It was always going to be a tough ask for the Seattle Sounders to repeat as League Champions after their magical 2025 run, in which they defeated Lionel Messi and Inter Miami for the trophy. Injuries and poor play derailed a season that started with promise for the Sounders. The Sounders’ first win in their last seven games was Sunday’s 3-0 Leagues Cup win over Querétaro.
SHUFFLED LINEUP
The Sounders’ chances of advancing in the tournament were slim. The Sounders opened the Tournament with a 3-0 loss to Toluca. With a 1-1 tournament record heading into Wednesday’s game and a return to MLS play on Saturday against the Whitecaps, head coach Brian Schmetzer had plenty to ponder. Schmetzer shuffled the starting lineup for Wednesday’s game against Liga MX side Chivas de Guadalajara.
Only four players, Stefan Frei, Stewart Hawkins, Osaze De Rosario, and Jesus Ferreira, were returning starters from the win over Couteria. Three Tacoma Defiance players, Edson Carli, Mark O’Neill, Sandnes, and Charlie Gaffney, made their first-team start. The remaining four starters were given a chance to show Schmetzer their value amid the pending fixture congestion.
DETERMINED TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE OPPORTUNITY
While they were young, green, and getting their first taste of first-team soccer, they were ready for the occasion. In fact, it was the Sounders who scored the first goal to take a 1-0 lead 13 minutes into the contest. It was a dream start for the Sounders and an unforgettable moment for Gallatin Sandness.
The goal shook and woke up the Mexican side, which turned on the afterburners and attacked the Sounders from the flanks and the middle of the pitch. Chivas had 68% of the possession to the Sounders’ 32% and outshot the home side 13-8. The visitors had five shots on goal to the Sounders two. Stefan Frei showed he still had some of his magic as he made save after save. His magical act preserved the Sounders’ 1-0 lead into the halftime break.
SOUNDERS WILT UNDER PRESSURE
Sounders’ steadfast and resilient defense finally caved in in the 61st minute after continual bombardment by the determined Liga MX side. Chivas attacked the Sounders from the flanks and the middle of the pitch. The visitors’ equalizer in the 61st minute was a masterclass strike by Luis Gabriel Rey, who was left unmarked inside the Sounders’ goal box. Given time and space, Rey unleashed a left-footed strike that turned Frie into stone. With the majority of the fans decked out in Chivas’ red and white colors and cheering them on to find the game winner, Chivas obliged in the 71st minute.
IAMGES BY FRANCINE SCOTT
GAME WINNER
The winner was another golasso that saw centerback Luis Romo loft a ball across the Sounders’ goal box to an onrushing Santiago Sandoval, who headed the ball into the back of the net for the game winner. Both sides made several substitutions. Schmetzer brought in several veterans to get a run out, while Chivas head coach Gabriel Milito brought in several players to preserve the win.
GAME NOTES
MATCH NOTES
- With the loss, Seattle’s Leagues Cup 2026 campaign comes to an end after tallying three points (1-2-0) in Phase One. The top four clubs from both the MLS and Liga MX tables make it to the Knockout Rounds.
- Seattle is now 11-7-1 all-time in Leagues Cup play and has a 14-15-6 all-time record against Liga MX opponents.
- This was the third all-time meeting between Sounders FC and Chivas, playing a friendly in 2010 and meeting in a two-leg aggregate matchup in 2018 Concacaf Champions Cup play.
- Tacoma Defiance defender Gallatin Sandnes – available for selection via Short-Term Agreement and making his first-ever start for Seattle, scored in the 13th minute – his first goal for the Rave Green as well. He made one previous appearance for the club, a substitute appearance against the Philadelphia Union on July 25.
- Antino Lopez assisted Sandnes’ goal, his first career assist for Seattle
- Six Tacoma Defiance players were available for selection for tonight’s match via Short-Term Agreement, with Edson Carli, Mark O’Neill, Sandnes and Charlie Gaffney all recording their first starts for the club. Xavi Gnaulati and Rafael Jauregui were available off the bench.
- Defender Ryan Sailor also made his first start for the Rave Green tonight.
- The Rave Green now return to MLS play with a home matchup against Vancouver Whitecaps FC on Sunday, August 16 on the Emerald Queen Casino Pitch at Lumen Field (7:30 p.m. PT / Apple TV, 93.3 KJR FM, El Rey 1360 AM).
MATCH SUMMARY
Seattle Sounders FC 1 – Chivas de Guadalajara 2
Wednesday, August 12, 2026
Venue: Emerald Queen Casino Pitch at Lumen Field
Referee: Marco Nava
Assistants: Christian Zavala, Michel Morales
Fourth Official: Lizzet Olvera
VAR: Edvin Jurisevic
Weather: 70 degrees and sunny
Attendance: 35,286
SCORING SUMMARY
SEA – Gallatin Sandnes (Antino Lopez) 13’
CHV – Luis Rey 61’
SEA – Santiago Sandoval (Luis Romo) 72’
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY
CHV – Luis Rey (caution) 45’
LINEUPS & STATS
Seattle Sounders FC – Stefan Frei – captain; Ryan Sailor (Kim Kee-hee 72’), Stuart Hawkins, Gallatin Sandnes*; Charlie Gaffney* (Kalani Kossa-Rienzi 72’), Mark O’Neill*, Antino Lopez, Sebastian Gomez (Peter Kingston 63’); Edson Carli, Osaze De Rosario, Jesús Ferreira (Paul Rothrock 63’)
Substitutes not used: Andrew Thomas, Max Anchor, Jackson Ragen, Nouhou, Peter Kingston, Alex Roldan, Paul Rothrock, Rafael Jauregui*, Xavi Gnaulati*, Danny Musovski
*Tacoma Defiance player available via Short-Term Agreement
Total shots: 10
Shots on goal: 2
Fouls: 6
Offside: 1
Corner-kicks: 5
Saves: 10
Chivas de Guadalajara – Oscar Whalley; Diego Campillo, Luis Romo – captain, Miguel Gómez; Fernando González; Luis Rey, Brian Gutierrez, Jordan Carrillo (Armando González 70’), Bryan González (Hugo Camberos 25’); Roberto Alvarado (Santiago Sandoval 70’), Ricardo Marín (Kevin Castañeda 71’)
Substitutes not used: José Rangel, Ángel Sepúlveda, Efraín Álvarez, Jonathan Perez, Richard Ledezma, Ángel Chávez, Inda Cristian, Ángel Romero
Total shots: 24
Shots on goal: 12
Fouls: 7
Offside: 2
Corner-kicks: 13
Saves: 1
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