Seattle Sounders are heading into their third MLS Cup finals in four years. They defeated the biggest favorite for taking the trophy, LAFC, on the road, making the upset of the season. The final result of the contest at the Banc of California Stadium was 3-1 for the visitors.
“I’m just so proud of these guys out there and the people up there,” Sounders coach Brian Schmetzer said. “The tactics were right, their effort was right, their mentality was right, and they deserved to win the game.”
Man of the match was without a doubt Rui Ruidiaz who netted twice, but he also had massive help from Nicolas Lodeiro. These two guys were involved in all three goals and were creating a lot of trouble for the home team.
But the defensive block in front of Stefan Frei‘s goal also needs to be praised, as they stopped the best scorer of the regular part of the season, Carlos Vela. The Mexican international has scored 34 goals, plus two in the Western Conference semis, but tonight he couldn’t find a way towards the rival’s net. Vela needs to be credited for the first goal, as he drew a foul from which Eduard Atuesta scored a beautiful free-kick.
But that was pretty much from him.
“I thought that was one of the best defensive performances we’ve put in in a really long time. Everyone on the field,” said winger Jordan Morris.
Atuesta’s goal came after 17 minutes, but the joy for the hosts didn’t last too long. Five minutes later, Ruidiaz struck for the first time. Lodeiro passed the ball to the Peruvian, who lost his guard, sending a low shot that beat Tyler Miller.
Just four minutes behind that one, came the second goal of the hosts. Lodeiro brought the lead to the visitors after he concluded a counter-attack. The hosts were stunned.
There weren’t any changes until the break, although LAFC pressured the opponents.
Bob Bradley’s team came out with an “all or nothing” attitude, and eventually, they got nothing. Ruidiaz scored once more, and he did it again with the help of Lodeiro. It was the 64th minute, and the Banc of California Stadium became a quiet place.
LAFC tried everything in order to decrease the gap, but they couldn’t breach the rock-solid defense of the Sounders. The game ended with this result, shocking the majority of the fans and the experts.
“In terms of our attacking play, it’s pretty simple,” said Bob Bradley told the journalists. “I don’t think that tonight we were good enough.”
Seattle lost like this in the previous playoff run, when Portland Timbers got away from CenturyLink Field with a win. There is s possibility for another Toronto FC vs. Sounders MLS Cup Finals. The previous two ended with each side winning the title, Seattle in 2017, while the Canadian team did the same one year later. Toronto faces Atlanta United in the Eastern Conference semifinals this Wednesday night. The game is played in Atlanta.
