Preview | LAFC at Seattle Sounders 7/20/24

LAFC vs. Seattle Sounders

Saturday, July 20 at 7:30 pm PT

Location: Lumen Field - Seattle, WA 🏟

TV: FREE on Apple TV – MLS Season Pass 🖥

Radio: ESPN LA App📱, 710 AM ESPN, KFWB 980 AM La Mera Mera 📻

Following a 1-1 draw against Real Salt Lake at BMO Stadium on Wednesday night, LAFC now prepares for a showdown against northern rivals Seattle Sounders on Saturday, July 20, at Lumen Field.

Wednesday’s draw pushed LAFC (13W-5L-5D) down to second place in the Western Conference standings, with 44 points from 23 matches played.

Saturday's game marks LAFC's first return to Lumen Field since its victorious 2023 Western Conference semifinal encounter in which Denis Bouanga's breakaway first-half goal secured a 1-0 win. It was the Black & Gold’s first victory in Seattle since LAFC’s first-ever match, in 2018.

The Black & Gold boasts a 10W-5L-4D all-time record against the Sounders across all competitions.

The teams last met in February to kick off the 2024 MLS season, resulting in a 2-1 home victory for LAFC. Seattle’s penalty-kick goal was the first LAFC goal had conceded to the Sounders since July 2022. The Sounders failed to score against the Black & Gold in the teams’ three meetings in 2023.

In addition to Saturday's clash, the Western Conference rivals are set to meet again on Tuesday, August 27 in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Semifinals at Starfire Sports Complex in suburban Seattle.

Seattle in-depth

The Sounders (10W-7L-7D) currently sit in sixth place in the Western Conference (based on Supporters’ Shield tiebreakers) with 37 points from 24 matches played. Seattle enters the matchup riding a six-game winning streak, having lost just one of its last 13 matches across all competitions.

The club’s last match resulted in a 2-0 win on Wednesday night against St. Louis City SC at Lumen Field.

Leading Seattle's offensive attack is homegrown winger and USMNT veteran Jordan Morris, who has tallied nine goals and one assist this season. Peruvian international and perennial danger man Raúl Ruidíaz follows with eight goals and two assists.

Coached by Brian Schmetzer, the Sounders have shown improved form after starting the season with just one win in their first nine matches (1W-5L-3D).

The Black & Gold Can Win If:

It can get through its fourth game in 11 days while managing a match played on the Sounders’ man-made turf. LAFC's defense faces a tough task in containing the in-form pair of Morris and Ruidíaz. The return of defenders Sergi Palencia and Jesús David Murillo, back from one-game red-card suspensions, should help.

Involving MLS’ reigning Golden Boot winner, Bouanga, is also pivotal, given the team's unbeaten record (11W-0L-1D) when he contributes a goal or assist.

The Sounders Can Win If:

They leverage their rested roster against an LAFC team grappling with a packed July schedule. The Sounders not only secured a victory on Wednesday but also managed to give the night off to key contributors Pedro de la Vega, João Paulo, and Yeimar. The latter two have contributed heavily to Seattle’s sterling defensive record. The Sounders have conceded just 26 goals in MLS play in 2024, third-fewest in the league.