The Seattle Sounders host LAFC (12:30 p.m. PT; ESPN, YouTube TV, 950 KJR AM, El Rey 1360 AM; TICKETS) on Sunday in Week 9 MLS action. Here are three matchups to watch, presented by Toyota.
Chad Marshall vs. Carlos Vela
Marshall was absent for the Week 8 meeting between the Sounders and LAFC last weekend, but he’ll face one of the toughest tests of the season in Sunday’s rematch. Vela, nominally a right winger, routinely shifted inside throughout the match, which allowed Christian Ramirez to drop into midfield and create a central overload. Both of the Mexican international’s goals in the 4-1 win for LAFC came from narrow runs, where he stationed himself between Seattle’s center back and left back before bursting through the gap.
With over 400 MLS games under his belt, Marshall will need to rely on his experience and soccer IQ to monitor Vela’s clever movement. If Seattle’s center back can frustrate LAFC’s star attacker, who leads the league with 10 goals from nine matches, it will force Vela to drift wider and wider in search of space. Brad Smith held his own in 1-v-1 situations, so keeping the LAFC winger out on the flank will be key to mitigating his influence on the game.
Cristian Roldan vs. Mark-Anthony Kaye
With Ramirez dropping into midfield, and Vela and Diego Rossi pinching inside, LAFC consistently attacked with a 4-v-3 central overload, as Seattle’s center backs were occupied by the home side’s wingers, unable to step forward to break up passes. This meant that Kaye could to take up positions between the lines, receive the ball on the half-turn and then pick out passes. For both of his primary assists in the 4-1 win, he picked his head up and played a forward ball under minimal pressure. If Roldan can step aggressively to the Canadian international and disrupt his rhythm, it will stem the flow of LAFC’s expansive possession.
In the attack, Roldan will be critical to the Sounders establishing tempo. LAFC counter-pressed ruthlessly at Banc of California Stadium, which led to several season-low passing performances from Seattle’s midfielders. A tactically astute and industrious central midfielder, Roldan’s ability to play through the visitors’ initial wave of pressure when they cough up possession will be decisive in the Sounders securing points.
Nicolás Lodeiro vs. Eduard Atuesta
LAFC’s defensive midfielder put in his best performance of the season in Week 8 against the Sounders. The Colombian international registered one goal, one assist and two key passes. His assist, in particular, portends the difficult task the Sounders midfield faces on Sunday.
LAFC’s three-man midfield, without a true No. 6, rotated taking up advanced positions, with one deep-lying playmaker and two free No. 8s playing between the lines. When Atuesta is the one operating in the deeper role, Lodeiro will need to supply his typical relentless pressure to disrupt LAFC’s possession. Conversely, when Seattle has the ball, Lodeiro’s persistent off-the-ball movement will drag Atuesta out of position, creating running lanes for Roldan and Jordan Morris to exploit.
