhou headed home a loose ball in the box. Partial assist should go to Danny Leyva, whose exquisite free kick was saved by Kevin Mier and bounced right in front of Nouhou.
The Sounders’ seventh and final goal was a goal for the ages. Cristian Roldan picked up an errant ball on the right flank and crossed the ball 30 yards in the air to the left side of the penalty area. It was there that De la Vega full volleyed the ball into the back of the net to make seven to zero and send the Rave Green fans into Nirvana.
MATCH NOTES
- After the win, Seattle sits in first place in the Leagues Cup MLS table with three points and a plus-seven goal differential. In Phase One, each club plays three matches against opponents from the opposite league, earning points in a league-specific table. The top four teams from each league make it to the Knockout Rounds.
- With the result, Seattle is now 6-5-0 all-time in Leagues Cup play.
- The seven-goal margin is the widest margin of victory in club history in all competitions, and the largest margin of victory by any team in Leagues Cup history. It is also the largest margin of victory by a MLS team over a Liga MX opponent in all competitions.
- Sounders FC moves to 10-12-5 all-time against Liga MX opponents across all competitions, including three matches against Cruz Azul in 2025 (1-1-1).
- Yeimar’s goal in the 48th minute was his first of the season in all competitions to go along with one assist.
- Albert Rusnák earned his eighth assist of the season on Yeimar’s goal.
- Obed Vargas’ goal in the 50th minute was his third tally in all competitions in 2025. He has recorded two goals in MLS play. The 2025 MLS All-Star also has six assists in all competitions
- Ferreira scored his fourth goal in all competitions in the 58th minute, also scoring three goals in MLS play.
- Osaze De Rosario bagged his second goal of the season in all competitions in the 69th minute. He scored his first Sounders FC goal on Saturday against Atlanta United FC.
- Ryan Kent recorded his fifth assist of the season in all competitions De Rosario’s strike. He also assisted De Rosario’s goal on Saturday against Atlanta.
- Pedro de la Vega’s pair of late goals were his seventh and eighth of the season in all competitions, third on the team. It marked his third consecutive game with a goal. The Argentine previously scored against San Jose on July 19 and Atlanta on July 26.
- Cristian Roldan assisted Ferreira’s goal, while Ferreira assisted de la Vega’s first goal. Both were their ninth assists in all competitions, tied for most on the team.
- Alex Roldan recorded assists on Vargas’ goal and de la Vega’s second strike, giving him four on the season in all competitions.
- Snyder Brunell made a substitute appearance in the 80th minute, his first appearance since signing with Seattle’s First Team earlier this week.
- Andrew Thomas earned his first shoutout of the season tonight, making two saves.
- Brian Schmetzer made two changes to the starting lineup from Seattle’s last match against Atlanta United FC, with Nouhou and Ryan Kent replacing Reed Baker-Whiting and Pedro de la Vega. Tacoma Defiance goalkeeper Mohammed Shour was available for selection tonight on the bench via Short-Term Agreement.
- Seattle continues its Phase One play against Santos Laguna on Sunday, April 3 on the Emerald Queen Casino Pitch at Lumen Field (7:30 p.m. PT / Apple TV, FS1, Univision, TUDN, El Rey 1360 AM).
MATCH SUMMARY
Seattle Sounders FC 7 – Cruz Azul 0
Thursday, July 31, 2025
Venue: Lumen Field
Referee: Víctor Cáceres
Assistants: José Martínez Chavarría, Enrique Bustos
Fourth Official: Luis Santander
VAR: Francia González
Attendance: 22,697
Weather: 74 degrees and mostly cloudy
SCORING SUMMARY
SEA – Yeimar Gómez Andrade (Albert Rusnák) 48’
SEA – Obed Vargas (Alex Roldan) 50’
SEA – Jesús Ferreira (Cristian Roldan) 58’
SEA – Osaze De Rosario (Ryan Kent) 69’
SEA – Pedro de la Vega (Jesús Ferreira) 76’
SEA – Nouhou 88’
SEA – Pedro de la Vega (Alex Roldan) 90’+1’
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY
SEA – Danny Musovski (caution) 32’
CAZ – Willer Ditta (caution) 32’
CAZ – Ignacio Rivero (caution) 41’
CAZ – José Paradela (caution) 64’
SEA – Osaze De Rosario (caution) 71’
LINEUPS & STATS
Seattle Sounders FC – Andrew Thomas; Alex Roldan, Yeimar Gómez Andrade (Kim Kee-hee 65’), Jackson Ragen, Nouhou; Obed Vargas, Cristian Roldan – Captain (Snyder Brunell 80’); Jesús Ferreira, Albert Rusnák (Danny Leyva 73’), Ryan Kent (Pedro de la Vega 73’), Danny Musovski (Osaze De Rosario 65’)
Substitutes not used: Jacob Castro, Mohammed Shour*, Kalani Kossa-Rienzi, Reed Baker-Whiting, Jonathan Bell, Paul Rothrock, Georgi Minoungou
*Tacoma Defiance player available for selection via Short-Term Agreement
Total shots: 15
Shots on goal: 10
Fouls: 9
Offside: 5
Corner-Kicks: 3
Saves: 2
Cruz Azul – Kevin Mier; Jesús Orozco, Érik Lira, Willer Ditta; Omar Campos (Carlos Rotondi 59’), Ignacio Rivero, Lorenzo Faravelli, Jorge Sánchez; Carlos Rodríguez, José Paradela (Luka Romero 81’); Angel Sepulveda (Mateo Levy 81’)
Substitutes not used: Emmanuel Ochoa, Mateusz Bogusz, Carlos Vargas, Andrés Gudiño, Jeremy Márquez, Amaury Morales, Fernando Sámano, Amaury García, Karol Velázquez
Total shots: 9
Shots on goal: 2
Fouls: 14
Offside: 0
Corner-kicks: 2
Saves: 3
