A focused LAFC is a very, very scary team for the rest of MLS. A lesson Seattle Sounders learned the hard way last night when they came to visit Los Angeles for what was the 25th meeting between the two sides. After getting the best of LAFC in Seattle, against a team that was heavily rotated for Los Angeles, the teams met for the second time in MLS play, and while LA did roll out some rotations, it was a fairly strong squad facing Seattle this time around, and it showed.
A good night to be Black & Gold 😁#LAFCvSEA pic.twitter.com/dte7OqQqez
— LAFC (@LAFC) May 15, 2025
LAFC’s form continues to get better and better as the weeks pass. The team haven’t lost a match since their elimination from Champions Cup at the hands of Inter Miami, and are starting to get more and more dominant as the matches come along. With Western conference rivals, Seattle Sounders, coming to town last night on a short turnaround, the team wasted no time in asserting themselves and taking control of the match. Cengiz Ünder gave us the first goal of the night with an absolute rocket from outside the box. The recent addition to the squad got a friendly deflection on his shot, but it was pure from the start as it was struck beautifully, finding its way into the back of the net in the 26th minute of the match.
⚡️ Cengiz Ünder from distance with the help of a deflection.#LAFCvSEA 1-0 https://t.co/Z9H8FaiPw8 pic.twitter.com/8h3DSc9tWd
— LAFC (@LAFC) May 15, 2025
Despite the lopsided final scoreline, LAFC only scored one goal in the first half. They kept 60% of the possession, had more shots (8) than Seattle, more shots on target (3) and finished the half with nearly 300 passes on a 90% success rate. The scoreline may have been close, but it never really felt like Seattle were dangerous. That said, it’s still the Sounders and going into the break it felt like LAFC would need at least one more to really solidify the win on the night and avoid any late match heroics from a side that has made such events a common occurrence. As we mentioned, the team put out a slightly rotated squad for this match, with one of those being Jeremy Ebobisse getting the starting nod while the young Nathan Ordaz got a bit of a rest. The former, currently in excellent form as of late, doubled the lead for LA just minutes into the second half.
With one of the better passes on the night, Igor Jesus sent in a perfect ball that found Ebobisse on the run in the 51st minute. The veteran goalscorer found space with a nasty cutback that gave him all the time and space he needed to get his shot off, scoring his third goal of the season and giving LAFC the 2-0 lead early in the second half.
The pass 😮💨
The cutback 😱
The shot 🎯Jeremy Ebobisse doubles our lead with a composed finish. https://t.co/dhnNdi10Wd pic.twitter.com/tgpnkEWD5r
— LAFC (@LAFC) May 15, 2025
As early as it was in the match at that point, the second goal very much felt like the dagger with Seattle unable to really keep up with LAFC on the night. The team finished the second half with another 300 passes with a 90% success rate, finishing the match with just over 600 passes in a match they completely controlled. As time ticked down, the floodgates opened and Denis Bouanga decided to extend the lead in the 80th minute. A great run to take on the defenders ended with him slotting home his promised goal, as he flipped in celebration, as he seems to have completely shaken off the rust from earlier in the season when he couldn’t buy a goal.
Denis promised a flip and delivered 🫡 https://t.co/BsLTo40bRW pic.twitter.com/9ePiXZRXKX
— LAFC (@LAFC) May 15, 2025
Speaking of buying goals, Yaw Yeboah opened up his account for the black & gold in the waning moments of the match as he drove the nail in the coffin. Lurking in the box, Yeboah found the ball at his feet from one of the 600 passes completed on the night from LAFC, and after a quick sidestep of the defender, put it home calmly for LAFC’s fourth goal of the night.
What a way to score your first goal in Black & Gold 👏
Yaw Yeboah makes it four. https://t.co/sQXU9OM4Bc pic.twitter.com/Ch8ACM3qx1
— LAFC (@LAFC) May 15, 2025
“I think anytime you go through an offseason where the core members move on and you bring on a lot of new guys, there’s going to be ups and downs” said LAFC forward Jeremy Ebobisse after the match when asked about the team’s slow start and current run of form. “We got a lot out of the early part of the season, even if we didn’t get all the results we wanted. Now, what you’re starting to see, is hopefully a sustained run of form.” The win at home pushes LAFC’s unbeaten run to six matches now as they have only looked better and better in recent matches. Now, the team get set for an even bigger rivalry match this weekend. THE rivalry match as the team make the short trip down the 110, as they take on the LA Galaxy. The defending MLS Cup Champions, who have yet to win a match this season. Let the fun, begin.
Thoughts on the win at home over Sounders? Leave a comment below!