Seattle Reign suffer unbelievable comeback and lose to Club Tijuana

The NWSL x Liga MX Summer Cup is already on fire and, in the second match of the group stage, the Seattle Reign faced an unexpected challenge against Club Tijuana. What looked like a promising night in Seattle ended with a bitter taste of defeat when the team conceded a decisive goal in the 84th minute, bringing the final score to 3-2 in favor of Club Tijuana.

Follow MLS Multiplex on X (Twitter).

The match began with a scare for the Reign. Just two minutes in, a long pass found Tijuana striker Aisha Solorzano, who didn't waste the chance and scored to put the visitors ahead. The Reign's defense, visibly disorganized, allowed Solorzano to shine early in the game.

Despite the difficult start, the Reign didn't let themselves down. The Seattle side began to find their rhythm and create chances, especially with strikers McKenzie Weinert and Emeri Adames. Adames tried twice in a row in the 18th and 19th minutes, while Weinert almost scored in the 20th minute, hitting the post. But even with the pressure, the Reign couldn't prevent Tijuana from extending their lead. In the 40th minute, Solorzano once again found the net to make it 2-0 and leave the Reign fans apprehensive at half-time.

But if the first half was one of frustration, the second brought hope. Less than 90 seconds after the kick-off, Adames, with his back to goal, turned and struck a beautiful shot that hit the crossbar before going in. The Reign's reaction was immediate, and the goal ignited the team and the fans. With the momentum in their favor, the Reign equalized in the 62nd minute. Lily Woodham crossed into the box, forcing Tijuana goalkeeper Maricruz Gonzalez to deflect the ball, which fell to the feet of Maddie Mercado. Mercado was unforgiving and scored, bringing the score to 2-2.

The Reign dominated much of the second half, but fate seemed to have other plans. In the 84th minute, another defensive lapse allowed Solorzano to complete her hat-trick after a neat pass from Marta Cox. It was the final blow in a match that seemed within Reign's reach.

Emeri Adames was one of the highlights of the match, scoring in the 47th minute and creating several chances throughout the game. With five shots, four on target, and seven duels won, Adames showed why she is one of the team's great promises in her first professional season. Maddie Mercado also shone, with a goal and an assist, making her one of only three players in the tournament to achieve this in a single game.

In addition to the well-known stars, the match marked the professional debut of defender Jordyn Bugg, recently signed by the Reign until 2027. Bugg took to the field and has already secured her place in the team for the coming seasons. Another newcomer was midfielder Sam Meza, who played his first game as a starter and led the team with 10 tackles won and six tackles.

Now the Reign need to get their act together quickly, as on Wednesday they face the Portland Thorns in Providence Park, Oregon, in another NWSL x Liga MX Summer Cup challenge. The game promises to be intense, and the Reign will have to adjust their defense to avoid any further slip-ups.

In the meantime, the lesson remains: in top-flight matches, every second counts and every mistake can be fatal. The Reign showed grit and the ability to react, but they'll need more consistency if they want to progress in the tournament and prevent stories like this from repeating themselves. Let's hope the Seattle team learns from its mistakes and comes back even stronger for the next challenges.