Facing their second of three matches in seven days in Phase One of the 2025 Leagues Cup, the Seattle Sounders were eager for some rotation on Sunday against Liga MX side Santos Laguna. A 7-0 thumping of Cruz Azul on Thursday allowed for some preemptive rest for players, while also giving others a precious opportunity to gain valuable playing time.
With veteran Cristian Roldan earning most of the night off in central midfield, Danny Leyva got the nod from Head Coach Brian Schmetzer and all he did was put in a Man of the Match performance in Seattle’s 2-1 win.
“I’ve been telling the team that we will need everybody in tournaments like these,” said Schmetzer. “Danny Leyva was very good tonight. I thought he did a lot of good things. He and Obed \[Vargas] starting that game, I had full confidence.”
It had been nearly three months since Leyva last started a match when he went 90 minutes against LAFC on May 14. Although just 22, he’s already in his seventh professional season and repaid Schmetzer’s trust with an influential two-way effort in the center of the park.
“I’m always prepared for an opportunity like this,” said Leyva. “This was a real opportunity for me, and I wanted to take advantage of that… Mentality-wise, I was going in to help the team and keep the good rhythm going that we’ve had the past games.”
Playing alongside friend and fellow Homegrown Vargas in the double-pivot in Schmetzer’s 4-2-3-1 also added to Leyva’s success, as the two progressed through the Sounders system and have great chemistry.
“I get along with him really well,” Leyva said of Vargas. “We have a good connection and played a lot together in preseason. It was just being dynamic together and getting control of the game and trying to create chances.”
Leyva drew high praise as well from his teammates, who also had full trust in him to come in and do his job. Center back Jackson Ragen highlighted Leyva’s range of passing as well as his defensive acumen as big keys to the Sounders’ success on Sunday.
“[Leyva] did great with pressing and winning the ball back because that’s what Cristian loves to do for us,” said Ragen. “We’re gonna need him because it’s a long season, and he’s going to have to step up.”
Performances like Sunday’s will likely earn Leyva even more playing time from Schmetzer as the matches continue to come thick and fast in both Leagues Cup and MLS play. Seattle will finish out Phase One of the Leagues Cup on Wednesday at Lumen Field when they take on Club Tijuana (8 p.m. PT; Watch on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV | TICKETS) with a chance to clinch a Quarterfinal berth and potentially finish first in the MLS side of the Leagues Cup table.
“We are going to continue the message that this tournament is important,” said Schmetzer. “Every game is important. We’re going to need everyone on the team to play up to a high level.”
