Arriola Picks Up Brace for Sounders in First Leg Domination In Vancouver

From the first moments of the Seattle Sounders' Concacaf Round of 16 clash with the Vancouver Whitecaps on Thursday, Paul Arriola tested his limits. The veteran, subjected to nearly a year of rehab after tearing his ACL in the 2025 edition of the tournament, earned his first start of the year for a Sounders squad mauled by injuries early.

He paid off the team's confidence in him, attacking Vancouver's backline with unceasing runs to the endline. His hard work manifested a brace, as Seattle won the first leg of the two-game series 3-0 in a stunner. Paul Rothrock added the other score after coming on for Arriola late, as it was truly a day to remember for the Pauls of Seattle.

Seattle will finish the series next Wednesday in Spokane as Lumen Field undergoes renovations for the upcoming FIFA World Cup.

It was a signature early win for Seattle, which downed a 3-0-0 Vancouver squad that had looked about as good as any team in North America heading into Thursday.