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Seattle Sounders Deliver Historic Rout Against Cruz Azul in Leagues Cup Seattle, WA – In a stunning display of offensive power, the Seattle Sounders FC decimated Liga MX giants Cruz Azul with an emphatic 7-0 victory in their opening match of the 2025 Leagues Cup. The commanding performance, delivered on Thursday, July 31, 2025, at Lumen Field, sent shockwaves across North American football, marking a significant moment in the burgeoning rivalry between Major League Soccer (MLS) and Liga MX. The result is one of the most lopsided victories in the history of inter-league competitions between the two dominant North American football leagues, firmly establishing the Sounders' intent in the inaugural stages of the Leagues Cup. With a crowd of 22,697 in attendance, the home side transformed a tightly contested first half into an overwhelming second-half onslaught, leaving Cruz Azul reeling. Main Details: A Second-Half Deluge The match remained scoreless at halftime, with both teams probing for opportunities but unable to break the deadlock. However, the second half saw a dramatic shift in momentum, with Seattle unleashing an relentless attack. The goal-scoring began swiftly after the restart and continued almost uninterrupted until the final whistle. Yeimar Gómez Andrade opened the scoring for the Sounders in the 48th minute, rising powerfully to head home an Albert Rusnák corner kick. Just two minutes later, in the 50th minute, young midfielder Obed Vargas doubled Seattle's lead with a shot from the top of the box that took a deflection off Cruz Azul defender Willer Ditta, finding its way past goalkeeper Kevin Mier. Jesús Ferreira added the third goal in the 58th minute, converting from close range after another set-piece delivery from Rusnák and a flicked header from Cristian Roldan. The floodgates truly opened with Osaze De Rosario making it 4-0 in the 69th minute, capitalizing on intricate build-up play from Vargas and Ryan Kent.
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Substitute Pedro de la Vega made an immediate impact, scoring with his first touch in the 76th minute to net Seattle's fifth. Nouhou Tolo headed in a rebound from a free-kick in the 88th minute for the sixth goal. De la Vega then completed his brace and sealed the historic 7-0 scoreline with an incredible first-time volley in the first minute of stoppage time, an astonishing finish that capped off a memorable night for the Seattle faithful. Despite two other goals being disallowed for offside after Video Assistant Referee (VAR) reviews, Seattle's dominance was unquestionable. Context & Background: An Evolving Rivalry and Recent History The Leagues Cup, a tournament designed to intensify the rivalry and integrate the football calendars of MLS and Liga MX, serves as a crucial battleground for regional supremacy. The 2025 edition sees all teams from both leagues participating, vying for berths in the Concacaf Champions Cup. This match held particular significance for the Seattle Sounders, coming just months after their elimination from the Concacaf Champions Cup by Cruz Azul earlier in 2025. In that Round of 16 encounter, the teams played to a scoreless draw in Seattle on March 5, 2025, before Cruz Azul secured a convincing 4-1 victory in the second leg at Estadio Olímpico Universitario in Mexico City on March 11, 2025, thus advancing 4-1 on aggregate. While Cruz Azul is a decorated club with a rich history of Concacaf Champions Cup titles, Seattle had etched its own name in the history books by becoming the first MLS club to win the Concacaf Champions League in its modern format in 2022. The 7-0 drubbing in the Leagues Cup can be seen as a strong statement of revenge for the earlier Champions Cup exit. The Sounders entered the Leagues Cup on an impressive run of form, extending their unbeaten streak to seven matches across all competitions.
Conversely, Cruz Azul, despite their strong pedigree and recent competitive performances in Liga MX, endured a night that will undoubtedly be scrutinized. The nature of the defeat, especially after a competitive first half, underscores the unpredictable intensity of inter-league play. Reactions & Impact: "Historic Embarrassment" for Cruz Azul The resounding defeat sparked immediate and widespread reactions across the Mexican football landscape, particularly from media outlets and analysts. Terms like "historic embarrassment," "humiliating," and "shameful" were used to describe Cruz Azul's performance. ESPN analyst Javier Alarcón, on Futbol Picante, notably termed it an "Historic embarrassment. " Cruz Azul's coach, Nicolás Larcamón, publicly apologized to the fans following the match, acknowledging the severity of the loss. The result, unexpectedly lopsided for a club of Cruz Azul's stature, has led to internal questioning regarding team readiness and strategy in high-stakes international tournaments. For the Seattle Sounders, the victory was a monumental affirmation of their quality and depth. It propelled them to first place in their Leagues Cup group, setting a strong precedent for their tournament campaign. Individual performances were highlighted, with Pedro de la Vega earning "Player of the Match" honors for his impactful substitute appearance and brace, and Obed Vargas receiving widespread praise for his commanding display in central midfield. The win not only provided crucial points in the Leagues Cup standings but also served as a significant morale boost for the team and its supporters.
Next Steps: Leagues Cup Progression and Domestic Focus Following this dominant performance, the Seattle Sounders will continue their Leagues Cup Phase One campaign. Their next fixture is against Santos Laguna, followed by a match against Club Tijuana, both to be played at Lumen Field. Their strong start positions them favorably to advance deep into the tournament. Cruz Azul, on the other hand, faces the daunting task of regrouping and analyzing the heavy defeat as they prepare for their subsequent Leagues Cup matches and the resumption of their Liga MX Apertura campaign. The club has upcoming Liga MX fixtures against Santos Laguna, Toluca, Chivas Guadalajara, Pachuca, and FC Juarez in the coming weeks and months. The focus for La Máquina will be to learn from this experience and demonstrate resilience in their upcoming contests. Similarly, the Sounders will continue their MLS regular season schedule, with matches against Minnesota United FC, Sporting Kansas City, Real Salt Lake, and the LA Galaxy slated in August and September. : A Defining Moment in North American Football The 7-0 scoreline between Seattle Sounders FC and Cruz Azul will be etched into the annals of North American club football history. It was a match that underscored the growing competitive parity between MLS and Liga MX, while also serving as a stark reminder of football's unpredictable nature. For Seattle, it was a statement of intent and a sweet vindication; for Cruz Azul, a painful lesson and a catalyst for introspection. As the Leagues Cup progresses, all eyes will be on how both teams respond to this defining encounter.
2 days ago Game summary of the Seattle Sounders FC vs. Cruz Azul Leagues Cup game, final score 7-0, from July 31, 2025 on ESPN.
22 hours ago If first impressions are any indication, Seattle Sounders FC mean business – and then some – in this year's Leagues Cup tournament.
2 days ago View the Cruz Azul vs. Seattle Sounders FC game played on July 31, 2025. Box score, stats, play-by-play timeline, highlights, odds & more.
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