Sports Mole previews Sunday’s Leagues Cup clash between Seattle Sounders and Pumas, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
A place in the quarter-finals of the Leagues Cup will be on the line on Tuesday when Seattle Sounders and Mexican outfit Pumas go head to head at Lumen Field.
This will be the first meeting between the two teams since they faced off in the 2022 CONCACAF Champions League final where the Sounders picked up a memorable 5-2 aggregate victory to become the first MLS side to clinch the continental crown.
Match preview
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Seattle Sounders turned in a dominant team display on Saturday as they stormed to a 3-1 victory over fellow MLS side Los Angeles Galaxy in their Leagues Cup round-of-32 clash at Lumen Field.
Yeimar Gomez Andrade, Jackson Ragen and Alex Roldan all found the back of the net to put the hosts in a commanding first-half lead before Gabriel Pec pulled one back for LA Galaxy in the 83rd minute.
This followed a decent run in the group stages, where Brian Schmetzer‘s men picked up three points from two matches to finish second in Group F, only behind first-placed Club Necaxa on goal difference.
The Sounders kicked off the campaign with a 2-0 victory over 10-man Minnesota United in the group opener on July 27, one week before suffering a 3-1 loss at the hands of Mexican side Club Necaxa.
Back in the MLS, Seattle Sounders have enjoyed a decent campaign so far and are on course to secure a playoff spot as they sit seventh in the Western Conference table, level on 37 points with sixth-placed Houston Dynamo.
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Like Tuesday’s hosts, Pumas put on a show in the round of 32 as they picked up a 2-0 victory over Vancouver Whitecaps when the two teams squared off at BC Place on Thursday.
Cesar Huerta broke the deadlock six minutes after the half-hour mark to put the visitors in front before Jorge Ruvalcaba finished off a well-worked team goal in the 57th minute to double their advantage.
Head coach Gustavo Lema will be delighted by the impressive display from his side, particularly following their unconvincing run in the group stages, where they finished with just two points from a possible six in Group A.
Pumas were beaten 3-1 by Austin FC at the Q2 Stadium in the opening game on July 27, one week before claiming a penalty-shootout victory over Monterrey in a pivotal all-Mexican showdown in Texas.
Following Friday’s victory over Vancouver Whitecaps, the Universitarios have now gone unbeaten in six of their seven games across all competitions to start the new campaign, claiming five wins and one draw while scoring 14 goals and keeping two clean sheets.
Seattle Sounders Leagues Cup form:
Seattle Sounders form (all competitions):
Pumas Leagues Cup form:
Pumas form (all competitions):
Team News
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Off the back of a dominant display against Los Angeles Galaxy, Schmetzer could name a similar starting XI on Tuesday, with Cristian Roldan, Paul Rothrock and Jordan Morris spearheading the attack.
At the opposite end of the pitch, the 61-year-old has no major reason to tinker with the back four, meaning Ronald, Andrade, Ragen and Nouhou Tolo could form the back four, with 25-year-old Andy Thomas starting between the sticks.
Obed Vargas has started each of the Sounders’ last six games across all competitions and the 19-year-old should retain his role at the heart of the park, alongside veteran midfielder Joao Paulo.
Meanwhile, Pumas remain without the services of 28-year-old Leo Suarez, who is set for an extended spell on the sidelines after suffering a torn knee ligament against Pachuca on July 22.
Huerta and Ruvalcaba both hit the target to put the Whitecaps to the sword last time out and they should retain their roles in the visitors’ attack while Ulises Rivas will push for a starting role here.
Nathan Silva has started all six matches since missing the Liga MX season opener against Leon on July 7 and the 27-year-old should form the center-back pairing with skipper Lisandro Magallan.
Seattle Sounders possible starting lineup:
Thomas; Ronald, Andrade, Ragen, Tolo; Vargas, Joao, Rusnak; Roldan, Rothrock, Morris
Pumas possible starting lineup:
Gonzalez; Duarte, Magallan, Silva, Bennevendo; Caicedo, Quispe, Pussetto; Huerta, Ruvalcaba, Rivas
We say: Seattle Sounders 2-1 Pumas
Pumas have put together a fine run of results in recent weeks and will be backing themselves to secure the desired results on Monday. However, Seattle have been rock-solid at home, where they are unbeaten in 12 of their last 14 games in all competitions, and we are backing them to come out on top at Lumen Field.
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