Nicolas Lodeiro converted two second-half penalty kicks, including one in the ninth minute of stoppage time, to lift the Seattle Sounders to a 2-2 draw against Pumas UNAM on Wednesday at Mexico City in the first leg of the CONCACAF Champions League final.
Juan Ignacio Dinenno had scored goals on either side of halftime to give Pumas a 2-0 lead.
The two-leg, total-goal series will conclude at Seattle on May 4.
In the fifth minute of stoppage time, Pumas’ Efrain Velarde pulled down Cristian Roldan in the penalty area. No call was initially made, but a penalty was awarded after a video review, and Lodeiro fired home the penalty kick in the ninth minute of stoppage time.
Lodeiro’s penalty kick in the 77th minute came after a hand-ball call against Pumas’ Sebastian Saucedo in the 18-yard box.
Dinenno converted a 38th-minute penalty kick after drawing a foul in the penalty box. He went down when sandwiched between two Seattle defenders when receiving a pass near the top of the box.
In the 48th minute, Pumas’ Jesus Rivas delivered a perfect cross from the right flank, and Dinenno headed home the ball from 12 yards out to double the advantage. Rivas entered the game as a substitute just before halftime when Alan Mozo exited due to an injury.
Pumas, playing in the CONCACAF Champions League final for the first time, are trying to become the 17th straight Mexican club to claim the confederation championship. Pumas won the precursor to the CONCACAF Champions League, the CONCACAF Champions’ Cup, in 1980, 1982 and 1989 and finished as runner-up on 2005.
The Sounders are in their first CONCACAF final. The last U.S. team to capture the confederation championship was the Los Angeles Galaxy in 2000.
–Field Level Media