Seattle Sounders Humble Messi’s Miami in Leagues Cup Final

A roaring crowd of nearly 70,000 at Lumen Field watched the Seattle Sounders dismantle Lionel Messi and Inter Miami 3-0 in Sunday’s Leagues Cup final—a night remembered as much for Seattle’s triumph as for the post-game chaos that followed.
Seattle’s Homegrown Heroes Shine
Goals from Osaze De Rosario, Alex Roldan, and Paul Rothrock—each a product of the Sounders’ Tacoma Defiance pipeline—delivered the decisive blow to a Miami team brimming with international stars. Despite controlling 67 percent of first-half possession, Inter Miami failed to record a single shot on target before halftime. Messi misfired a golden chance in the 50th minute, and Tadeo Allende squandered another soon after. Seattle, by contrast, played with poise and punished Miami’s mistakes.
The Emerald City faithful fueled their team from start to finish, with thousands marching to the stadium before kickoff and banners declaring “Success is Built. Not Bought” waving in the stands. In a symbolic gesture, Sounders fans eagerly swapped Messi jerseys for Rothrock shirts at the team store promotion.
Miami’s Meltdown
Frustration boiled over after the final whistle when Luis Suárez sparked a scuffle with Seattle players and was caught spitting at a Sounders staff member. Coaches scrambled to separate both sides as tensions spiraled. While Miami coach Javier Mascherano avoided direct comment on the incident, disciplinary action is expected from Concacaf’s independent committee.
Sounders coach Brian Schmetzer lamented that the brawl might overshadow his team’s statement performance. “That shouldn’t be the story,” he insisted. “The story is our guys stepping up against some of the best players in the world.”
A Clash of Cultures
The match underscored the contrast between Seattle’s tradition and Miami’s flash. The Sounders, an MLS club since 2009, now boast two MLS Cups, four U.S. Open Cups, a Supporters’ Shield, a Concacaf Champions Cup, and their first Leagues Cup. Miami, founded in 2018, owns just one Leagues Cup and one Supporters’ Shield despite its galaxy of stars.
Messi, hounded relentlessly by Seattle’s midfield, managed just 17 completed passes in the opening half. Suárez was anonymous for long stretches, while Seattle’s discipline carried them through. Roldan’s penalty in the 84th minute and Rothrock’s strike minutes later sealed the rout, sending the stadium into delirium.
Respect Amid the Rivalry
Despite the ugly ending, there were moments of mutual respect. Schmetzer revealed Messi shared kind words after the final whistle, and that Mascherano and Miami owners David Beckham and Jorge Mas had praised the Sounders organization before the match.
Mascherano admitted Miami was second-best early on: “In these types of games, details are key and our play in the beginning hurt us. The score was more lopsided than the game.
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