On Wednesday, playing their toughest opponent so far in 2025, Seattle showed well, battling Mexican giant Cruz Azul to a heavily contested 0-0 draw at home. Some very CONCACAF-y refereeing enabled a choppy match, and while both teams had their moments, the game was dominated by Seattle everywhere but the scoreboard. Only managing a few mild scoring chances, Cruz Azul loaded up in the back and forced the Sounders to try to break down their compact defense. Similar to previous seasons, Seattle struggled and failed to score against quality defensive work and strong goalkeeping. However, this Sounders team created excellent scoring chances, hit the woodwork twice, and had a goal called back for offside. Now Seattle moves on to the away leg.
CCC form: You have to think a better home result was necessary to advance, but with a deep team, there’s hope that Seattle can go to Mexico and do enough to move on.
Goalkeeper
Stefan Frei – 6
Frei’s first shutout was an important one, denying Cruz Azul an away goal. This was a quiet night for Stefan, who was officially credited with two saves, both easily handled from long range and right at him. With the opponent dropping back and only rarely getting numbers forward, it was excellent 14/16 passing from Frei that defined his work, with both of the failed passes being long balls forward out of trouble. He did look ungainly attempting to challenge a cross in the 9th minute, caught in no-man’s land. In the 68th minute, he inexplicably cut his own field of vision and passing options in half by taking an odd angle on a pass back, necessitating a poor clearance.
CCC form: CCC shutouts are rare. Let’s hope this is the start of Frei hitting the form that made him keeper of the tournament last time.
Defense
Nouhou – 6
Nouhou was good against his Mexican opponents, completing 86 percent of his passes and adding strong defense throughout. His 13 effective defensive actions complemented seven passes into the attacking third, an attack bolstered by his successful dribble, cross, and near-score off a header that went off the crossbar and over. His ability to cover with speed over the top limited the few chances for Cruz Azul to break out. However, expecting Frei to come 15 yards off his line in the 40th minute was a terrible idea and rightfully ignored by the keeper.
CCC form: Nouhou played well against the few transition moments, and was excellent in his individual matchups.
Jackson Ragen – 6
Ragen played in the middle of the backline and was excellent in distribution (90 percent). He won 3/4 crucial aerial duels, many in the box, and denied the opponents from finding success on cross attempts. Unfortunately, he won only 1/5 ground duels as Cruz Azul had some success navigating around and through his defensive spaces. With the speed around him, this was quickly mitigated, but there were a few nervy moments. Ragen also committed three fouls, all of which were worthy of yellow cards, yet somehow were not given as such, allowing him to play more aggressively without having earned a caution.
CCC form: Ragen brings incredible value with his passing through the central channels, and adding a get-out-of-jail-free card (hacking anyone who gets by him) was a random bonus.
Yeimar – 8
Yeimar was fantastic again, consistently defending across the back to physically deny any of the holdup or transition play that Cruz Azul attempted. Like Nouhou, he contributed 13 defensive actions, added six recoveries, and won 5/6 aerial duels. Combining with Ragen and Nouhou to limit crosses was an integral part of Seattle’s success in this match, as Cruz Azul repeatedly tried to attack through the air. To this end, they were only able to complete three crosses all night, a miserable 20 percent, effectively ending much of their offense and forcing them into weak long shots that Frei handled. Yeimar’s few bad passes (like in the 32nd, to the middle) were minor blips in a strong match.
CCC form: Yeimar shrugged off his opening match horrorshow as fast and effectively as he shrugged off Cruz Azul’s attackers.
Alex Roldan – 8 (MOTM)
Alex played all over the field in this match, and at times looked to be the Sounder most in control of a result. Filling up the stat book with a combination of connection play (88 percent passing) offense (two key passes, two successful dribbles) and defense (11 defensive actions), Roldan was frequently the most aggressive player on the field. This combination was fun to watch, as Alex went from a beautiful backside run and near-score in the 73rd minute to popping up with an essential central midfield defensive overload five minutes later, giving vital help just when it looked like Cruz Azul might have success in a gap that Alex immediately closed down.
CCC form: A-Rold is playing all over the field and showing the right intensity and tactical movement to be where the play dictates.
Defensive Midfield
Cristian Roldan – 8
Cristian Roldan clearly knew what was at stake for the Sounders and brought intensity from the first minute. His constant control of the center of the field gave Seattle possession and forward thrust throughout the game. He created two chances, had 10 recoveries and was the driving force covering the middle. He filled up the sheet with noteworthy actions, like a 21st minute dribble through multiple opponents, getting on the end of a 48th minute Nouhou cross, or sliding a tackle that sent the ball through to Jordan Morris, who nearly scored. Perhaps more impressive than all that was the endurance to make a huge defensive play in the 86th minute, taking possession to help see out the match.
CCC form: C-Rold is a veteran of many a CCC match who brings exactly the leadership, skill, and tenacity needed to push the Sounders forward in this competition.
Obed Vargas – 6
This central midfield pairing was much improved from the weekend. Obed did a lot of great work himself, but he was more up and down than his partner, Roldan. The upside was fantastic, highlighted early by a brilliant through ball in the 15th minute to put Jordan in past multiple players. Obed continued to show quality in his ability to trap and turn in traffic, helping Seattle navigate crowded midfield areas. Sometimes his runs forward are tactical masterpieces, but once again he got a good look at a shot in the 84th minute and sadly hit it right at the keeper, barely testing him.
CCC form: There was a definite crispness to Vargas’ play against a primarily Mexican opponent, and his intensity and effort were clear.
Attacking Midfield
Paul Arriola – 5 (off 76’ for Minoungou)
While not as directly impactful as he was in earlier CCC matches, Paul had a workmanlike and steady first half. He followed this up with a number of inspired and improved plays after halftime, culminating in a direct run that was unfortunately called offside in the 51st minute, well after Pedro de la Vega had scored. This was a massive play that, while it went against the Sounders, showed the direct speed and game-changing ability Paul can bring to a match. A number of times he got forward but was unable to find the right pass or connect a cross, which remains a problem for the wingers.
CCC form: Arriola has shown great chemistry with Ferreira but struggles to produce with others.
Albert Rusnák – 7 (off 86’ for Rothrock)
If the ball had bounced a little differently, Albert could have easily been MOTM, as he had numerous big chances created that were denied by the post, poor finishing, strong goalkeeping, or the referees. The biggest was likely his 51st minute through ball to Arriola, who was unfortunately ruled offside. Albert also did similar in the 64th, again to Arriola, and was dealing on the through balls that Seattle made quality chances from. Rusnák did miss a few big chances, such as a 6th minute pass to Morris, and to say he was passive on defense would be an understatement, but overall he was great in the middle at connecting the offense.
CCC form: Rusnák is playing his style and doing so at a high level. Some luck and finishing would help him look even better.
Pedro de la Vega – 7 (off 67’ for Ferreira)
Pedro did a ton of quality work in his time on the field, connecting and showing a direct and rare ability to use dribble penetration to force the Cruz Azul defense to react. His 43rd minute cross to Morris was a tiny bit too high, but his aim was true as he followed up Arriola to score in the 51st minute, a great bit of skill and calmness to find the ball, space, and finish clean through traffic. That goal was ultimately removed due to a dubious refereeing decision, and Pedro still has a bad habit of pressing when he gets frustrated and dribbling into too much pressure, but he was a strong offensive force throughout.
CCC form: Five turnovers would have been a fine trade for the goal de la Vega scored, and even without it he’s still the tournament’s top goalscorer.
Forward
Jordan Morris – 6
Morris had the unenviable task of playing up front against a packed and disciplined defense supported by an aggressive and capable goalie who used his footwork to supplement possession. Jordan still managed to get in behind multiple times, breaking through early and direct. He nearly scored on a de la Vega cross and then, after being put into space in the 70th minute, he beat the keeper far post only to be denied by the woodwork. Jordan should have done better on Obed’s 15th minute through ball, but he was a constant attacker who took smart angles to allow defensive counter pressing. Clearly gassed late in the game, he somehow played 20 minutes more than seemed necessary.
CCC form: Morris keeps getting close to scoring and assisting every match, and that should be celebrated more than the frustration of the almosts.
Substitutes
Jesús Ferreira – 5 (on 67’ for PDLV)
Jesús came into the match in the second half and was able to find some different angles and unique attacking movement that saw him drifting all over the field poking and prodding for impact moments. Ferreira found these via a wonderful centering pass in the 73rd minute, and nearly again two minutes later, as he was just a few inches from first-timing the ball through into Arriola on the back side. He finished this off with nice pressing angles that allowed a counter attack in the 85th minute. The only concern was a lack of upbeat energy and some stagnant play, even though he was fresh and could have been more forceful on both ends of the field.
CCC form: Ferreira still isn’t quite clicking with teammates, but he’s so talented that he makes things happen.
Georgi Minoungou – 4 (on 76’ for Arriola)
Dropping Minoungou into the match against a tired defense with space available on the wings looked like a recipe for success. Unfortunately, Georgi struggled to cook anything up, repeatedly failing to impact the match when Seattle found him in space and looked for offense. Sixty-seven percent passing, 1/4 successful dribbles, and a general inability to make the right pass in the box, after beating the first man to set up that pass: Georgi struggled.
CCC form: The hype train for Minoungou is ready to go, but struggling to move down the tracks.
Paul Rothrock – 5 (on 86’ for Rusnák)
Rothrock played for four minutes, had three touches, and was solid in positional support defense. He had a nice 90th minute recovery after Nouhou went forward to challenge for a header, showing smart positioning to drift in behind and offer extra cover. My son wondered whether part of the team issue was the lack of a Paul on the field for some time.
CCC form: Rothrock hasn’t shown much so far this season.
Referee
Julio Luna – 4
To describe CONCACAF refereeing, you might show this performance: consistently terrible, but somehow equally awful in favor of both teams. For example, an 11th minute foul that broke Nouhou in half did not earn a card, and an even worse foul in the 28th saw Paul Arriola molested, and no foul called. Yeimar was next to get hacked two minutes later without a whistle. Just when you thought one-sided refereeing was the theme, Jackson Ragen hammered a player that was breaking out (a textbook yellow card foul), and yet went into halftime without a caution. Ragen had multiple other moments when he escaped a card, as did Obed Vargas as the referee seemed to lose almost complete control of anything, whistling for fouls and picking the offending team seemingly at random. Not to be outdone, VAR was used well in the 26th minute, but then an opportunity to look closely at the 51st minute offside call was ignored, and a questionable call was allowed to hugely impact the match.
CCC form: CONCACAF refereeing is unfortunately reverting back to the norm.
Upcoming: MLS home game against dreaded LAFC who just dominated their midweek CCC match.
