With a 1-0 victory against Santos Laguna in the Leagues Cup semifinals Tuesday night at Lumen Field, Raul Ruidiaz scored on the break during second-half stoppage time to send the Seattle Sounders to their first-ever continental final. Seattle will meet the winner of Wednesday's semifinal between Pumas UNAM and Club Leon in the final on September 22 in Las Vegas. Debutant Leo Chu, on as a substitute, delivered the through ball assist on Ruidiaz's winner.

Ruidiaz had his first breakaway attempt saved by Gibran Lajud in the 93rd minute, but he was quickest to the rebound and guided it past the goal line. Ruidiaz's goal was his second in the Leagues Cup and his 16th overall for the Peruvian, who is now leading the MLS Golden Boot race. Even if both teams looked to run out of steam late, the goal delivered a fair outcome on a night when the Sounders had more clear-cut chances.

A few minutes before halftime, Ruidiaz came within inches of completing a give-and-go goal with Cristian Roldan. After racing onto Kelyn Rowe's wonderful pass to the back post, Fredy Montero blasted a volley over the bar just after the interval. In the 62nd minute, Yeimar Gomez Andrade volleyed a corner kick over the bar.

The win puts the Sounders in a good position to fill what is probably their lone blemish in the race for most successful MLS teams of all time. If they win next week, they would join D.C. United, LA Galaxy, and Atlanta United as MLS teams who have won continental titles. The Sounders have won two MLS Cups, four US Open Cup titles, and one Supporters' Shield throughout their MLS tenure.

[Photos by ICONIC photographer Alejandro Sanchez]