Great Opportunity for Sounders
A team from Major League Soccer has never won the CONCACAF Champions League. In fact, only teams from the Liga MX have done it. On Wednesday, the Seattle Sounders have a great opportunity to rewrite history. All they need to do is beat visiting Pumas at home.
The first leg ended 2-2, exactly like we predicted, meaning a 1-0 victory would be enough for Seattle. It won’t be easy, though. According to the soccer odds Seattle is -110 to lift the cup while Pumas is -120.
Let’s check the latest news, stats, injury reports, and CONCACAF World Cup qualifier odds for Seattle Sounders vs Pumas. We’ve plenty of soccer predictions for you to consider.
Sounders Well Rested
The Seattle Sounders were supposed to play last weekend. However, the MLS rescheduled that game for the Sounders to focus on rewriting history. After all, Seattle winning the CCL would be huge for the league and the sport.
That means the Sounders have had an entire week to plan the second leg. That’s huge considering some players are still recovering from minor injuries, including Raul Ruidiaz, the team’s top scorer.
So far, the Sounders have been unstoppable in CCL play at home. They defeated Motagua (5-0), Leon (3-0) and New York City FC (3-1). Lumen Field will be roaring as the front office confirmed that more than 61,000 tickets have been sold for Wednesday’s match.
“We know that this upcoming game is historic, and we want to create a fortress for our team inside Lumen Field. This is the only major trophy missing from our club’s collection, and we are calling on every Sounders fan in the region to be there and support the team,” said Sounders president of business operations Peter Tomozawa.
Not having major injury concerns also has a lot to do with Seattle’s -110 price to win.
Reinforcements for Pumas
Unlike the Seattle Sounders, Pumas did play last weekend. They defeated Pachuca 2-0, securing a spot in the Liga MX postseason. In other words, an extra dose of motivation.
In the first leg, Arturo Ortiz couldn’t play due to suspension. The central defender will be back. Plus, the team’s top scorer, Juan Ignacio Dinenno, has completely recovered from a muscle injury. He has been playing but not at 100 percent. Last, but not least, Leonel Lopez will also be available after overcoming a soft tissue edema.
Dinenno is the main reason for you to consider including Pumas in your soccer picks He’s also the tournament’s top scorer with nine goals, five more than runner-up Valentin Castellanos (NYCFC).
Pumas’ numbers on the road in this competition aren’t the best. In fact, they haven’t won. They drew 2-2 to Deportivo Saprissa, lost 3-0 to the New England Revolution and drew 0-0 to Cruz Azul. The thing is, we’re talking about a more experienced team. Plus, Liga MX is more competitive than MLS. Pumas is used to handling the pressure.
Seattle Sounders vs Pumas Head-to-Head
The first leg marked the first time that these two met. Pumas was up 2-0 thanks to Dinenno, who scored both goals. However, Nicolas Lodeiro appeared in the last 15 minutes of the game to save the day for the Seattle Sounders. The Uruguayan scored twice from the penalty spot.
Overall, it was a very physical game that ended with three penalties and five yellow cards. That’s only another proof that both are eager to win the CCL title for the first time.
Seattle Sounders vs Pumas Game Information
- Date: Wednesday May 3
- Time: 10 p.m. ET
- Location: Lumen Field, Seattle
- Seattle Sounders vs Pumas Live Stream: fubo.tv
Seattle Sounders vs Pumas Betting Lines
| MONEYLINE | |
| Unam Pumas To Lift The Cup | -120 |
| Seattle To Lift The Cup | -110 |
Seattle Sounders vs Pumas Prediction
Forget about history, let’s focus on the present. I think the Seattle Sounders are the better team. Yes, Pumas has the tourney’s top scorer, but Seattle has three players fighting in that category. Lodeiro with four goals, and Freddy Montero and Jordan Morris with three goals each. As if that wasn’t enough, Ruidiaz could wake up at any moment. That’s just too much offensive power.
That being said, I expect a close game in which both teams will score, enough for the total to go over. Yes, Seattle winning is offering a better price, but the over is a safer betting pick.
Score Prediction: Seattle Sounders 2, Pumas 1
