SEATTLE SOUNDERS FC v. CRUZ AZUL LEAGUES CUP - GROUP STAGE - ROYAL BROUGHAM PARK, OCCIDENTAL AVENUE, SEATTLE, WASHINGTON

Greetings to my brothers and sisters in Green. Well, here we are again. MLS, like many other American corporations and both major American political parties, not only refuse to learn from their mistakes, they refuse to acknowledge that they’ve made mistakes and then double-down on whatever agenda that makes them the most cash. Cruz Azul travel to The Evergreen for the second time this season…and I guess we’ll see.

What: Leagues Cup group stage, Seattle Sounders FC v. Cruz Azul.

Where: Royal Brougham Park, Occidental Avenue, Seattle, Washington.

When: 7:30 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time, Thursday 31 July 2025 CE.

At Stake: That depends on where you are with Leagues Cup. If you don’t like what Leagues Cup has done to the domestic football calendar, then this match, and all matches in this tournament, are meaningless. If you really fancy MLS v. Liga MX, and that’s your jam, Leagues Cup is super-important. If you just think of it as another chance for the Sounders FC to win a trophy this season, then Leagues Cup is a potential means to that end. That pretty much sums it up.

Where to Watch: MLS Season Pass via Apple TV, Apple TV+, Fox Sports 1, UniMas, TUDN, TSN, and Televisa.

Where to Listen: El Rey 1360 AM.

It’s Leagues Cup football. Such as it is. GO ON YOU SOUNDERS!!! GET IN!!!

Before kick-off, please join me in the auld toast: “TO THE SEATTLE SOUNDERS FOOTBALL CLUB…AND VICTORY!!!”

New Sounders FC signing, Synder Brunell has been a mainstay for the Sounders FC Reserves,

with 52 appearances and six goals for them since 2023. (photo credit: soundersfc.com)

The Good News

Sounders haven’t lost in the league since 8 June, when we were defeated 3:0 at BC Place by Vancouver and had two men sent off. Form has been good, with Sounders amassing a record of 9-5-3 over the last 17 matches.

We very well could have defeated Atlanta United for the first time at their ground. The own-goal by Gomez Andrade was fluky, and De Rosario nearly had a late winner with his stoppage-time goal.

We managed to hold Cruz Azul to a scoreless draw last time at Royal Brougham Park. It’s not out of the question for us to manage a classic, smash and grab, one-niller.

The Bad News

Our success in the league not withstanding, Leagues Cup football is nothing like MLS league football. Liga MX squads are deep, with usually two complete teams worth of quality. It’s pretty difficult for MLS clubs to compete with clubs that have fewer or no salary and transfer restrictions.

The latest information, from 25 July, has Rothrock, Morris, Frei, and Hawkins out. In addition, Joao Paulo and Arriola are out for the rest of the season. At full-strength, we lost 4:1 to Cruz Azul in the Champions Cup.

It’s utterly perplexing to me how Miranchuk was unmarked and had room to unleash a belter for his stoppage-time equaliser last Sat. This needs fixing.

The Side I Would Select

We’ve never beat this lot that I know of. All you can do is try.

GK     Thomas

LB     Nouhou

LCH    Ragen

RCH    Gomez Andrade

RB     Kossa-Rienzi

LDM    Vargas

RDM   Cristian

LF     de la Vega

CAM   Rusnak

RM      Ferreira

CF     Musovski

The Side I Think The Gaffer Will Select

I’d be shocked if he didna select the team that got the 0:0 draw in Seattle in Champions Cup in March, minus those that are injured.

GK     Thomas

LB     Nouhou

LCH    Ragen

RCH    Gomez Andrade

RB     Alex

LDM    Vargas

RDM   Cristian

LF     de la Vega

CAM   Rusnak

RF     Ferreira

CF     Musovski

Intangibles

Economic inequalities.

SEA off-season disclosed transfer fees paid: €1.45M

CAZ off-season disclosed transfer fees paid: €14.07M

SEA full squad aggregate estimated transfer value: €51.75M

CAZ full squad aggregate estimated transfer value: €88.30M

MLS: Salary Cap for wages and ridiculously complex transfer process.

MX: No known wages cap, no known restrictions on transfers.

If at first you don’t succeed.

We’ve yet to beat Cruz Azul. Let’s have another go, I guess.

Brougham effect.

If we’re ever going to beat these, it’s most likely to happen in Seattle.

Rusty?

Cruz Azul are only three matches into their new season, the 2025-26 Torneo Apertura, after a month off and then six friendly matches, the last of which was 6 July. Maybe they’re still knocking off the rust?

Revancha.

That 4:1 result in Mexico City hurt. We were embarrassed. I reckon the lads are champing at the bit for a chance to get even.

General notes on personnel

Cruz Azul transfers IN:

Marquez (Atlas) €3.9M

Paradela (Necaxa) €8.7M

Alexis Gutierrez (Necaxa) undisclosed

Rodarte (Zacatecas) loan

Cruz Azul transfers OUT:

Alexis Gutierrez (Club America) €4.3M

Luis Gutierrez (Queretaro) undisclosed

Samano (Tepatitlan) loan

Suarez (Atletico San Luis) loan

Jorge Garcia (Mazatlan) loan

Comparison against common opponents

CAZ 5:0 VAN CCC

VAN 3:0 SEA

(against VAN: SEA 0-0-1 -3, CAZ 1-0-0 +5) decisive edge CAZ

Know Thine Enemy

Cruz Azul as they lined up in their 4:1 victory over Leon at Estadio Olimpico Universitario on 26 July. Did the best I could with information for appearances and goals.

GOALKEEPER

Kevin Mier, 24

Colombia

Notable Clubs: Atletico Nacional (86/0), Valledupar (16/0), Cruz Azul (67/0)

Estimated Transfer Value: €7M

Notes: Full name: Kevin Leonardo Mier Robles. Developed by Oro Negro and Atletico Nacional. Won a league title, two Copa Colombias, and a Columbian Superliga with Atletico Nacional. Won a CONCACAF Champions Cup.

DEFENCE

Rodolfo Rotondi, 28

Argentina

Notable Clubs: Newell’s Old Boys (2/0), San Luis (17/4), Santiago Wanderers (28/7), Defensa y Justicia (49/8), Cruz Azul (111/21)

Estimated Transfer Value: €4.5M

Notes: Developed by Newell’s Old Boys. Won a Recopa Sudamericana with Defensa y Justicia. Won a CONCACAF Champions Cup with Cruz Azul.

Gonzalo Piovi, 30

Argentina

Notable Clubs: Velez Sarsfield (2/0), Argentinos Juniors (35/0), Racing Club (47/7), Gimnasia La Plata (18/0), Defensa y Justicia (8/0), Colon (37/2), Cruz Azul (60/0)

Estimated Transfer Value: €2.8M

Notes: Developed by Velez Sarsfield. Won an Argentinian second division league title with Argentinos Juniors. Won a Trofeo de Campeones with Racing Club. Won a CONCACAF Champions Cup with Cruz Azul.

Willer Ditta, 28

Colombia (2/0)

Notable Clubs: Barranquilla (43/1), Atletico Junior (86/1), Newell’s Old Boys (29/1), Cruz Azul (76/2)

Estimate Transfer Value: €5M

Notes: Full name: Willer Emilio Ditta Perez. Won a Columbian league title and two Colombian Super Cups with Atletico Junior. Won a CONCACAF Champions Cup with Cruz Azul.

Erik Lira, 25

Mexico (8/0)

Notable Clubs: UNAM Pumas (57/0), Cruz Azul (133/1)

Estimated Transfer Value: €8M

Notes: Full name: Erik Antonio Lira Mendez. Developed by UNAM Pumas and Necaxa. Won a Supercopa and a CONCACAF Champions Cup with Cruz Azul. Named to Liga MX Best XI 2021 Apertura. Won a CONCACAF Gold Cup and CONCACAF Nations League with Mexico.

Jorge Sanchez, 27

Mexico (51/2)

Notable Clubs: Santos Laguna (32/0), Club America (125/2), Ajax (17/2), Porto (14/0), Cruz Azul (37/1)

Estimated Transfer Value: €2.5M

Notes: Full name: Jorge Eduardo Sanchez Ramos. Developed by Santos Laguna. Won a Liga MX title with Santos Laguna. Won a Liga MX, Copa MX, and Campeon de Campeones with Club America. Won a Taca de Portugal with Porto. Won a CONCACAF Champions Cup with Cruz Azul. Won 2x CONCACAF Gold Cup and a CONCACAF Nations League with Mexico. Named to CONCACAF Best XI 2021. Named to CONCACAF Gold Cup Best XI 2023.

MIDFIELD

Lorenzo Faravelli, 32

Argentina

Notable Clubs: Newell’s Old Boys (24/1), Union Espanola (30/2), Gimnasia La Plata (84/13), Huracan (8/0), Independiente del Valle (106/18), Cruz Azul (64/11)

Estimated Transfer Value: €1.8M

Notes: Developed by Newell’s Old Boys. Won an Argentinian league title with Newell’s Old Boys. Won an Ecuadorian league title and Copa Sudamericana with Independiente del Valle. Won a CONCACAF Champions Cup with Cruz Azul.

Luka Romero, 20

Mexico

Notable Clubs: Mallorca (7/1), Lazio (14/1), AC Milan (4/0), Almeria (13/3), Alaves (6/0), Cruz Azul (20/2)

Estimated Transfer Value: €4M

Notes: Full name: Luka Romero Bezzana. Developed by Formentera, Sant Jordi, and Mallorca. Won a CONCACAF Champions Cup with Cruz Azul.

FORWARD

Carlos Rodriguez, 28

Mexico (60/0)

Notable Clubs: Monterrey (110/4), Toledo (30/3), Cruz Azul (130/8)

Estimated Transfer Value: €5M

Notes: Full name: Carlos Alberto Rodriguez Gomez. Won a Liga MX title, Copa MX, and two CONCACAF Champions Leagues with Monterrey. Won a Supercopa and a CONCACAF Champions Cup with Cruz Azul. Won 3x CONCACAF Gold Cups and a CONCACAF Nations League with Mexico. Named Liga MX Best XI Apertura 2019. Named 2x CONCACAF Champions League Best XI.

Angel Sepulveda, 34

Mexico (12/3)

Notable Clubs: Morelia (62/9), Queretaro (171/34), CD Guadalajara (5/0), Necaxa (29/2), Tijuana (19/2), Cruz Azul (75/27)

Estimated Transfer Value: €700,000

Notes: Full name: Angel Baltazar Sepulveda Sanchez. Won a Copa MX with Queretaro. Won a CONCACAF Champions Cup with Cruz Azul. Won a CONCACAF Gold Cup and CONCACAF Nations League with Mexico. Named Liga MX Best XI Apertura 2024. Named CONCACAF Champions Cup Best Player 2025. Won CONCACAF Champions Cup Golden Boot 2025 (9 goals). Named to CONCACAF Champions Cup Best XI.

Jose Paradela, 26

Argentina

Notable Clubs: Gimnasia La Plata (26/0), River Plate (65/6), Tigre (14/1), Necaxa (53/16), Cruz Azul (3/0)

Estimated Transfer Value: €7M

Notes: Developed by Club Atletico Quiroga. Won 2x Argentine league titles, a Supercopa Argentina, and a Trofeo de Campeones with River Plate.

Familiar Faces

None.

Squads

It’s 7:40 p.m. on Wednesday 30 July, the night before the match, as I write this. I couldn’t find any game notes or player availability information at the Leagues Cup website’s Media Contacts link. I’ll list the Sounders squad minus those who were injured for Saturday, and I’ll list the full squad for Cruz Azul.

Sounders FC from:

Thomas, Castro, Baker, Baker-Whiting, Bell, Burney, Gomez Andrade, Kim, Kossa-Rienzi, Nouhou, Ragen, Alex, Sousa, Brunell, Leyva, Cristian, Rusnak, Vargas, de la Vega, De Rosario, Ferreira, Kent, Minoungou, Musovski.

Cruz Azul from:

Gudino, Mier, Ochoa, Sanchez, Campos, Ditta, Orozco, Rubio, Vargas, Piovi, Lira, Bogusz, Faravelli, Montano, Rivero, Marquez, Garcia, Romero, Rodriguez, Paradela, Samano, Zaleta, Rotondi, Jimenez, Sepulveda, Giakoumakis, Fernandez, Gamboa.

Injury List

There’s zero injury information for either club that was available at press time. I’ll list the Sounders’ injuries as they were on 25 July.

Sounders FC -

OUT: Rothrock (hand), Morris (shoulder), Frei (concussion), Hawkins (quadriceps), Joao Paulo (knee), Arriola (knee).

MATCHDAY DECISION: none.

Cruz Azul -

OUT: No information.

MATCHDAY DECISION: No information.

Discipline

No players suspended. First match of tournament for both clubs.

Fun Fact

Sounders have signed Sounders FC Reserves midfielder Snyder Brunell to a 2½-years senior contract with an option for 2029. Congratulations, lad. Do us proud.