Seattle Sounders FC 3
Los Angeles Football Club 1
MLS Cup Playoffs – Round One
Lumen Field – Seattle, WA
November 24, 2020
The first round of the 2020 MLS Cup Playoffs was completed Tuesday night in Seattle when the host Sounders FC took on LAFC. The first round matchup was a rematch of the 2019 conference final, won by Seattle. The 2020 single elimination format playoffs adding another layer of intensity.
Photo Mike Fiechtner / Sounders FC Communications
Seattle entered the match as reasonably full strength as can be for this time of the season. There was a pandemic positive this week announced for an unknown player, but they were to field a pretty full strength starting eleven.
LAFC was missing several players due to four known positive tests, but had Carlos Vela in the line up after returning from injury just a few short weeks ago. It was a cold and rainy November night in Seattle at kickoff and as the match progressed the weather remained dreary.
Early on, the tone of the match was set. Seattle’s pressure and commitment to staying high was met with LAFC patience and a willingness to absorb and counter. The home side pressed for an early goal, but was thwarted in early attempts.
An 18th minute goal rewarded Seattle for all the possession. A Jordan Morris lay off set MVP candidate Nicolas Lodeiro up for a shielded left footed drive. Seattle looked to be in the driver’s seat early. This was clearly the Seattle plan, get on the front foot and try to stay there. Said Lodeiro, “Mentally we prepare really well for these kinds of games. We feel very comfortable at home and need to play an attacking game.”
A few minutes later, LAFC got the opportunity to bring the match quickly level with a penalty on defender Nouhou. Vela, however, struck the ball directly into Stefan Frei’s arms. The momentum swings back and forth with the goal, penalty, and miss would essentially reset the match to the earlier pattern of play. The score line would remain unchanged going into the interval as both sides continued the pattern of the early minutes with Seattle maintaining much of the possession and LA playing to counter.
Photo Mike Fiechtner / Sounders FC Communications
LAFC adjusted coming out of the interval, creating early second half chances and putting pressure on Seattle to hold their lead. The Seattle defense was on its heels and was lucky to avoid some cards and even a sending off. After absorbing so much pressure, a chance to go up two was missed wide right by Morris. Seattle turned up the pressure, creating chances, but a crossbar and Lodeiro shot wide left kept the single goal margin in place. A tight match in the final half hour was on the plate.
Raul Ruidiaz changed the match dynamic in the 66th minute, striking the second goal for Seattle and finally giving the home side some breathing room. His MLS playoff strike rate remaining at more than a goal per playoff match in his time in the Northwest.
Jordan Morris had missed a chance to extend the lead, but that would not be an isolated chance. He said, “Especially in the second half, the game opened up. They’re so dangerous on the counter. Matching that intensity was super improvement. Everyone was working so hard defensively. They left some holes open that we were able to exploit.”
Eduard Atuesta managed to split the lead in half in the 77th minute, getting on the end of a cross and beating Frei. Even down several starters, the LAFC quality was still present and the goal reflected that. But, Seattle did not flinch, grabbing an almost immediate response as Jordan Morris got through on a Ruidiaz through pass to bring the lead back to two with ten minutes to go.
LAFC kept making it interesting. An 88th minute header by Mark-Anthony Kaye went under VAR review and was waved off, negating an even more interesting final moments. The 3-1 final score held up through the five minutes of stoppage time and Seattle eliminated LA for the second season running.
Seattle now hosts FC Dallas on Tuesday December 1st at 6:30 PST.
Afterwards, Jordan Morris noted, “We definitely had a good game plan. Really, when we’re at home we need to be on the front foot and be the dominant team. Schmetz does a great job of getting us ready.”
BOX SCORE
SCORING SUMMARY
SEA – Nicolás Lodeiro (Jordan Morris, Raúl Ruidíaz) 18’
SEA – Raúl Ruidíaz 66’
LAFC – Eduard Atuesta (Carlos Vela) 77’
SEA – Jordan Morris (Raúl Ruidíaz, Nicolás Lodeiro) 80’
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY
SEA – Nicolás Lodeiro (caution) 88’
LAFC – Mohamed El-Munir (caution) 90’+2’
Seattle Sounders FC – Stefan Frei; Alex Roldan, Yeimar Gómez Andrade, Shane O’Neill, Nouhou (Román Torres 90’+1’); Cristian Roldan, João Paulo, Joevin Jones (Brad Smith 70’), Nicolás Lodeiro, Jordan Morris (Jordy Delem 90’); Raúl Ruidíaz – Substitutes not used: Stefan Cleveland, Miguel Ibarra, Josh Atencio, Ethan Dobbelaere, Will Bruin, Jimmy Medranda
Total shots: 13 (Morris, 4)
Shots on goal: 3 (Three players, 1)
Fouls: 18 (Three players, 3)
Offside: 2 (Morris/Ruidíaz, 1)
Corner-kicks: 4 (Lodeiro, 4)
Saves: 3 (Frei, 3)
Los Angeles FC – Pablo Sisniega; Eddie Segura, Jesus David Murillo, Tristan Blackmon, Jordan Harvey (Mohamed El-Munir 56’); Latif Blessing, Eduard Atuesta, Mark-Anthony Kaye; Carlos Vela, Bradley Wright-Phillips (Kwadwo Opoku HT), Christian Torres (Adrien Perez 56’) – Substitutes not used: Kenneth Vermeer, Dejan Jakovic, Antonio Leone, Erik Duenas, Bryce Duke, Francisco Ginella
Total shots: 12 (Vela, 4)
Shots on goal: 4 (Vela, 2)
Fouls: 14 (Kaye, 3)
Offside: 2 (Kaye/Wright-Phillips, 1)
Corner-kicks: 8 (Vela, 6)
Saves: 0
Featured photo by Jane Gershovich / Sounders FC Communications
