Xolos fall 2-1 to Seattle and exit the Leagues Cup with one win

Xolos Say Goodbye to the Leagues Cup with Defeat in Seattle

Tijuana wraps up the tournament with one win and two losses after falling 2-1 to the Sounders

Seattle, August 6, 2025 – Club Tijuana concluded its participation in the Leagues Cup with a 2-1 loss to Seattle Sounders, finishing the tournament with a single victory and two defeats. While they managed to earn their first win in the competition’s history, the overall result leaves a bittersweet taste for the border club.

A Strong Start and a First-Half Lead

Head coach Sebastián “Loco” Abreu opted to give minutes to fresh legs, resting key starters and offering an opportunity to several new faces. The decision paid off early as the team came out with intensity.

In the 45’+3, Aaron Mejía committed a controversial handball inside the box while trying to block a cross. Seattle was awarded a penalty, but Albert Rusnák sent the shot wide, keeping the score at 0-0.

Just moments later, in 45’+4, Kevin Castañeda found the net with a powerful right-footed strike from outside the box, capping off a well-built play and putting Xolos ahead 1-0 heading into the break.

Second Half Collapse and Controversial Finish

Seattle came out pressing in the second half and was rewarded in the 56th minute, when Osaze De Rosario headed in a cross from Ryan Kent to level the score at 1-1. Similar to previous matches, Xolos once again appeared to run out of gas and failed to make timely substitutions to counter the momentum shift.

Not until the 64th minute did Abreu refresh the squad, introducing several changes including the promising young talent Gilberto Mora.

As the match seemed headed for a penalty shootout to decide the extra point, Danny Musovski had other ideas. In the 81st minute, he nodded in what proved to be the game-winner. The play stirred controversy, as the Xolos bench strongly argued a clear offside occurred in the buildup. Despite protests from Loco Abreu and his staff, neither the referee nor VAR intervened, and the goal stood.

The drama wasn’t over. At 90’+4, Ramiro Franco brought down a Seattle player just outside the box, earning a straight red card and ending the game with Tijuana down to 10 men.

Final Thoughts and What’s Next

While the tournament might be viewed as a disappointment, it delivered on Abreu’s initial promise: getting the club’s first-ever Leagues Cup win. Still, the performance revealed critical weaknesses, especially in defensive depth and the lack of effective game-changers from the bench.

With the Apertura 2025 just beginning, Xolos will need to quickly shift focus, tighten up the backline, and find more attacking firepower if they want to compete for playoff contention. Whether that’s achievable remains to be seen — especially in light of what the Leagues Cup exposed.