Later tonight, when a record-breaking crowd of more than 67,000 spectators pack the stands at Lumen Field and yell their full-throated support for Seattle Sounders as they set out to beat Pumas UNAM in the second leg of the CONCACAF Champions League Finals and try to become the first MLS club to win the tournament, New York City FC’s players will be watching the game at their homes, sipping mint tea and resting for Saturday’s game against Sporting Kansas City.
That’s OK. Seattle might be 90 minutes away from glory, but they sacrificed their MLS season to get there: A team that hope to write themselves into Champions League history are also adrift at the bottom of the league table with just two wins out of seven games played, and a negative goal differential.