LAFC at Seattle Sounders
Saturday, 1:00pm PT
Location: Lumen Field - Seattle, Washington
TV: MLS Season Pass on Apple TV, FOX
Radio: 710 AM ESPN, ESPN LA App, 980 AM La Mera Mera
LAFC have advanced to the Concacaf Champions League quarterfinals after defeating L.D. Alajuelense 4-2 on aggregate, despite losing 2-1 at BMO Stadium to the Costa Rican champions on Wednesday. The Black & Gold will now shift their focus back to the MLS season to play their fourth game in 10 days when they travel to face the Seattle Sounders on Saturday, March 18.
The MLS Cup Champions won the first-ever match in club history at Lumen Field in 2018, but have since gone winless (0-4-2) in their last six matches in Seattle.
The Black & Gold started their 2023 campaign on a high note, taking all six points through the first two MLS games played, which includes a 4-0 win in dominating fashion against the New England Revolution on March 12.
The Sounders are just below LAFC in the Western Conference Standings with five points and are 2-1-0 to start the season. The Sounders are looking to get back on track after being defeated 1-0 by FC Cincinnati on March 11.
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SOUNDERS IN-DEPTH
Led by head coach Brian Schmetzer, the Sounders are hoping to return to their dominating form in 2023 after missing the playoffs for the first time in club history in 2022. Despite missing the playoffs, Seattle still had a successful 2022, as they became the first MLS team to win the Concacaf Champions League and qualify for the FIFA Club World Cup, where they suffered a 1-0 loss to Al Ahly on Feb. 4.
The Sounders are 2-0 at home this season and have yet to allow a goal on their home turf, winning both games by a combined score of 6-0.
Forward Jordan Morris leads MLS in scoring so far and has contributed three goals after scoring just seven goals in an injury-plagued 2022 MLS league season.
Newly-acquired Brazilian forward Héber is off to a hot start as he has contributed two goals but is expected to miss the match vs LAFC due to a hamstring issue.
LAFC WILL WIN IF
They can continue the momentum built so far this season and find a way to snap out of their recent struggles in Seattle. Forward Denis Bouanga is off to a great start, with five goals and two assists across all competitions for the Black & Gold in 2023. Bouanga, along with rest of the LAFC goal scorers, will need to capitalize on any opportunities given to them Saturday and improve their touch in the close to the goal from Wednesday night. The Sounders are proving to be a tough team to score on when they play at Lumen Field.
SOUNDERS CAN WIN IF
They can continue their home dominance. The Sounders defense has yet to allow a goal scored at home this season, but the New England defense had not allowed a goal either before coming up against LAFC less than a week ago. The Sounders are likely to come out in a 4-2-3-1 formation and will test the Black & Gold black line throughout the game with dangerous counterattacks.
