SEATTLE, WASH. – Sounders FC played to a scoreless draw with Liga MX side Cruz Azul on Wednesday evening in the first leg of the Round of 16 matchup in the 2025 Concacaf Champions Cup. Sounders FC travels to Mexico City for the second leg against Cruz Azul on Tuesday, March 11 at Estadio Olímpico Universitario (5:30 p.m. PT / FOX Sports). Prior to next Tuesday's second leg, Seattle hosts Western Conference rival LAFC on Saturday, March 8 on the Emerald Queen Casino Pitch at Lumen Field (1:45 p.m. PT / Apple TV, FOX, FOX Deportes, 93.3 KJR FM, El Rey 1360 AM).
MATCH NOTES
- Wednesday's contest marked the first all-time meeting between Sounders FC in the MLS era and Cruz Azul. The two sides will also meet later this year at Lumen Field in Leagues Cup 2025 action.
- Seattle is 22-15-12 all-time in Concacaf Champions Cup action and is unbeaten in its last 13 games (6-0-7) in the competition, with its last loss coming in 2018.
- Sounders FC's unbeaten streak of 13 is the longest of any MLS team in the competition’s history. Liga MX side Pumas UNAM holds the record for the longest unbeaten streak of any team at 23 matches from 1980-1992.
- The winner of the two-leg Round of 16 series will play the winner of the Club America-Chivas de Guadalajara series, with Guadalajara having won the first leg 1-0 tonight.
- Midfielder Cristian Roldan recorded his 350th all-competition appearance tonight against Cruz Azul, joining Stefan Frei as the only players to hit that mark in club history (MLS era).
- Brian Schmetzer rotated his lineup from Saturday’s match at Real Salt Lake, with Alex Roldan, Jackson Ragen, Pedro de la Vega and Paul Rothrock replacing Kalani Kossa-Rienzi, Jonathan Bell, Georgi Minoungou and Paul Rothrock.
- Tacoma Defiance defender Kalani Kossa-Rienzi, who was available for today’s match via Short-Term Agreement, was available for selection off the bench today.
MATCH SUMMARY
Seattle Sounders FC 0 – Cruz Azul 0
Wednesday, March 5, 2025
Venue: Emerald Queen Casino Pitch at Lumen Field
Referees: Julio Luna
Assistants: Cristian Alvarado, Carlos Fernandez
Fourth Official: Reon Radix
VAR: Tatiana Guzman
Attendance: 27,844
Weather: 47 degrees and clear
SCORING SUMMARY
None
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY
SEA – Albert Rusnák (caution) 40’
CAZ – Gabriel Fernandez (caution) 45’+3’
CAZ – Lorenzo Faravelli (caution) 90’+1’
LINEUPS & STATS
Seattle Sounders FC – Stefan Frei; Alex Roldan, Yeimar, Jackson Ragen, Nouhou; Obed Vargas, Cristian Roldan, Pedro de la Vega (Jesús Ferreira 67’), Albert Rusnák (Paul Rothrock 86’), Paul Arriola (Georgi Minoungou 76’); Jordan Morris
Substitutes not used: Andrew Thomas, Jacob Castro, Kalani Kossa-Rienzi, Jonathan Bell, Stuard Hawkins, Cody Baker, João Paulo, Danny Leyva, Danny Musovski
Total shots: 8
Shots on goal: 1
Fouls: 11
Offside: 1
Corner-Kicks: 2
Saves: 2
Cruz Azul – Kevin Mier; Jorge Sanchez, Omar Campos, Willer Ditta, Jesus Orozco, Gonzalo Piovi; Lorenzo Faravelli, Andres Montano (Luka Romero 86’), Alexis Gutierrez (Luis Gutierrez 90’+3’); Mateusz Bogusz (Bryan Gamboa 66’), Gabriel Fernandez (Amaury Morales 90’+2’)
Substitutes not used: Andres Gudino, Emmanuel Ochoa, Amaury Garcia, Carlos Vargas, Cristian Jimenez, Christian Valdivia
Total shots: 7
Shots on goal: 2
Fouls: 15
Offside: 1
Corner-kicks: 4
Saves: 1
- SOUNDERS FC -
