Seattle Sounders FC 3
Antigua GFC 1
February 26, 2025
Lumen Field – Seattle, WA
CONCACAF Champions Cup
Seattle Sounders FC hosted Antigua GFC on Wednesday evening in Seattle in the return leg of their CONCACAF Champions Cup tie. The hosts took the first leg on the road 3-1 on February 19th. The winner of the tie will be set to face Cruz Azul in the Round of 16.
Seattle entered the match with both a two goal cushion and three away goals. With the Champions Cup matches wedged midweek during the first league matches, Seattle was getting an early taste of how the 2025 schedule crunch will be. Antigua arrived in Seattle with the deficit in the tie and needing to return to a league match on the weekend.
The hosts would also get on the scoreboard first. Pedro de la Vega would break through in the 24th minute; scoring his second in the tie and first goal of any kind at Lumen. The early matches of 2025 seem to indicate de la Vega is in the form the SOunders had hoped for when signing him a year ago.
Antigua made excellent use of counters and switches throughout the first half. The Guatamalen side eleveled in first half stoppage utilizing a diagonal ball deep into the Sounders penalty area. Jose Galvez would get a far post short range touch past Sounder keeper Andrew Thomas. VAR confirmed the goal and the match entered the half level at one.
The late first half goal altered the match coming out of the half. Seattle came out pressing early, not merely sitting on their lead.
The pressure would pay off with a goal in the 53rd minute. Paul Arriola would slot home a right footed shot off a pass from Jesus Ferreira to put Seattle back up 2-1.
Antigua would continue to attempt to press forward, getting a few good looks on goal. Seattle chose to continue to press for more goals, not merely hanging back and absorbing or killing the game. Second half subs would add energy to the Seattle attack.
Pedro de la Vega would continue his blistering start to 2025 with a late brace. The 88th minute strike would make the match 3-1 and be his third goal in the first week of the season.
As winner, Seattle now faces Mexican club Cruz Azul in the Round of 16 on March 5 at home in the first leg.
