The Seattle Sounders are headed to their third MLS Cup final in four years after ending Los Angeles FC’s record-setting season on its own home turf.
Raul Ruidiaz’s two goals and Nicolas Lodeiro’s winner helped lead the Sounders to a 3-1 victory over LAFC, securing Seattle’s place in the MLS Cup final, where the Sounders will meet the winner of Wednesday’s Eastern Conference final between Atlanta United and Toronto FC.
LAFC looked like it would carry the momentum over from last week’s impressive playoff win against the LA Galaxy when Eduard Atuesta opened the scoring at Banc of California Stadium with a beautiful early free kick, but Seattle responded just five minutes later, as Ruidiaz and Lodeiro erased the early deficit with goals just four minutes apart to give the Sounders a lead they never relinquished.
Ruidiaz equalized in the 21st minute when he received a pass from Lodeiro at the top of the penalty arc and pulled off a cat-quick spin dribble to slip past LAFC defender Eddie Segura before finishing past Tyler Miller from 15 yards out.
Lodeiro made the score 2-1 in the 26th minute when he received a pass from Joevin Jones at the top of the penalty arc and took advantage of time and space to slide a low, left-footed shot past Miller.
The Sounders succeeded in limiting LAFC’s chances, with Vela struggling to find space to operate as Cristian Roldan and Gustav Svensson did well to clog passing lanes, with the help of Jordan Morris and Joevin Jones.
While Seattle did well to limit LAFC’s dangerous looks, the Sounders attack did well to sniff out chances, and finished them, with Ruidiaz running onto a Lodeiro pass in the 64th minute, slipping into a gap in front of the LAFC defense before hitting a low shot inside the near post, beating Tyler Miller to make the score 3-1.
LAFC had plenty of possession on the night — finishing with a 69-31 advantage — but failed to generate many chances. In fact, Sounders goalkeeper Stefan Frei didn’t have to make a save in the final 22 minutes of the match.
Sounders coach Brian Schmetzer was ultimately rewarded for his lineup and tactical decisions, including the decision to start the central defender tandem of Kim Kee-Hee and Xavier Arreaga, leaving Roman Torres on the bench in favor of the quicker options to deal with Carlos Vela working as a false nine.
LAFC coach Bob Bradley called on Adama Diomande in the 53rd minute, bringing him in for Brian Rodriguez, but the shift didn’t pay off the way it did when Diomande scored two goals off the bench against the LA Galaxy.
The Sounders will now await Thursday’s Eastern Conference final to learn their fate. An Atlanta United victory means Seattle will travel to Atlanta for the MLS Cup final on November 10th. A Toronto FC victory in Atlanta would mean Seattle would host the MLS Cup final for the first time, and do so against the same Toronto FC side the Sounders played in the 2016 and 2017 finals.
I think this was a classic example of how to play and defeat a possession style team. One thing about LAFC is they look good losing. They seemed so concentrated on playing joga bonita that they forgot to shoot. They would pass up possible shots for better shots that never materialized. The Sounders played excellent football and didn’t give Vela any openings. All in all, a very well played game by both sides with some real quality on display and a well deserved win.
Seattle was my favorite to win they have just looked like a more organized team and they have the it factor that motivation. Roldan covered lots of ground getting kicked and taken down and making takles all over the field. Morris held the ball and laid it off to midfielders coming forward. Seattle’s midfield was much better all they had to do was guard vela and make it uncomfortable for any player not to turn around and pass the ball with ease. On top of that Ruidiaz is a top technical striker and delivered along with lodeiro. As for LAFC you can’t play like you played all season because teams will know eventually how to shut you down or disrupt you. You have to have different styles of play a more defensive style would have helped them and they could have tried to counter the sounders. This has been the best playoffs ever in my opinion. Looking forward for today’s game Atlanta vs Toronto I think Atlanta will win.
Record breaking season……only to go out like this. Damn….
LAFC was simply out coached. Bradley chokes again. Seattle high pressed, LAFC looked confused and Bradley looked clueless oh how to adapt. My two comments to LAFC are as follows:
1) Get some central defenders or DM that know how to cover
2) Youre wasting Lee Nguyen. He is a lot more than a setup man for yur big names. Let him try to score… He is totally capable of being a star… elsewhere!
Actually when you look at Seattle’s roster the question becomes, why weren’t they better in the regular season?
Seattle were ruthless and very clearly the better team over 90 minutes. By contrast, LAFC didn’t look like they were aware there was a game today. Somebody needs to tell their fan base (who once again embarrassed themselves) that the season doesn’t end when you beat Zlatan.
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Gotta respect Seattle…. it wasn’t even surprising….. these guys peak in October every year