Sounders Quick Hits: Thomas Saves Seattle in Leagues Cup Quarterfinals
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Seattle Sounders keeper Andrew Thomas points at the turf during a penalty shootout in the Leagues Cup quarterfinals against Puebla on Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2025 at Lumen Field in Seattle, Wash. (Sandra Agbotse / Sounders FC Communications) [/caption]
The Seattle Sounders outlasted Club Puebla in the Leagues Cup quarterfinals Wednesday 0-0 (4-3). Keeper Andrew Thomas saved the first and final shots of the penalty shootout to seal a second straight scoreless game for Seattle.
The Sounders advance to face the LA Galaxy Aug. 27 in the semifinals.
The Sounders Offense Continues to Struggle
Wednesday night marked a second consecutive game in which the Sounders dominated possession (80 percent) and failed to get on the board.
Seattle generated just one shot on goal to Puebla’s two and just 1.1 expected goals to Puebla’s 0.3 (per MLS). Despite promising shots from Jesús Ferreira late and Alex Roldan, most shots missed the goal as Seattle struggled to find class in finishing looks.
Keep in mind this was a Puebla side with real defensive issues and an interim manager.
The Sounders, after scoring 26 goals in eight games before Saturday’s 1-0 loss to Minnesota, are in a real rough patch offensively.
Musovski Gets Tossed, Puebla Takes Advantage
Danny Musovski was tossed in the 76th minute for his second yellow card after arguing with the referee. This meant Osaze De Rosario needed to check in at striker, taking an effective Paul Rothrock off the pitch.
Puebla capitalized on the 10-man Seattle lineup and started to possess the ball for sustained amounts of time with the game on the line — something it hadn’t done for the first 75 minutes.
Had Musovski stayed on the field to let Schmetzer make his rotations, Seattle may not have had to deal with the pressure of a penalty shootout.
Andrew Thomas, Defense Save the Day
Thomas was stone cold in the penalty shootout. He smiled at takers for the duration and even pointed down at the Lumen Field turn while talking to supporters, as if to say “I got you.”
That confidence translated to a diving save left on the first Puebla attempt and a diving save right with Seattle up 4-3 to clinch it.
Before Thomas’ heroics, Seattle’s midfield and backline played to their potential. Puebla generated just five touches in Seattle’s box, zero accurate crosses and completed just 69% of its passes (per FotMob).
Yeimar had a man-of-the-match type of performance, winning duels and putting the pressure on the road team often.
