Seattle, WA – Across sports, the playoffs are a space where the smallest of margins can be the deciding factor from being one step closer to glory and packing up for the offseason. While the Seattle Sounders had two dangerous chances within the first four minutes of this MLS Cup Playoffs Western Conference semifinal against LAFC, the fact that they didn’t convert either came back to hurt them considering that the Rave Green failed to do find the back of the net the rest of the way despite a frantic push. It’s a disappointing end to the year for Seattle, who never fell below the fourth seed in the Western Conference but could’ve locked up the top seed with better play, while LAFC marches forward in their quest to repeat as MLS Cup Champions. With a crucial offseason ahead, the Sounders squad we see next season will very likely be vastly different than the one we saw tonight.
Seattle Sounders FC forward Jordan Morris has his 4th minute chip attempt stopped. (Photo by Nate Koppelman)
Coming close, but it’s LAFC who finds the back of the net
With their last playoff victory coming 16 days before this match, there wasn’t much of an opportunity for the Sounders to “keep” any momentum rolling from their first-round victory over FC Dallas. Despite this, Seattle came out of the gates hot as they jumped all over visiting LAFC for two direct chances on goal within the first four minutes of this match. With advantage given by head referee Ted Unkel, Leo Chu and the Sounders pushed in their attack as Josh Atencio was found at the top of the LA 18-yard box, but his shot to the lower corner of goalkeeper Maxime Crépeau was stopped with relative ease. Just two minutes later, as Atencio was responsible for regaining possession in favor of Seattle, the Sounders had a counterattack going with Jordan Morris taking one-touch to get through the LA backline that had pressed high. With Chiellini on his back, Morris only had Crépeau to beat on the breakaway, but he couldn’t get the chip to go over LA’s goalkeeper on a strong save attempt. While getting those chances was positive for the Seattle attack in that moment, the Sounders are left wishing that they capitalized in the moment, considering how the rest of this match played out.
LAFC forward Denis Bouanga celebrates his goal in the first half, which was ultimately the deciding score in this match. (Photo by Paul Kahl)
Seattle was able to create chances following those first four minutes, including a header on a set piece that went just wide, and generally dominated the first half in terms of offensive play. Despite this, it was LAFC who got on the board first in what seemed like the blink of an eye. Slowly building out of the back, LA’s Cristian Olivera played a ball up to a streaking Denis Bouanga up the left side of the pitch as he caught the Sounders backline out of shape. With Alex Roldan up the pitch and Yeimar attempting to cut off the pass, Bouanga was able to get in behind the Seattle backline and with Jackson Ragen staying central to cut off a cross, his attempt at a tough angle on goalkeeper Stefan Frei rocketed in to put LAFC’s first chance on the board. The MLS Golden Boot winner only needed that small of a window to crack things open, getting the open space necessary to give LA a lead that they would never look back from.
Seattle Sounders FC forward Jordan Morris had another attempt within the box late, but it was blocked before it ever reached the goalkeeper. (Photo by Paul Kahl)
Desperation ends in frustration for Seattle
As per usual for Brian Schmetzer, the Sounders didn’t have any sort of substitution out of the halftime break, but there was something a bit interesting in this match ahead of the whistle that got the next 45 minutes started. While it didn’t come out of the break immediately, Seattle did end up making a quicker substitution than normal when club legend Nicolás Lodeiro came on in the 57th minute for Leo Chu in an obvious attempt to get something going on the Sounders attack yet again. With the theatrics of officiating largely taking over the minds of the 33,649 in the stands at Lumen Field and those watching at home, Seattle pressed on while LA essentially went into full lockdown mode. One of the Sounders biggest chances came off a set piece in the 75th minute, when Yeimar had the ball right outside the six-yard box, but his attempt almost seemed halfhearted and was easily cleared away. Seattle’s push continued with excellent shots from Alex Roldan, João Paulo and Albert Rusnák, but Crépeau was able to make the necessary deflections in order to send the ball out for corner kicks. Despite all the stats offensively showing that the Sounders had dominated things and showing that they deserved at least a goal, the reality was that Seattle had been shutout and eliminated on home field. LAFC, the defending champs, had completed another step in their journey towards repeating.
What’s next?
Following the frustrating defeat to end their season at the hands of defending MLS Cup Champion LAFC, the Seattle Sounders officially enter a critical offseason in their tenure, whether it be all time or as a franchise. The club will be using the new branding that was unveiled to us earlier in the calendar year, while club legends such as Raúl Ruidíaz and Nicolás Lodeiro are likely headed out the door. There are a few notable contracts that will be up that head coach Brian Schmetzer and general manager Craig Waibel will have to discuss and the necessary decisions that will be made. Seattle still has a good number of key players under contract, and there’s a report that Stefan Frei has signed an extension, but there will need to be pieces added to reach the mountaintop once again. Some solid pieces of the puzzle are there, but the ones to finish it remain elsewhere and it’s up to Schmetzer + Waibel to bring them to Lumen Field. LAFC moves on to host the Houston Dynamo, who defeated Sporting KC tonight in a similar 1-0 score line to this match, in the Western Conference final.
Check out photographer Paul Kahl’s photos from the match here
Check out photographer Nate Koppelman’s photos from the match here
