October 30, 2019.

The Supporters’ Shield Champions LAFC crashed out of the 2019 MLS Cup after falling 3-1 at home to the Seattle Sounders in the Western Conference Final. LAFC went up ahead 1-0 on the score early in the first half, but Seattle mounted a rousing comeback to clinch the Western Conference Championship and frustrate the home side’s hopes of culminating their record-breaking season with an MLS Cup title.

Backed by a deafening crowd at Banc of California Stadium, LAFC started the game well, and they were able to get on the scoreboard first thanks to a gorgeous free kick by Eduard Atuesta. The LAFC midfielder curled in a set piece from the top left side of the box to send the 3252 into pandemonium and put the home team up 1-0.

The excitement would not last long as Seattle striker Raul Ruidiaz found an equalizer in the 22nd minute to bring his team right back into the game. Ruidiaz received a ball at the top of the box and spun away from center back Eddie Segura before firing past goalkeeper Tyler Miller.

LAFC were stunned, and before they could even recover from the first blow, Nicolas Lodeiro scored a second for Seattle in the 26th minute. Lodeiro received the ball at the top of the key and slotted a left-footed shot into the right bottom corner of Tyler Miller’s net. In a span of five minutes, the Seattle Sounders turned the game around and delivered a devastating psychological blow to LAFC.

In the second half, the Seattle Sounders looked cool and composed with the 2-1 lead, playing off of LAFC’s palpable desperation and nerves. In the 64th minute, Raul Ruidiaz scored his second goal of the night to give Seattle a 3-1 advantage. In similar fashion to Lodeiro’s goal in the first half, Ruidiaz received the ball at the top of the box and unleashed a low strike to the near post to beat Tyler Miller.

In the remaining 25 minutes of play, LAFC pushed forward in search of a goal, but they did so without their characteristic fluidity in attack. The Seattle Sounders put on an excellent defensive performance, and they deserve praise for frustrating Carlos Vela and this season’s most dangerous offense.

After a few missed chances by the Seattle Sounders near the end of the match, the final whistle blew and the visitors deservedly crowned themselves Western Conference Champions. After struggling against FC Dallas at CenturyLink Field in the first round of the playoffs, Seattle have now put on two great performances at home and on the road to reach the MLS Cup Final. The Western Conference Champions must now wait for the result between Atlanta United and Toronto FC to see who they will face on November 10.

-Pablo Bayona Sapag / Lorena Barros.