If there’s ever been a way to send a clear message to the rest of the Concacaf Champions Cup, the Seattle Sounders just pulled it off with style. After a 3-1 win in Guatemala, the green and blue squad decided a repeat of that scoreline at home would be the cherry on top. And guess what? That’s exactly what they delivered. With an aggregate of 6-2, they steamrolled Antigua GFC without breaking much of a sweat and now have the Mexican powerhouse Cruz Azul next on the horizon.
But hold up, this wasn’t just another routine win. Oh no, this was one of those performances that screams Seattle didn’t come just to play along; they came to fight. And if anyone made that clear, it was Pedro de la Vega. This Argentine’s got fire in his boots. Two goals on the night, three in the series, and a performance that has any fan dreaming big. And while the attack took the spotlight, the defense did their job too, shutting down Antigua’s chances with ease.
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By now, it’s safe to say Pedro de la Vega and Paul Arriola are already on the same wavelength. They clicked in the first game, and they clicked again in the second. If they keep this up, their partnership could cause some serious headaches for opposing teams.
The first goal came early, just 24 minutes in, with De la Vega pouncing on a rebound and putting it in the back of the net. Lumen Field erupted. But before halftime, Antigua found the equalizer through José Gálvez, leaving a bitter taste at the break. It looked like things could get tricky, but Seattle came out for the second half like they had something to prove.
In the 53rd minute, Arriola was in the right place at the right time to put the Sounders ahead again. And who else but De la Vega to seal the deal? Late in the game, he latched onto a sweet pass from João Paulo and casually slotted it home like he was just taking a stroll.
With all due respect to Antigua GFC, this series was never really a serious test for Seattle. The Guatemalan side tried, fought hard, hit the crossbar, and did what they could, but the quality gap was obvious.
Now, things get real. Cruz Azul isn’t just any team. They’re a Mexican giant with a rich history and pedigree. That’s where we’ll find out just what this Sounders team is really made of. Beating a weaker opponent is expected; now, facing a Liga MX squad is a whole different level.
There’s something special about Lumen Field. It might not have the fame of places like Bombonera or the Azteca, but when it's packed, it turns into a fortress. And the Sounders fans? They know how to turn a game into an event. Against Cruz Azul, that support will be key.
The first leg is at home on March 5th, and Seattle needs to make their home advantage count. If they get a good result, they could head to Mexico with a solid edge and play a bit smarter. But if they slip up, things could get messy fast.
Unlike Antigua, who played the game of trial and error, Cruz Azul comes with strategy, experienced players, and the quality to strike at any given moment. If Seattle wants to move on, they’ll have to step up their game. They can’t afford to miss chances like they did at times against Antigua. It’s got to be precise. And here’s the kicker: the Mexican defense doesn’t give an inch. If De la Vega, Arriola, and Ferreira want to shine again, they’ll need to be quick, creative, and ruthless.