Nearly 70,000 impassioned fans filled Lumen Field last Sunday, and their cheers brought energy that powered the Leagues Cup Final. The evening was a complete Sounders success story, from the electric atmosphere to the thrilling gameplay, to the final score, a 3-0 victory, to adding another trophy to the case. Inter Miami, a team boasting a galaxy of global stars led by Lionel Messi, arrived with an air of invincibility and arrogance. The Seattle Sounders, in stark contrast, presented a narrative of homegrown grit, forged from meticulous internal development, a youthful core embodying resilience, a unified spirit and unwavering commitment to each other.
The Sounders’ first-half game plan was a tactical masterclass. They executed with precision and discipline, creating numerous dangerous scoring opportunities while stifling Miami’s attempts to establish any meaningful rhythm or create chances. The defense was a tight, impenetrable block that denied Miami access to the central midfield, suffocating their creative outlets with physicality and numerical superiority. From this resolute defensive posture, Seattle transitioned fluidly into wide attacking channels, exploiting the corners with incisive runs and pinpoint passing. One such attacking movement nearly found the back of the net in the early stages, foreshadowing the inevitable. Soon after, another perfectly weighted cross was headed home, giving Seattle a lead they would never relinquish.
Emerging late from the locker room for the second half, the veteran Miami team asserted their dominance in possession, but were unable to take advantage of their chances. Sounders coach Brian Schmetzer made coinciding adjustments, calling on his team’s depth and finding renewed energy. Unlike their distinguished opponents, Seattle proved clinical in front of goal, converting their opportunities cleanly and decisively. The final scoreline of 3-0 was a resounding statement, a fitting conclusion to a match that the Seattle Sounders dominated from start to finish.
Used to being here: The Seattle depth carried them to and through this match; the entire team put together a masterful performance and were rewarded by winning the tournament. Missing a handful of starters, the Sounders didn’t skip a beat, interchanging pieces each match as they surged through the tournament and showed they were the class of the region, both before and after the whistle.
Champs again: None of the Miami superstars had the precision of Paul Rothrock to change their scoreline, but when Paul himself grabbed a late pass near the box, he created a storybook ending, scoring and relishing the cacophony of cheers. Throughout the game, Seattle played as a cohesive team, and then they celebrated by hoisting their first Leagues Cup trophy as a team. For Sounders players, coaches and fans, it was a truly joyful experience.
Goalkeeper
Andrew Thomas – 8
Given the chance to start on a stage this big didn’t intimidate Thomas, who kept a clean sheet with diligent communication and a stout defense in front of him. His teammates were so adept at preventing Miami from good opportunities, and Miami so poor at taking the ones they earned, that Andrew was only credited with a single save. He did have three catches in the box, using his big body and athleticism to corral the ball in traffic while defending eight corner kicks.
Used to being here: The moment never looked too big for Andrew, although a few attempts to quickly jump-start the offense were off target, ending with some poor distribution completion. This is something he can work on, and his ability to use his big, accurate arm for long passes from the back is a developing weapon.
Champs again: Facing Thomas were Messi, Luis Suárez, Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba, and all the other talent on Miami’s team. But at the end of the match, none of these highly paid players had put the ball behind him. On the few occasions Andrew’s defense allowed clean looks against him, he came out quickly and assertively to cut angles and force perfect finishes that Miami couldn’t do. The shutout was his fourth of the Leagues Cup, earning him the Goalkeeper of the Tournament award. Andrew Thomas has arrived.
Defense
Reed Baker-Whiting – 7
With Nouhou opting himself out of the final, it was Reed’s turn to step in and show big in the final, and he was excellent. He had 80 percent passing and nine defensive contributions, staying home and doing his job to limit Miami from probing his side. In a cup final with five tackles, four clearances, four recoveries and seven won duels, it was the exact defensive performance he needed to bring for Seattle to be successful.
Used to being here: Reed’s defense was the big question and he passed the test. Did Messi burn him badly in the 49th minute? Yes. He also beat Reed in the 61st off the dribble and earned a dangerous free kick. But that was it. And in the biggest match, Reed fit in flawlessly, and Messi missed both those attempts.
Champs again: Consistently doing his job defensively and finding the right moments to add offensive touch, this was the kind of intense, professional match that will go a long way to earning RBW starting minutes. When you combine his defensive numbers with the vision and execution to put Rothrock in on goal in the 73rd, this was a brilliant outing.
Jackson Ragen – 8
Ragen was matched up with Suárez and made it through regulation time without being assaulted, battling for 90 minutes. He returned near-perfect 32/35 passing, adding eight clearances and four recoveries as Seattle looked comfortable in a deep block. They relied on Ragen’s leadership and communication to stay compact while Miami fruitlessly bashed against their defensive line. The defense moved in unison to deny most of what the opponents wanted to do by smart positioning and physical toughness. Jackson also nearly added an assist, just missing Osaze De Rosario on an early recycled cross.
Used to being here: A number of times, Suárez turned distributor, passing off the point and setting up teammates in behind. But even in the few instances Miami had half chances, Ragen was nearby, cutting down angles and making attempts predictable for Thomas to deal with. In the 20th minute, a sliding tackle pushed a Rodrigo De Paul effort harmlessly out for a corner.
Champs again: Suárez took more shots after the final whistle than during the match, when Ragen was draped around him and limited the Miami striker to a single attempt, which he failed to get on target. Ragen calmly stopped everything centrally, and was a clean distributor going forward.
Yeimar – 8
Yeimar did a bit of everything defensively against Miami, filling the statsheet completely with three tackles, four clearances, two interceptions, two recoveries, and going a perfect 4/4 on duel attempts. The away team had little luck getting in behind him, and even less going right at him, as Yeimar’s quick feet stole possession and added solid tackles to deny much of what Miami wanted to do through the defensive lines.
Used to being here: Yeimar slipped and was lucky Tadeo Allende didn’t score after getting in behind in the 60th, but that was about it for mistakes. With a lot of pressure coming from Miami’s left side, Yeimar struggled a few times to get out of the Seattle defensive third. This led to an ugly 68 percent pass completion rate, but many of those were safe, longer attempts that removed danger even if they didn’t create any Sounders possession going forward.
Champs again: Nearly all of the penetration attempts from Miami ran flat into Yeimar again and again, as they couldn’t decipher his speed and size combination, which repeatedly denied them. His 10 defensive contributions led Seattle, and his coverage helped spring Alex Roldan into attacking possession areas. Miami didn’t have any ideas to beat the Seattle defenders, ending frustrated and flailing.
Alex Roldan – 9 (MOTM)
Big players step up in big games, and in a match full of international stars, it was Alex Roldan who stood the tallest. He started the scoring with a perfect understanding of tactical space and execution on a cross, scored the second from the spot with ice in his veins, and finished the match off with a fortuitous ball that found the pride of Capitol Hill. For the rest of the match, he mixed it up defensively against the likes of Alba and De Paul. Alex was phenomenal.
Used to being here: With 71 percent passing, one duel won, and only a single shot, you might think Alex had little impact on the match, when in fact he popped up in the right place, at the right time, every single moment that mattered. Executing at the most important times, backup ’keeper Roldan was incredible.
Champs again: Seattle was under it for long stretches in the second half, and Miami squandered a number of big chances. The Sounders did not. When clutch substitute Georgi Minoungou earned a penalty, Seattle looked to Alex for calm leadership and execution. He didn’t wilt like the opponents, instead slotting home a massive penalty goal, igniting flamethrowers and burning Miami’s hopes of a comeback. The understated Alex Roldan exuded confidence and resilience from the first whistle until the last, a perfect encapsulation of the entire team.
Defensive Midfield
Cristian Roldan – 8
Captain Cristian started in the middle and immediately showed that the Seattle defense was better than the ones that Miami had been slicing through to get to this final. Physical, rangy, technical, and compact, the Sounders defense started with pressure from the front, and Cristian was everywhere to deny runs, cut out passes, and stop dribble attempts. He ended with a team-high 50 touches, returned 83 percent passing, and added nine defensive actions. His four clearances, three tackles, and four recoveries weren’t the whole story of Cristian’s influence on the match.
Used to being here: Matched up centrally against Messi, Cristian and Obed Vargas had a big job, but one they ultimately triumphed in. Constantly the better midfield pairing, these two did their jobs almost perfectly, limiting what Miami wanted to do, while concurrently pushing the ball quickly and assertively the other way to create offense for Seattle.
Champs again: The debate of CR7 versus Messi can finally be put to bed, with Cristian coming out on top. Every time Messi appeared to get a step in the center, he was confronted with Roldan, who was everywhere. Cristian’s ability to poke the ball away, disrupt central runs, and filter the ball to teammates was elite. With the heart of the away team frustrated, barking at the refs and looking around for support, the heart of the Sounders was diligently doing his job.
Obed Vargas – 8
Roldan wasn’t the only one who stuck to Messi all night, as Obed joined in and added some physicality to knock Lionel out of rhythm. Miami constantly attempted to physically and emotionally intimidate Vargas, but they ultimately came out the worse for wear as Obed took everything they threw at him and gave it back twofold.
Used to being here: Only winning four of 12 duels, Obed wasn’t dominant in 1-v-1 areas, but the combination of Vargas and Roldan, Jesús Ferreira, or Pedro de la Vega meant that getting around Obed had negative consequences as Miami ran into a well-trained and organized defensive scheme that befuddled them all night. His ability to move the ball through the lines the other way was elite.
Champs again: Against superstars twice his age, Obed had three interceptions, two tackles, and seven clearances. More importantly, he had control of the ball in tight spaces, won his physical battles with Messi and company, and was so dominant that they literally attempted to twist his head off after the match. Vargas got the last laugh.
Attacking Midfield
Pedro de la Vega – 7 (off 61’ for Kossa-Rienzi)
With a big test against Miami, Pedro passed with flying colors. He was a combiner who fit seamlessly into the Seattle flow, a wave of pressure that the away team struggled with all night. Pedro had a massive six defensive contributions and a team-high five tackles, showing a defensive bite that inspired by example, setting the tone for not conceding a single inch of Lumen Field without a contest.
Used to being here: You would be completely wrong if you thought only having two shots and a single key pass meant Pedro had a quiet night. In fact, he was dynamite in his time on the field. Constantly moving and connecting, de la Vega was a persistent menace that pulled Miami out of shape and forced them to defend the corners where they were clearly uncomfortable.
Champs again: At times the best Argentinian #10 on the field, it was Pedro who torched the back line in multiple moments, combining through the center and eviscerating the Miami defense up the wings and in behind. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, and that’s as close as the opponents got to Pedro.
Jesús Ferreira – 7 (off 78’ for Minoungou)
It is such fun to see Jesús ghost around the midfield to find touches and elevate everyone around him. His movement perplexed the opposing defense, and Ferreira was impactful at finding the ball and turning it inside out to create push forward. He combined cleanly (89 percent passing, two key passes) and was often the start of the press from a secondary angle, forcing Miami into predictable movement and setting Seattle’s defensive shape assertively.
Used to being here: In the 40th minute, Ferreira completely eluded the defense, finding massive space and the ball after Rothrock peeled back a vertical run and passed inside. A quick control and quicker trigger beat the keeper far post, and Seattle was denied a second goal by mere inches, with the shot ricocheting off and hitting the Miami goalie in the back.
Champs again: In the first goal buildup, Ferreira alertly understood the movement around him to find the right pass, putting Alex into space. In the 73rd, it was Jesús covering defensively that stole a pass, found Reed, and then saw him put Rothrock over the top and free in on goal.
Paul Rothrock – 9 (off 91’ for Kee-hee)
You can’t look at stats and accurately describe what Paul Rothrock does for this team. Some may call it xDAWG. Or hustle. Or tactical acumen. Or high soccer IQ. Whatever it is, it’s often hard to explain and doesn’t always look smooth, yet he finds a way to make an impact.
Used to being here: This could have been even more of a Paul appreciation post had he finished his breakaway in the 73rd, when Reed put him neatly over the top and in 1-v-1 against the keeper. He missed that chance, and also lost nine duels. None of this ended up mattering.
Champs again: It’s Paul friggin’ Rothrock. Who else was going to score that goal? Miami wasn’t ready for a man possessed, a bulldog who’d fight for every inch of the field, contesting every ball and every chance. Still playing full bore in the 89th minute, the alert Rothrock charged onto a semi-loose pass, took a touch in the box and slammed home a champagne goal. And then he subbed off, so they immediately called the game, because who wants to watch a game with no Paul Rothrock?
Striker
Osaze De Rosario – 8 (off 61’ for Leyva)
Osaze got the biggest start of his career and responded with an emphatic statement. Raising his effort to the level of the game, he was a constant forward force, attacking the goal with relish throughout his entire shift. Constantly moving to press Miami into the corners, he also released centrally and attacked the goal directly. He varied his runs, nearly scoring near-post and finding a goal unmarked at the far post. His ability to connect with his teammates was excellent.
Used to being here: With 6/8 passing, De Rosario wasn’t a creator or even much of a holdup forward. Instead, he used his size and mobility to support defensively and force predictable movement from the opponents. He added two recoveries, willing to put the work in on both ends of the field.
Champs again: After the keeper stopped a shot that Osaze nearly got a head on in the 3rd minute, he didn’t hang his head, he relentlessly made runs, battling the defense and eventually, when Alex looped a gorgeous cross in the 26th, De Rosario confidently nodded it home. This early goal proved to be the game-winner.
Substitutes
Kalani Kossa-Rienzi – 6 (on 61’ for de la Vega)
Trusted to come into a single-goal match that the opponent had started to control, Kalani entered with Danny Leyva and changed the intensity back into the Sounders’ favor. His willingness to play anywhere, do anything, and be efficient and tough was a shot in the arm for a Seattle team that was flagging early in the second half and needing this exact boost.
Used to being here: With a dismal 67 percent passing clip, at times KKR played too slowly for the pace of the match, missing some critical connections with teammates that Miami took advantage of. His ability to recover smartly and quickly meant these small errors amounted to nothing more than forgettable moments.
Champs again: When Georgi was creating a penalty, Kalani was there for the patented Sounders cutback, pulling the defense around. During all of his shift, he moved to good spaces and showed energy and physicality, continuing the Sounders strong defense.
Danny Leyva – 6 (on 61’ for De Rosario)
Seattle was struggling to hold on early in the second half, with Miami earning a number of big chances, so the Sounders needed an infusion of control and energy. They got that with perfect subs of KKR and Leyva (and later Georgi). Adding these players didn’t sacrifice any ability, and it spurred Seattle right back onto the front foot.
Used to being here: Danny only won two duels, but it seemed like he won a dozen more. His willingness to get stuck in and his excellent range saw him all over the field pressing and challenging for balls, at one point helping Reed dispossess Messi with pure effort.
Champs again: A constant moving force, Leyva came into the match in a Cup Final and looked strong, outplaying many of his opponents with superior skill and vision. His touch and energy were fresh and needed for the Sounders, who wrested back momentum as soon as he came on.
Georgi Minoungou – 7 (on 78’ for Ferreira)
Miami wasn’t ready for Georgi. In 12 minutes he was a game changer, impacting the game flow, but most importantly pushing the score further in Seattle’s favor. He completely changed the match with his verticality and the ability to stretch the field. This gave the Sounders breathing room defensively, put them on the front foot against an unorganized Miami defense, and allowed them to push forward to find a second goal.
Used to being here: Minoungou had lots of space to run at the opponent and used it well, getting in behind when he could, being excellent in possession, completing both his pass attempts, and most importantly, winning a penalty. He did miss another big chance, as his trivela pass came up short from connecting, or he might have added an assist.
Champs again: Georgi broke the game open with multiple runs forward, creating nearly every time. In minute 81, he took an over-the-top pass and drove to the end line before cutting back and earning a penalty kick. This play was a 4-v-3 break for Seattle, and the four Sounders? Minoungou, Rothrock, Kossa-Rienzi, and Leyva. Tacoma Defiance iced this match.
Kim Kee-hee – 5 (on 91’ for Rothrock)
This was officially an appearance, although the game was over as soon as Kim got on the field.
Referee
Juan Gabriel Calderón – 8
Remember the Sounders-Puebla match, where this referee allowed the Mexican team to continually foul, hold, grab, obstruct, and play negative soccer? His performance in the Sounders-Miami game was the polar opposite. Refusing to buy into any of the Miami stars’ attempts at manipulation, this was a straightforward referee job. That meant evenly splitting 23 fouls between the teams and handing out two yellow cards, both to Miami. This was night-and-day different from the prior match, forcing both teams to play the game cleanly and professionally during regular time.
Used to being here: The ref made clean, assertive calls all night. He quickly called the penalty, partly because he was in the perfect position to see the tackle and make the call.
Champs again: After the whistle was another matter. Adding virtually no extra time, the game was over, and then came actual fisticuffs and nothing from the refs.
Upcoming: Leagues Cup Ratings Roundup!
