Sounders Win a Scrapfest 2-1 Over Santos Laguna

The Seattle Sounders proved on Sunday that they can win them gritty just as well as they can win them pretty, beating Santos Laguna 2-1 to remain atop the 2025 Leagues Cup table.

Seattle had a hard act to follow, looking to build off a remarkable 7-0 win just four days ago. Santos Laguna came into the match off the back of a 2-1 loss against the Colorado Rapids, still searching for their first win since the start of the 2025 Liga MX Apertura.

First Half

Much like Thursday, an immediate tension could be seen as hard challenges and some extracurricular shoving started just minutes into the game. Santos Laguna made it clear that they were going to make their presence felt physically, and would end up committing 22 fouls throughout a bruising 90 minutes.

The hosts picked up right where they left off on the attacking front, scoring the ice-breaker in the 8th minute. Alex Roldan, who had two assists against Cruz Azul, slotted a perfectly timed through ball to Paul Rothrock, who was able to spring behind the Santos backline and roll an enticing cross towards Daniel Musovski. The ball didn’t reach its intended target, but was turned in instead by Santos center-back Oscar Ortega as he attempted to slide in front of the pass, gifting Seattle with an early own-goal. 

In the 27th minute, a moment of brilliance would turn to a moment of madness in the Santos Laguna box. A wonderful lofted through ball from Albert Rusnak would find Musovski behind the Santos back line, who would interchange with Paul Rothrock before being taken down from behind by Javier Güémez just a couple of yards in front of goal. The initial call was a penalty kick and a red card for Güémez, but after a lengthy VAR check, the Mexican’s blushes were spared by a Musovski foul during the scramble in front of net.

Second Half

The start of the second half was largely uneventful, with an initial 20-minute lull being livened up by a pitch invader who peppered midfield with popcorn, which remained on the pitch for the remainder of the 90 minutes.

Attacking reinforcements in Georgi Minoungou, Osaze De Rosaria and Jesus Ferreira were brought on from the bench in the 65th to try and give the hosts some insurance. 

Minoungou would justify his introduction in grand style in the 71st minute, picking up a pass from Danny Leyva before cutting in on his right foot and whipping a shot from the top of the box into the far side-netting to double Seattle’s advantage.

The moment would soon be dulled though, as before play could be kicked off again, Minoungou would receive a yellow card for pulling up his shirt in his celebration. The 23-year-old had been issued his first yellow just minutes after coming on, and the second would give him his marching orders.

Seattle now found themselves up a pair but down a man with 15 minutes left to play, and for the first time in the 2025 Leagues Cup, would have to sit back and play defensively.

Santos Laguna were able to produce some late dramatics with a man advantage, as in the sixth minute of added time, a clipped ball over the top from Fran Villalba would find Christian Dájome, who had slipped beyond his marker Nouhou. Dájome would finish the opportunity, initially being flagged for offsides before a short VAR check confirmed it as a good goal. 

It would be too little too late however for the visitors, as the match would end 2-1.

Post-Match Quotes

Head Coach Brian Schmetzer talked post-game about the importance of being able to hold out for three points in such a foul-heavy and at times downright strange match.

“Games are never easy against Liga MX teams.”

The games haven’t been made any easier by the fact that phase one of the 2025 Leagues Cup is being played within a seven-day span, testing the depth of Seattle’s bench. Schmetzer made four changes from Thursday’s starting lineup, with one of those additions, Paul Rothrock, being directly involved in the first goal, while substitute Minoungou bagged the winner

“I’ve been telling the team that we will need everybody in games like these… Since the Club World Cup our team has been playing at this level, and this tournament has made us play at a slightly higher level because these games are hard.”

Another new addition to the lineup to find success was midfielder Danny Leyva, who assisted the game-winner en route to man of the match honors in his first start since May 14. Leyva spoke postgame about the squad’s ability to stay on course despite Santos Laguna’s 22 fouls committed, with Leyva himself being on the receiving end of four hard fouls. 

“You can’t really control what the other team does… I was trying to keep our heads cool, focus on the game plan.”

The Sounders wrap up phase one of the 2025 Leagues Cup on Wednesday against Tijuana, needing a win or draw to secure a top-four spot and a ticket to the quarterfinals.

Match Notes

• With tonight’s victory, Seattle moves to the top of the Leagues Cup table through two Phase One matchdays. Sounders FC has taken six points from two wins, with a plus-eight goal difference. The top four teams from MLS and Liga MX advance to the Knockout Round of the prestigious international tournament, with Seattle able to qualify for the next phase of the competition with a result against Club Tijuana on August 6 at Lumen Field.
• In all competitions, Seattle still has only lost one match in 2025 at Lumen Field against North American opponents. The Rave Green’s overall record on the Emerald Queen Casino Pitch is now 10-1-5 in North American play (MLS, Concacaf Champions Cup, Leagues Cup).
• With the result, Seattle is now 7-5-0 all-time in Leagues Cup play.
• Minoungou’s goal in the 72nd minute was his first of the season in all competitions. The midfielder scored one goal and tallied one assist in all competitions last season.
• Danny Leyva recorded an assist on Minoungou’s goal, his first of the season.
• Tonight’s Leagues Cup clash was Sounders FC’s sixth all-time meeting against Santos Laguna. The two teams last met in the 2021 Leagues Cup semifinals, which the Rave Green won 1-0 at Lumen Field. Including Concacaf Champions Cup matchups, Seattle moves to 3-2-1 against Santos in all competitions.
• Following Sunday’s result, Seattle’s all-time record against Liga MX opponents moves to 11-12-15 in competitive play, accounting for both Leagues Cup and Concacaf Champions Cup action.
• Brian Schmetzer made four changes to the starting lineup from Seattle’s last match against Cruz Azul, with Kim Kee-hee, Danny Leyva, Paul Rothrock and Pedro de la Vega replacing Yeimar Gómez Andrade, Cristian Roldan, Jesús Ferreira and Ryan Kent, respectfully. Tacoma Defiance goalkeeper Mohammed Shour was available for selection tonight on the bench via Short-Term Agreement.

Match Summary

Seattle Sounders FC 2 – Santos Laguna 1

Sunday, August 3, 2025

Venue: Lumen Field

Referee: Steffon Dewar

Assistants: Zachari Zeegelaar, Ainsley Rochard

Fourth Official: Kwinsi Williams

VAR: Benjamin Whitty

Attendance: 17,265

Weather: 69 degrees and cloudy

SCORING SUMMARY

SEA – Own Goal (Haret Ortega) 8’

SEA – Georgi Minoungou 72’

SAN – Cristian Dájome (Fran Villalba) 90’+6’

MISCONDUCT SUMMARY

SAN – Haret Ortega (caution) 20’

SEA – Georgi Minoungou (caution) 66’

SEA – Georgi Minoungou (ejection) 74’

SAN – Anthony Lozano (caution) 82’

SAN – Jesús Ocejo (caution) 87’

SAN – Kevin Palacios (caution) 88’

LINEUPS & STATS

Seattle Sounders FC – Andrew Thomas; Alex Roldan – Captain, Kim Kee-hee, Jackson Ragen, Nouhou; Obed Vargas, Danny Leyva (Kalani Kossa-Rienzi 90’); Paul Rothrock (Jesús Ferreira 63’), Albert Rusnák (Cristian Roldan 79’), Pedro de la Vega (Georgi Minoungou 63’); Danny Musovski (Osaze De Rosario 63’)

Substitutes not used: Jacob Castro, Mohammed Shour*, Reed Baker-Whiting, Jonathan Bell, Yeimar Gómez Andrade, Snyder Brunell, Ryan Kent

*Tacoma Defiance player available for selection via Short-Term Agreement

Total shots: 13

Shots on goal: 4

Fouls: 2

Offside: 4

Corner-Kicks: 6

Saves: 8

Santos Laguna – Hector Holguin; José Abella (Kevin Palacios 60’), Kevin Balanta, Haret Ortega; Edson Gutiérrez (Jesús Ocejo 79’), Aldo López (Franco Fagúndez 76’), Javier Güémez, Emmanuel Echeverría; Fran Villalba, Jordán Carrillo (Cristian Dájome 60’); Bruno Barticciotto (Anthony Lozano 76’)

Substitutes not used: Ismael Govea, Ronaldo Prieto, Diego Medina, Salvador Mariscal, Bruno Amione, David Sánchez

Total shots: 4

Shots on goal: 3

Fouls: 22

Offside: 0

Corner-kicks: 2

Saves: 3