MATCH RECAP: Sounders FC drops 3-0 road matchup at LAFC

Sounders FC (17-8-7, 58 points) fell 3-0 on the road to Los Angeles FC (12-12-8, 44 points) Tuesday evening at Banc of California Stadium. Brian Rodríguez, Latif Blessing and Cristian Arango scored for the hosts as Seattle extended its winless streak to four games (0-3-1). The Rave Green remain atop the Western Conference, three points clear of Sporting Kansas City with two matches remaining in the 2021 regular-season campaign.

The home side got on the board in the 21st minute courtesy of Rodríguez, taking a through ball from Raheem Edwards and slotting it through the legs of goalkeeper Stefan Frei to open the scoring.

Blessing doubled LAFC’s lead right before the halftime whistle, finding a deflected ball land at his feet and firing it into the top of the net from point-blank range to take a 2-0 lead into the break.

LAFC bagged its final goal of the night early in the second half when Arango teed up a shot from distance that caught Frei out of position and found the corner of the net to seal the victory for the California club.

Brian Schmetzer’s side returns home for its final home match of the 2021 regular season next Monday, November 1 in a matchup with the LA Galaxy at Lumen Field (7:00 p.m. PT / FOX 13+, TUDN, Prime Video, 1090 KJR AM, El Rey 1360 AM).

MATCH NOTES

• With 58 points (17-8-7), Seattle currently sits three points ahead of Sporting Kansas City for the top spot in the Western Conference standings, with two matches remaining in the 2021 regular season (SKC has four games left).

• Sounders FC is now 3-5-2 all-time against LAFC in regular-season play, including a 0-4-1 mark on the road. However, the Rave Green hold a 2-0-0 record against LAFC in the postseason, including a road win in the 2019 Western Conference Final.

• Midfielder Nicolás Lodeiro came on as a substitute in the 68th minute, his first appearance since September 11 after undergoing knee surgery on September 20.

• Tonight marked just the third time this season (across all competitions) that Sounders FC has surrendered three goals in single match.

MATCH SUMMARY

Seattle Sounders FC 0 – Los Angeles FC 3
Tuesday, October 26, 2021

Venue: Banc of California Stadium
Referee: Kevin Stott
Assistants: Kathryn Nesbitt, Eduardo Mariscal
Fourth Official: Michael Radchuk
VAR: Jair Marrufo
Attendance: 20,030
Weather: 62 degrees and clear

SCORING SUMMARY

LAFC – Brian Rodriguez (Raheem Edwards) 21’
LAFC – Latif Blessing (Cristian Arango, Moonhwan Kim) 45’+3’
LAFC – Cristian Arango (Latif Blessing) 51’

MISCONDUCT SUMMARY

SEA – Nouhou (caution) 66’LAFC – Cristian Arango (caution) 70’LAFC – Diego Palacios (caution) 82’*
LAFC –* Mamadou Fall (caution) 90’+4’

LINEUPS & STATS

Seattle Sounders FC – Stefan Frei; Alex Roldan, Yeimar (Shane O’Neill 68’), Xavier Arreaga (82’), Nouhou, Brad Smith (Léo Chú 56’); Josh Atencio (Nico Lodeiro 67’), Kelyn Rowe (Danny Leyva 68’), Cristian Roldan, Fredy Montero; Will Bruin (Nicolas Benezet 37’)

Substitutes not used: Stefan Cleveland, Spencer Richey, Ethan Dobbelaere, Abdoulaye Cissoko

Total shots: 13
Shots on goal: 4
Fouls: 13
Offside: 3
Corner-kicks: 10
Saves: 3

Los Angeles FC – Jamal Blackman; Mamadou Fall, Diego Palacios (Daniel Crisostomo 90’+1’), Sebastien Ibeagha, Jesus Murillo (Tristan Blackmon 78’); Latif Blessing, Marco Farfan (Jordan Harvey 90’+1’), Moonhwan Kim, Raheem Edwards; Brian Rodriguez (Carlos Vela 78’), Cristian Arango (Danny Musovski 82’)

Substitutes not used: Bryce Duke, Cal Jennings, Tomas Romero, Michee Ngalina

Total shots: 14
Shots on goal: 6
Fouls: 16
Offside: 0
Corner-kicks: 5
Saves: 4