MLS Seattle Sounders FC

Sounders FC Suffers 3-1 Road Defeat at LAFC, Halting Three-Match Winning Streak

Published on October 11, 2020 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Seattle Sounders FC News Release


LOS ANGELES, CALIF. - Playing the club's third match in nine days, Sounders FC (9-4-3, 30 points) fell by a final score of 3-1 on Sunday evening at LAFC (7-6-3, 24 points), halting the Rave Green's three-match winning streak. Coming into the contest, Seattle had won five of its past six outings, and with the loss, the Rave Green narrowly remain atop the MLS Western Conference. Brian Schmetzer's side currently has a one-point lead on second-place Sporting Kansas City.

LAFC scored the sole goal of the first half in the 15th minute off a set piece. Eduard Atuesta hit the ball into the 18-yard-box before being headed home by Danny Musovski. LAFC struck again in the 65th minute, as Francisco Ginella converted a strike past Stefan Frei.

The Rave Green got their only goal in the 77th minute from Nicolás Lodeiro via a beautiful free kick that was hit into the top right corner of the net. For the Uruguayan playmaker, the goal was his fifth of the season and 31st regular-season tally of his MLS career. However, it wasn't enough, as Musovski bagged his brace in the 84th minute on a left-footed shot into the bottom left corner of the net.

MATCH NOTES

In 2020, Seattle moves to 2-2-0 against LAFC, including the July 27 Knockout Round match in the MLS is Back Tournament. Prior to tonight's match, the Rave Green defeated LAFC twice at home, on August 30 (3-1) and September 18 (3-0), respectively.

Sounders FC moves to 3-5-1 all-time against LAFC in all competitions (including postseason play). This evening's game was the first contest between the two sides at Banc of California Stadium since the 2019 MLS Western Conference Championship (a 3-1 win for Seattle).

Head Coach Brian Schmetzer made one change to the starting lineup that beat Real Salt Lake 2-1 on October 7, with Brad Smith getting the nod at left-back for Nouhou.

For Smith, the start was his first since being re-acquired by Seattle on September 17. The 2019 MLS Cup champion had previously played in three matches since his return to the Emerald City, all substitute appearances prior to tonight.

With his stunning free-kick goal in the 77th minute, club captain Nico Loderio bagged his fifth goal of 2020, good for third in team scoring behind Jordan Morris (eight goals) and Raúl Ruidíaz (nine goals). In his MLS career, Lodeiro now has 31 regular-season strikes, and 38 goals overall when considering the MLS Cup Playoffs.

Of his five goals this season, three of Lodeiro's strikes have come against LAFC. He previously scored a brace against them on September 18 in a 3-0 win at CenturyLink Field.

Lodeiro now has three regular-season goals against LAFC, tied with Jordan Morris for the team lead against the Southern California side (three goals apiece against LAFC). Including last season's playoff victory over LAFC, Loderio has four goals against the Black & Gold.

Despite the loss, Seattle still has the top goal difference in the league (+18), two goals ahead of Philadelphia.

Sounders FC remains atop the Western Conference with 30 points, narrowly on top of second-place Sporting Kansas City (29 points) and archrival Portland (28 points). LAFC is now fourth in the West with 24 points.

MATCH SUMMARY

Seattle Sounders FC 1 - Los Angeles FC 3

Sunday, October 11, 2020

Venue: Banc of California Stadium

Referee: Ramy Touchan

Assistants: Frank Anderson, Jeremy Kieso

Fourth Official: Alejandro Mariscal

VAR: Ricardo Salazar

Attendance: Closed Door

Weather: 71 degrees and clear

SCORING SUMMARY

LAFC - Danny Musovski (Eduard Atuesta) 15'

LAFC - Francisco Ginella (Danny Musovski, Bradley Wright-Phillips) 65'

SEA - Nicolás Lodeiro 77'

LAFC - Danny Musovski 84'

MISCONDUCT SUMMARY

LAFC - Francisco Ginella (caution) 19'

SEA - Nicolás Lodeiro (caution) 74'

SEA - João Paulo (caution) 80'

LAFC - Mohamed El-Munir (caution) 88'

LINEUPS & STATS

Seattle Sounders FC - Stefan Frei; Kelvin Leerdam (Román Torres 74'), Yeimar Gómez Andrade, Shane O'Neill, Brad Smith (Nouhou 58'); Jordy Delem (Alex Roldan 58'), João Paulo (Josh Atencio 87'), Cristian Roldan, Nicolás Lodeiro, Jordan Morris; Will Bruin (Miguel Ibarra 87')

Substitutes not used: Stefan Cleveland, Shandon Hopeau, Justin Dhillon

Total shots: 19 (Three players, 3)

Shots on goal: 5 (Yeimar, 2)

Fouls: 14 (João Paulo, 6)

Offside: 1 (Bruin, 1)

Corner-kicks: 7 (Lodeiro, 6)

Saves: 2 (Frei, 2)

Los Angeles FC - Pablo Sisniega; Latif Blessing, Dejan Jakovic, Eddie Segura, Jordan Harvey; Francisco Ginella, Eduard Atuesta, Mark-Anthony Kaye (Andy Najar 6', Mohamed El-Munir 13'); Adrien Perez (Christian Torres HT), Bradley Wright-Phillips (Kwadwo Opoku 90'+3'), Danny Musovski

Substitutes not used: Kenneth Vermeer, Antonio Leone, Alejandro Guido, Bryce Duke, Mohamed Traore

Total shots: 11 (Musovski, 3)

Shots on goal: 5 (Musovski, 2)

Fouls: 15 (Blessing, 3)

Offside: 0

Corner-kicks: 4 (El-Munir, 2)

Saves: 4 (Sisniega, 4)

Check out the Seattle Sounders FC Statistics

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