The Seattle Sounders defeated Liga MX’s Pumas UNAM 4-0 on Monday night at Lumen Field in the Round of 16 of the Leagues Cup. Paul Rothrock opened the scoring in the first half before a second-half goal from Albert Rusnák and a brace from Jordan Morris secured passage into the quarterfinals.
Pumas had a couple of ambitious long-range efforts inside the opening 10 minutes, but they were comfortably dealt with by goalkeeper Andrew Thomas.
Pumas had a gilt-edge opportunity in the 17th minute when Chino Huerta got to the left end line and dropped a pass to an open Guillermo MartÃnez, but he skied his shot over the crossbar from six yards out.
Pumas did find the back of the net in the 26th minute, but it was waived off when Piero Quispe was ruled offside after Video Review.
The Sounders capitalized on their fortune by taking the lead in the 32nd minute when Rusnák crossed a ball from the right side that Rothrock headed off the far post and in.
Morris doubled the lead in the 58th minute when he chested down a flicked header by Rusnák from 12 yards out, turned and fired home a left-footed strike.
The Sounders iced the match in the 71st minute when Rusnák converted a penalty won by Obed Vargas, who was dragged down in the box by Lisandro Magallán.
Seattle earned a second penalty in the second minute of stoppage time when Magallán took down Morris on a breakaway. He earned a second yellow card and was sent off.
Morris then coolly stepped up and bagged the ensuing penalty to make it 4-0.
Seattle will host on the winner of the San Jose Earthquakes and LAFC, who square off on Tuesday in Los Angeles, in the quarterfinals (5 p.m. PT; MLS Season Pass on Apple TV, SiriusXM FC, 950 KJR AM, El Rey 1360AM | TICKETS).
THREE TAKEAWAYS
Otra vez
Two years after defeating Pumas in the second leg of the Concacaf Champions League Final to capture Major League Soccer’s first modern title, the Sounders blew out the Mexico City-based club yet again. After conceding the first two goals in the first leg of the CCL Final, the Sounders have scored nine unanswered goals against Pumas.
Rothrock and Morris again
After proving a ruthless one-two punch to open the Sounders’ Leagues Cup campaign in a win over Minnesota United, Morris and Rothrock delivered on the score sheet yet again. The two Seattle natives have formed quite the attacking duo at the No. 9 and left wing, respectively.
Reversal of fortune
After having a goal taken off the board via Video Review early on against Club Necaxa in the group stage, the Sounders faltered and conceded three unanswered goals. The Sounders were benefactors of a disallowed goal on Monday and in turn responded with four straight goals of their own.
