Sounders FC Falls 1-0 to LAFC in Western Conference Semifinals to End 2023 Campaign

November 26, 2023 – Major League Soccer (MLS) – Seattle Sounders FC News Release

Seattle Sounders FC’s Nicolás Lodeiro in action
(Seattle Sounders FC)

SEATTLE, WASH. – Sounders FC was eliminated in the Audi 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs Sunday evening following a 1-0 loss to LAFC on the Emerald Queen Casino Pitch at Lumen Field. The Rave Green’s 2023 campaign ends in the Western Conference Semifinals after compiling a 17-15-11 record in all competitions this season.

Dénis Bouanga scored the match’s lone goal, taking the ball down the left flank and cutting inside to find the back of the net. Despite a myriad of chances throughout the game, Seattle could not find an equalizer to force extra time. The Rave Green now begin 2023-2024 offseason preparations.

MATCH NOTES

Sounders FC concludes its 2023 campaign following tonight’s loss in the Western Conference Semifinals to LAFC. Seattle finished the regular season with a record of 14-9-11 (53 points), moving on to defeat FC Dallas in Round One of the MLS Cup Playoffs before bowing out of the postseason tournament tonight. With this evening’s match, Seattle advanced to the semifinal stage of the MLS Cup Playoffs for the 12th time in club history (the most in MLS since the Rave Green entered the league in 2009).

Seattle concludes its 2023 campaign with a 17-15-11 record across all competitions (MLS regular season, MLS Cup Playoffs, FIFA Club World Cup, Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, Leagues Cup).

Following tonight’s match at Lumen Field, Sounders FC’s record in the MLS Cup Playoffs moves to 24-15-7 dating back to the club’s 2009 inaugural MLS season. Seattle’s 24 postseason wins are four more than the next closest team since the Rave Green joined the league (LA Galaxy, 20 MLS Cup Playoffs victories since 2009).

Tonight’s match marked Seattle’s third all-time contest in the MLS Cup Playoffs against LAFC. It was the club’s first loss to the Black and Gold in postseason play. The Rave Green defeated LAFC in the 2019 Western Conference Final on their way to winning their second MLS Cup before Seattle beat LAFC in the First Round of the 2020 playoffs. Both matches were 3-1 wins for Sounders FC.

Coming into tonight’s contest, Seattle was unbeaten in its last seven home matches versus LAFC. The Southern California side won its first game in club history at Lumen Field on March 4, 2018, but since then, Seattle earned four wins and three draws in the Emerald City (including a 3-1 win in the first round of the 2020 MLS Cup…