TIGRES UANL v. SEATTLE SOUNDERS FC - CONCACAF CHAMPIONS CUP QUARTER-FINAL 1ST LEG - ESTADIO UNIVERSITARIO, CALLE PEDRO DE ALBA, SAN NICOLAS DE LOS GARZA, NUEVO LEON

Greetings to my brothers and sisters in Green. Sounders travel to the metropolitan area of Monterrey. No, not the one in California. We travel there for the first leg of a CONCACAF Champions Cup tie, against our old friends Tigres UANL. Tigres UANL and the Sounders in a cup Quarter-Final. Hmmm. This seems familiar.

What: CONCACAF Champions Cup Quarter-Final, first leg, Tigres UANL v. Seattle Sounders FC.

Where: Estadio Universitario, Calle Pedro de Alba, San Nicolas de los Garza, Nuevo Leon.

When: 6:00 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time, Wednesday 8 April 2026 CE.

At Stake: The stakes are pretty clear-cut. Two legs, aggregate goals, away-goals tie-breaker applies. Winner of the tie advances to the Semi-Finals. Losing side asks themselves “What the hell went wrong?”.

Where to Watch: Fox Sports 2, TUDN, ConcacafGO, and OneSoccer.

Where to Listen: I see no information confirming radio coverage.

Sounders supporters and fans must set the wayback machine for the year 2013, when we last played this lot in the CONCACAF Champions League Quarter-Finals. Gspurning between the sticks. Dempsey, Zakuani, Evans, Scott, Ozzie Alonso, Montero, Johnson, Martins, Yedlin, Traore, Hahnemann, and Neagle in the squad. Thems were the days, yeh? After a 1:0 loss on an Alan Pulido goal at El Volcan, the second leg to take place in The Evergreen. Fast forward six days to 12 March. Sounders take the pitch at Royal Brougham Park with Tigres the visitors this time. Sounders bashed out a 3:1 victory through goals by Eddie Johnson, DeAndre Yedlin, and Djimi Traore. An absolutely wooly affair with three players from each team booked, and Viniegra booked a second time for a sending off on 45 minutes. Sounders prevailed on aggregate, 3:2.

The question is: How different are times now from13 years ago? Gspurning is now Goalkeeping coach at 1. FC Union Berlin. Yedlin is a seasoned veteran at 32 years-old and now plays for the Salt Lake. Eddie Johnson was working toward his USSF ‘A’ coaching license at last report. Dempsey retired from football in 2018 as one of America’s most decorated players. Zakuani, Evans, and Hahnemann have found their way into the broadcast booth. Montero, at 38 years-old scored 30 goals in 38 matches for Real Cartagena in the Colombian Second Division, just last year! Apparently he left the club when they failed to promote to the First Division, and then we don’t know what. Zach Scott retired from football, and also tried his hand at broadcast commentary. Alonso retired from football in 2024, and is now part of the ownership group for Spokane Velocity FC and Spokane Zephyr FC. Martins is now retired from football. Traore had coached with the Sounders and Sounders Reserves and currently is a coach at the Right to Dream Academy in Ghana. Neagle last played with Tacoma Stars of the MASL and has retired from football.

Those players set a standard when they defeated Tigres over a decade ago, and now the challenge falls to our current squad.

It’s going to be loud at El Volcan. Really loud. The regime has tarnished America’s image to an all-time low in global history. Although our players have nothing to do with that, it won’t matter to Mexico and Mexicans who have been repeatedly insulted, threatened, and slandered by the regime. So, yeh, the atmosphere is gonna be difficult, at best.

If you’ve the means and you’re headed down, link up with our people, and be on your best behaviour. Represent the people we are, not the buffoons who are currently running things. Those of us here in The Evergreen, it’s the same as it ever was for away days. Pubs and dwellings for stories and tellings. Houses and flats for pints and cats. Boats and ships for pie and chips. It’s gonna be a wild and wooly one down Mexico way. Buckle up.

It’s CONCACAF Champions Cup football, under the lights in San Nicolas de los Garza. GO ON YOU SOUNDERS!!! GET IN!!!

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

The message here from CONCACAF is clear. Foul whoever you want…as long as the timing is right.

In this way it’s quite similar to the philosophy of CONCACAF’s Saudi benefactors.

The Good News

Tigres UANL find themselves in a very different portion of their season than we are. With the Torneo Apertura well in the rear-view mirror, and the Clausura nearly complete, Tigres have played 30 matches of league football, four matches in CONCACAF Champions Cup, and six playoff matches (Liguilla Apertura) for a grand total of 40 matches. That’s a lot of wear on a squad. Sounders FC by contrast are fresh as a daisy, having only played eight matches in all competitions.

Sounders are enjoying an excellent run of form. Unbeaten in our last six matches in all competitions (5-1-0), and haven’t lost since 28 February at Salt Lake - our only defeat of the season so far. Good time to be a Sounder, yeh?

For Tigres, recent form is poor and results have not been kind. In their last five matches they’ve lost 3:0 at Cincinnati, drew 0:0 v. Queretaro, won 5:1 v. Cincinnati, lost 2:1 at Juarez in a match where they had a player sent off, and lost again 1:0 at Tijuana. They have dropped to 8th place in the Clausura standings. The body of work is impressive over the entire season, yet here they are limping into a cup Quarter-Final leaving a trail of lacklustre results behind them.

Sounders have a defence so stingy that it’s miserly. We’re currently conceding an average of 0.38 goals/match. The takeaway from this is that it's proper difficult to score goals against us.

Rothrock has five goals in all competitions this season. He’ll be a marked man for sure come Wednesday night. The lad has a nose for goal, what can I say? The Tigres right-back, whether or not it’s Jesus Garza, will have his hand full trying to keep tabs on Paulie Primetime.

I feel like Sounders FC are starting to get to the point where we are literally two deep at every position on the pitch. That’s two teams of a very high competitive level, giving up little to no quality with any changes. If we can maintain this level, we will be better at coping with fixture clutter, and less likely to see players injured from overuse. This is a very, very good thing. Now all we have to do is select teams with the understanding that we have this level of depth and actually use it to the fullest extent.

The Bad News

Tigres are actually good. They’re in 4th place overall in Liga MX in the combined results table (15-8-7 record including this season’s results from both the Torneo Apertura, and the current Torneo Clausura). Over 40 matches in all competitions they average 1.78 goals/match. That’s a high average over such a large sample size. They’re going to be difficult to contain. Our defence has its work cut out.

Tigres is good at scoring goals. Real good. They have four legitimate goal threats. Angel Correa (14 goals, 7 assists), Juan Brunetta (14 goals, 8 assists), Herrera Ozziel (8 goals, 4 assists), and Diego Lainez (6 goals, 9 assists). By those numbers, it’s clear that any of those strikers can turn provider and beat you with their mates if you jam them up with close marking. Soooo, there’s that to consider.

If you were hoping that Tigres ability to score goals could be compensated for by their defensive lapses, I am sorry to disappoint you. They concede an average of 1.08 goals/match, with that figure coming from all 40 of their matches played. So it’s not just timely defence, but consistent defence throughout.

I wonder if Gomez and Tsukanome are ever going to get in the team. It’s a busy season with Sounders playing in the MLS Championship, CONCACAF Champions Cup, Leagues Cup, and MLS Cup (which we will almost certainly qualify for - cue Barry Manilow’s ‘Looks Like We’ve Made It’). In order to meet those obligations, we’re going to need all players in the squad to play significant minutes. Just sayin’.

CONCACAF are corporate partners with the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia and the ‘Visit Saudi’ tourism campaign. That’s just gross. Enjoy your blood money, CONCACAF.

The Side I Would Select

I’d go with this bunch.

Rationale:

Wouldn’t change the back four at all from the Houston match as everyone played quite well. Frei in goal, as he’s been playing the cup ties with Thomas playing the league matches. I like Cristian holding with Brunell. Rothrock leads the club with 5 goals in all competitions, so he’s an obvious selection. I’d have Morris at right-forward rather than centre-forward because I think he could be very valuable, with his pace and aerial determination. Morris definitely looked more himself at Houston, it was his knock-on header that set up Rothrock for the match’s only goal, therefore I would select him. De Rosario hit a hat-trick for Guyana against Belize in the CONCACAF Series, and was top goalscorer in the tournament with seven goals. I’d say Osaze’s confidence has got to be riding sky high on those achievements.

GK     Frei

LB     Nouhou

LCH    Ragen

RCH    Lopez

RB     Kossa-Rienzi

LDM   Brunell

RDM   Cristian

LF     Rothrock

CAM   Rusnak

RF     Morris

CF     De Rosario

The Side I Think The Gaffer Will Select

I think Schmetz sticks with his back four, but has Rusnak start at the #10 this time, with Ferreira on the right. I think he’ll have Musovski again at centre-forward.

GK     Frei

LB     Nouhou

LCH    Ragen

RCH    Lopez

RB     Kossa-Rienzi

LDM    Brunell

RDM   Cristian

LF     Rothrock

CAM   Rusnak

RF     Ferreira

CF     Musovski

Intangibles

CONCACAF football played in Mexico tends to not go well for the Sounders, or really any American club or when the Yanks play there. Things tend to get quite wooly, quickly.

This has been a season of Sounders exceeding expectations so far. Will this trajectory continue?

Tigres 2026 transfer fees paid: €8M

Sounders FC 2026 transfer fees paid: €0

General notes on personnel

Tigres transfers IN:

Correa (Atletico Madrid) €8M

Araujo (Orlando City SC) free

Aguirre (Club America) undisclosed

Farfan (FC Dallas) undisclosed

Carrera (FC Dallas) undisclosed

Lopez (Toluca) loan

Francisco Reyes (Atlante) loan

Guerrero - reserves

Tigres transfers OUT:

Caetano (Al-Najma) €5.1M

Cordova (Toluca) free

Diego Reyes (Queretaro) free

Quinones (Pachuca) free

Antuna (UNAM Pumas) undisclosed

Fulgencio (Juarez) undisclosed

Ibanez (Cruz Azul) undisclosed

Tapia (Club America) undisclosed

Parra (Queretaro) undisclosed

Aquino - released

Flores (San Luis) undisclosed

Pizzuto (Atlante) loan

Carioca - released

Tercero - released

Ayala - released

Comparison against common opponents

n/a

Know Thine Enemy

Tigres as they lined up in their 1:0 defeat to Tijuana at the Estadio Caliente on 3 April.

GOALKEEPER

Nahuel Guzman, 40

Argentina (6/0)

Notable Clubs: Newell’s Old Boys (81/0), Independiente Rivadavia (30/0), Tigres UANL (451/0)

Estimated Transfer Value: €250,000

Notes: Full name: Nahuel Ignacio Guzman Palomeque. Developed by Newell’s Old Boys. Won an Argentine league title with Newell’s Old Boys. Won 5x Liga MX titles, 4x Campeon de Campeones, a CONCACAF Champions League, 2x Campeones Cup with Tigres UANL. Named 4x Liga MX Best XI. Liga MX Save of the Season 2015-16. CONCACAF Champions League Golden Glove 2020. Named to CONCACAF Champions League Team of the Tournament 2020.

DEFENCE

Vladimir Lorona, 27

Mexico

Notable Clubs: Puebla (30/2), Tijuana (69/4), Tigres UANL (36/0), Santos Laguna (7/0)

Estimated Transfer Value: €500,000

Notes: Full name: Vladimir Eduardo Lorona Aguilar. Developed by Heroes de Caborca and Puebla. Won a Liga MX title and a Campeon de Campeones with Tigres UANL.

Romulo, 26

Brazil

Notable Clubs: La Serena (31/2), Juventude (6/1), Athletic MG (7/1), Internacional (62/1), Tigres UANL (43/0)

Estimated Transfer Value: €5M

Notes: Full name: Romulo Zanre Zwarg. Developed by Desportivo Brasil and Cruzeiro. 

Joaquim, 27

Brazil

Notable Clubs: Cuiaba (28/1), Botafogo SP (13/0), Santos (62/4), Tigres UANL (66/4)

Estimated Transfer Value: €6M

Notes: Full name: Joaquim Henrique Pereira Silva. Developed by Comercial de Nova Era and URT. Won a Brazilian Serie B title with Santos. Named Liga MX Best XI Apertura 2025.

Jesus Garza, 25

Mexico (1/0)

Notable Clubs: Tigres UANL (108/2)

Estimated Transfer Value: €2.5M

Notes: Full name: Jesus Angel Garza Garcia. Won a Liga MX title, Campeon de Campeones, and a Campeones Cup with Tigres UANL.

MIDFIELD

Henrique Simeone, 18

Brazil

Notable Clubs: Tigres UANL (1/0)

Estimated Transfer Value: Not Listed

Notes: Full name: Henrique Simeone Koifman. Developed by Botafogo.

Juan Brunetta, 28

Argentina

Notable Clubs: Belgrano (36/4), Godoy Cruz (23/6), Parma (40/5), Santos Laguna (54/19), Tigres UANL (93/32)

Estimated Transfer Value: €7M

Notes: Developed by Boca Juniors, Estudiantes, and Arsenal de Sarandi. Liga MX Balon de Oro 2023-24. Liga MX Best Offensive Midfielder 2023-24. 2x Liga MX Best XI.

Fernando Gorriaran, 31

Uruguay (7/0)

Notable Clubs: River Plate Montevideo (86/6), Ferencvaros (52/4), Santos Laguna (119/18), Tigres UANL (127/9)

Estimated Transfer Value: €4M

Notes: Full name: Fernando Gorriaran Fontes. Developed by River Plate Montevideo. Won a Hungarian league title with Ferencvaros. Won a Liga MX title, Campeon de Campeones, and Campeones Cup with Tigres UANL. Named to Liga MX Best XI 2021.

FORWARD

Ozziel Herrera, 24

Mexico (7/0)

Notable Clubs: Atlas (89/10), Tigres UANL (97/18)

Estimated Transfer Value: €6M

Notes: Full name: Jonathan Ozziel Herrera Morales. Developed by Pachuca and Atlas. Won 2x Liga MX titles and a Campeon de Campeones with Atlas. Won a Campeones Cup with Tigres UANL. Won a CONCACAF Gold Cup and CONCACAF Nations League with Mexico.

Angel Correa, 31

Argentina (28/3)

Notable Clubs: San Lorenzo (48/10), Atletico Madrid (335/68), Tigres UANL (35/13)

Estimated Transfer Value: €9M

Notes: Full name: Angel Martin Correa Martinez. Developed by Alianza Sport, Tiro, and San Lorenzo. Won a Argentine league title and a Copa Libertadores with San Lorenzo. Won a La Liga title, a UEFA Europa League title, and a UEFA Super Cup with Atletico Madrid. Won a FIFA World Cup and Copa America with Argentina. Won a Leagues Cup Golden Boot (5 goals) in 2025 with Tigres UANL. Named to Liga MX Best XI Apertura 2025.

Diego Lainez, 25

Mexico (33/3)

Notable Clubs: Club America (39/5), Real Betis (55/0), Braga (6/1), Tigres UANL (116/12)

Estimated Transfer Value: €6.5M

Notes: Full name: Diego Lainez Leyva. Developed by Club America. Won a Liga MX and a Copa MX with Club America. Won a Copa del Rey with Real Betis. Won a Liga MX title, a Campeon de Campeones, and a Campeones Cup with Tigres UANL. Won a CONCACAF Gold Cup and CONCACAF Nations League with Mexico. Named to CONCACAF Nations League Finals Best XI 2021.

Familiar Faces

None.

Squads

Tigres from:

Guzman, Felipe Rodriguez, Carrera, Joaquim, Angulo, Purata, Guerrero, Reyes, Osvaldo Rodriguez, Ordonez, Garza, Lorona, Romulo, Gorriaran, Correa, Araujo, Vigon, Brunetta, Flores, Sanchez, Lainez, Herrera, Aguirre, Lopez, Gignac.

Sounders FC from:

Frei, Thomas, Anchor, Baker, Kossa-Rienzi, Lopez, Nouhou, Ragen, Alex, Brunell, Cristian, Dotson, Gomez, Kingston, Rusnak, Arriola, De Rosario, Ferreira, Morris, Musovski, Rothrock, Tsukanome.

Injury List

(Tigres injuries as listed at us.soccerway.com, Sounders injuries as listed before the Houston match)

Tigres -

OUT: Farfan (thigh)

MATCHDAY DECISION: none.

Sounders FC -

OUT: Petkovic (knee), Gomez Andrade (hamstring), de la Vega (knee), Hawkins (quadriceps), Sailor (knee), Kim (calf).

MATCHDAY DECISION: none.

Discipline

Tigres: Garza, Correa, Guzman, Araujo, Gorriaran, and Lopez are all carrying bookings into this match and will be out next match if booked.

Sounders FC: No players suspended. Brunell and Frei are carrying bookings into this round and will be out next match if booked.

Fun Fact

The reason CONCACAF may not like ECS’ stand on civil rights, and insists on censoring our 1st Amendment rights, is because they take money from the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia. Super fun.