Sounders FC Falls 2-1 to LAFC at Banc of California Stadium

July 30, 2022 – Major League Soccer (MLS) – Seattle Sounders FC News Release

Seattle Sounders FC’s Yéimar Gomez Andrade vs. LAFC’s Sebastien Ibeagha
(Seattle Sounders FC)

LOS ANGELES, CALIF. – In a Western Conference slugfest between two familiar rivals, Seattle Sounders FC (9-11-2, 29 points) fell by a final score of 2-1 to Los Angeles FC (15-4-3, 48 points) on Friday night at Banc of California Stadium. The sold-out crowd of 22,111 saw first-half strikes from Kwadwo Opoku and Carlos Vela overcome an early own goal, as the Rave Green lose following last weekend’s 2-1 home win over Colorado. The race for the MLS Cup Playoffs remains tight, with Sounders FC remaining one point behind the seventh and final postseason position in the West.

Seattle got on the board first in the 14th minute courtesy of an own goal. After Cristian Roldan won the ball off a failed clearance, the midfielder blew past LAFC defender Giorgio Chiellini and fired a cross in front of goal, deflecting it off LAFC’s Jesús David Murillo and into the back of the net.

After an earlier goal was disallowed for LAFC due to a handball, the home side leveled the score in the 35th minute. Kwadwo Opoku found himself with the ball on the outside of the area, firing a shot into the bottom corner. It was Carlos Vela who gave LAFC the lead in the 43rd minute, getting on the end of a José Cifuentes cross and beating Stefan Frei from point-blank range.

Following tonight’s match in Southern California, Seattle faces a quick return to league action in just four days’ time, as the Rave Green begin their August slate of matches with a Western Conference showdown against FC Dallas on Tuesday, August 2. Kickoff at Lumen Field is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. PT (FOX 13+, Prime Video, 93.3 KJR FM, El Rey 1360 AM).

MATCH NOTES

Sounders FC remains in ninth place in the Western Conference with 29 points (9-11-2), one point back of the seventh and final MLS Cup Playoffs position. Portland and the LA Galaxy sit in eighth and seventh place, respectively (30 points for each club). Seattle has played 22 matches and has 12 matches remaining in the 2022 regular-season.

Seattle began the match in a 4-2-3-1 formation tonight at Banc of California Stadium, with just one change to the starting XI that defeated Colorado last weekend at Lumen Field. Left-back Nouhou replaced the suspended Kelyn Rowe on Sounders FC’s backline.

With tonight’s result, Seattle’s all-time record against LAFC moves 5-7-3 across all competitions….