Seattle Sounders x LAFC

The Seattle Sounders fell 3-0 to LAFC on Saturday night at Lumen Field in a rematch of last year’s Western Conference Semifinal, with Denis Bouanga netting a brace and Mateusz Bogusz adding another goal. LAFC took an early lead in the 16th minute when Bouanga converted a penalty, awarded by referee Alan Chapman after a Nouhou handball in the box. Bogusz doubled the lead in the 26th minute, volleying home a cleared header from 25 yards out after an LAFC free kick.

In the second half, the Sounders had a controversial moment in the 55th minute when Maxime Chanot appeared to take down Paul Rothrock in the box. However, Chapman determined that Rothrock had dived and issued a caution for simulation instead of awarding a penalty. Bouanga sealed the victory for LAFC in the 74th minute, finishing a pass from Kei Kamara. Despite the scoreline, Sounders goalkeeper Stefan Frei made a crucial save in the 80th minute to deny Bouanga a hat trick. The Sounders had several late chances, including efforts from Rothrock and Raúl Ruidíaz, but LAFC goalkeeper Hugo Lloris made key saves to maintain the clean sheet.

This defeat extended LAFC's unbeaten streak against the Sounders to eight matches in all competitions since 2021. The loss also snapped the Sounders' six-match winning streak in all competitions and an eight-game unbeaten run dating back to June 15. Despite the setback, the Sounders remain seventh in the Western Conference with 37 points from 25 matches. On a positive note, Pedro de la Vega made his third start of the season, playing 45 minutes as he continues to recover from hamstring injuries.

[Photography by Alejandro Sanchez Ochoa & Erick Ramirez]