The International break is finally over. While most probably enjoyed watching USMNT as they begin their new era under a new head coach, we’re sure the majority here, like us, couldn’t wait to get back to the MLS Cup Playoffs. Well, here we are, and things are about to get even more intense. With the best-of-three series now behind us, its win or go home from here on out. Luckily for LAFC, with the stunning elimination of Inter Miami in the first round, the road to the MLS Cup goes through Los Angeles, more specifically, BMO Stadium. That is, as long as the boys themselves take care of business. That starts tomorrow, when they host Seattle Sounders with a trip to the conference finals on the line.
✍️ Another chapter this Saturday.#ForLosAngeles | #MLSCupPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/p53ZXB0992
— LAFC (@LAFC) November 22, 2024
It had to be them
It doesn’t seem to matter which competition it is, which trophy on the line, if there is a path for these two to meet, they will. Some rivalries, like with cross-town neighbors, LA Galaxy, are inherent. You know from day one, that there will always be tension, always be smoke when the two meet. Then, you have rivalries blossom like the one this side has with Seattle. It was the Sounders who welcomed LAFC into the MLS, back when the club had to open with seven matches on the road. They won that match. Then, as fate would have it, the Sounders were the opponents when LAFC finally did open up their home stadium. Another win. From then on it has been what feels like tradition that chances are high if these two sides are involved in a competition, they will eventually meet, usually with a lot on the line. Nothing has changed this time around.
Avoiding another winless season
Tomorrow night will mark the 23rd meeting across all competitions between these two sides. Not only do LAFC hold the overall advantage with 13 wins to Sounders’ five with four matches ending even, but the home side have held a tight grip on recent history, having won the last eight of the last ten meetings, with two draws. The last time Seattle saw a victory in this meeting, was way back in 2021. This season, its been hard for them to find the back of the net, scoring just one goal in the previous four meetings this season. All that said, Seattle are coming in hungry, looking to win when it matters the most, in the postseason.
“It puts a little more edge on the game” said LAFC midfielder Lewis O’Brien when speaking to media ahead of the match tomorrow. “They might have that thing where we’ve beat them quite a lot, so it puts a lot of emphasis on that game for them to want to show they can beat us as well. It will be hard because its obviously not a normal game, its playoffs and we’re going to take it just as seriously as them.” Unbeaten in their last nine matches, Sounders will be leaning heavy on the usual suspects of Ruidiaz and the Roldan brothers, among some others.
Staying sharp after the long break
The biggest challenge for LAFC outside of the opponent, is keeping that mental edge after what was a more than two week break between opening round and tomorrow’s match. “I don’t think any coach likes this window, in the middle of playoffs” said LAFC Head Coach Steve Cherundolo when speaking to media ahead of the match. “It affects all the teams, its not ideal, it does disrupt your weekly work but this isn’t the first window. We’ve done this many times and we will be prepared for sure and we are all onboard and healthy.”
After a rough patch put a halt to what had been to that point an incredible run of form in the middle of a tough season, the team have gotten back to consistent winning ways. LAFC have won eight of their last nine matches, with the lone loss the Game 2 match on the road against Vancouver in the opening round of the playoffs. As we mentioned earlier, as far as Seattle are concerned, it is a matchup LAFC have had the upper hand in for nearly three years now. However, there is ominous history on the horizon. While the last time Sounders beat LAFC may have been 2021, if you want to find the last time Seattle took down LAFC at BMO stadium, you have to go back to 2019. A gritty Seattle sound stepped into Los Angeles, during the MLS Cup Playoffs, against a record-setting and seemingly unstoppable LAFC side, and came away with an impressive 3-1 upset. So again, this is not the match to take lightly, even if you’ve controlled the last few year’s worth of meetings.
How To Watch
LAFC will be at home throughout the rest of the MLS Cup Playoffs so long as they keep winning, starting with the Seattle Sounders tomorrow night. Kickoff is set for 7:30pm PT from BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, Ca. The match will be broadcast live and can be streamed on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV. Those looking for radio can find the broadcast on ESPN LA on 710AM.
Thoughts as we head into single elimination? Leave a comment below!