CONCACAF
champions...
SeattleSounders
celebratewith
thetrophy
76 WORLDSOCCER
heimpressiveSeattle
skylineloomedin
thebackgroundasa
record crowdwatched
theSoundersmake
historyinthe
CONCACAFChampionsLeague.It was
a grandscenefor a grandachievement.
TheSoundersbecamethefirst
teamfromtheUnitedStatestowin
CONCACAFclubfootball’s tophonour
sincethe tournamentwas renamedin
BrianSchmetzer’ssideovercomeUNAMPumasofMexicotobecome
firstMLSsidetowinCONCACAFChampionsLeaguesince 2000
CONCACAF
JAMESNALTON
2008,defeating UNAM Pumasof
MexicoCityin a two-legged,homeand
awayfinal.PriortoSeattle’striumph,
Mexicanteamshaddominatedthe
competition,winningthe previous 16
continentaltitlesandall 1 3 sinceitwas
reformatted.Toput theachievementof
BrianSchmetzer’s sideintoperspective,
thelastclubfromthe US to claimthe
region’sbiggest prize were LA Galaxy
waybackin 2000.
Onpaper, 2 022 alwayslooked
SeattleSoundersbring
Mexican dominanceto an end
likeagoodopportunityforMajor
LeagueSoccer to interruptMexican
clubs’dominance.TraditionalLigaMX
heavyweightsClubAmerica,Pachuca
anddefendingchampionsMonterrey,
plus 2020 championsTigresUANL,all
failedtoqualify, whileseveral MLSsides
werecomingintothetournamenton
thebackofimpressive campaigns.
Buttherewasstilla barrier for
Seattleto overcomeagainst Mexican
oppositioninthe final,especially as it
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