Seattle Sounders Stun Top-Seeded LAFC in Overtime Victory
Match Recap
Jordan Morris scored in the 109th minute and Stefan Frei made nine saves to lead Seattle to a stunning 2-1 overtime victory over top-seeded Los Angeles FC in a Western Conference semifinal at BMO Stadium. The fourth-seeded Sounders earned a trip to the conference final and will face the winner of the second-seeded Los Angeles Galaxy and No. 6 seed Minnesota United.
LAFC Takes Early Lead
Defender Ryan Hollingshead gave LAFC the lead five minutes into the second half when he used assists from Mateusz Bogusz and Eduard Atuesta to score after a giveaway by Seattle defender Jackson Ragen. It was the first goal this postseason for Hollingshead and his fifth in 23 playoff appearances.
Own Goal Ties the Game
The Sounders pulled even in the 59th minute thanks to an own goal by LAFC defender Maxime Chanot.
Morris Wins it for Seattle
Morris found the net unassisted to put the Sounders on top. It was his ninth career goal in 23 postseason appearances. He scored a career-high 13 goals during the regular season.
Frei’s Save-Filled Performance
All of Frei’s saves came in the second half and overtime in his 35th postseason start for the Sounders. He allowed 33 goals through his first 34 starts with 15 shutouts. Seattle allowed a league-low 35 goals during the regular season.
Lloris’ Strong Performance
Hugo Lloris stopped four shots — three after halftime — for LAFC in his first season in the league. Lloris allowed four goals through his first three postseason starts with a clean sheet.
Season Series
Seattle had lost all four previous matchups with LAFC this season, scoring just one goal. The Sounders lost 2-1 in LA and 3-0 at home during the regular season. They dropped a 3-0 decision at home in a Leagues Cup quarterfinal and fell 1-0 at home in a U.S. Open Cup semifinal in the most recent meeting.
Conclusion
The Sounders’ victory marks an end to a 10-match winless streak in all competitions (0-8-2) against LAFC. Seattle will now face the winner of the second-seeded Los Angeles Galaxy and No. 6 seed Minnesota United in the conference final.
FAQs
Q: How did LAFC take the lead?
A: LAFC defender Ryan Hollingshead scored in the 65th minute with assists from Mateusz Bogusz and Eduard Atuesta.
Q: Who scored the own goal for the Sounders?
A: LAFC defender Maxime Chanot scored an own goal in the 59th minute to tie the game.
Q: Who scored the winning goal for Seattle?
A: Jordan Morris scored the winning goal in the 109th minute.
Q: What was the final score?
A: The final score was 2-1 in favor of Seattle.
