Seattle v LAFC
New logo historic Sounders taking on new comers yet defending champs in LAFC. Ex MLS Defender of the Year Aaron Long with the champs, a past NYRB. For Seattle of course, Heber out of NYCFC, the sole local connections.
Atencio on goal a 2’ lower corner, Crepeau up to the save, slight rebound cleared. Morris out runs a pair, beats Chiellini and tries a bit of trickery on the GK with the outside of his foot and has it saved. LAFC goes far post, swing and a miss on the ball and it is at half field for LAFC again. Chiellini to Vela to d Bouanga and he goes over the net. Nouhou with a foul that he is not happy with, are you serious?, he pushed him down with 2 hands. Vela to put it in play, Frye boxes it out to half field and beyond then further back by LAFC to their GK. Seattle down to LAFC 8-5-4 but up 2-0 in playoffs all time v LAFC. Acosta takes an arm to the face putting his head back and he remains down, Yeimar trying to explain his way out of this, no card. Atencio gets a ball he should have shot first time as he is then stopped by Chiellini. Corner Seattle they recover, played in and headed out by LAFC, another corner, great ball by Joao Paulo. Rusnak takes it defended away, Rusnak sends in a high ball it drifts out behind the goal. Nouhou getting carded, it was the leg at the end drawing the eye of the center, done in front of the AR, not the challenge. Deep DKF similar to a corner by Vela, a bit closer and more infield, lots of jostling in the area into the near post and out. Oliveira with a shot, not much on it and far away it goes out of play. Atencio up for the ball down on the LAFC player, foul. At 25’ it has been more of Seattle putting on a passing class than anything else, those lanes need to be shut. Vela goes down, no call and he is not happy getting on the ref that he was pushed. Vela not fouled at all on this one. At the half hour mark a ball is buried by D. Bouanga. 12-0-3 are LAFC when leading it goes to 14 in the playoffs. Chiellini fouls Roldan mid air. Nouhou tangled with another it could have been the end of his day, but play on, no foul. Acosta and Joao Paulo getting into it as Kellyn was pushed by him after fouling the Brazilian, now he is tussling with another player. Tilman clears the kick, it’s back in and Atencio is booked after he fouled Chiellini who is still on the ground holding his knee. Last 5’, Seattle, don’t allow another to go in 1-0 do not press now and go in down by a pair. Joao Paulo from 40. Why? This corner by Seattle should close out the half, they go short to Alex Roldan.
Seattle need to push a bit and LAFC be aware of opportunities to get another, there is I am sure more than one more goal in this game.
Off a foul by Acosta on the Roldan he plays with on the UMNT leads to a deep DFK that is played too long and out for a goal kick. Ref comes in to warn the GK on the slow restart. Bouanga tries to thread the needle for Vela but it is picked off. Murillo gives up a corner and here comes Seattle again. Murillo clears it out to Roldan. Alex Roldan into Murillo, another corner. Lodeiro now to come on for Leo Chu and loud cheers go up. Rusnak for Morris, he needs to find space and gets blocked it gets well out of the area. Chiellini is down again and the foul called. Roldan was tripped by Chelinni he does get the ball despite what one talking head says opposed to the other, it was out of the area so not even a PK as contact began out of the area, but a foul, yes. Hollinghead, in the way of the GK tying to kick the ball away, hit him with the ball, get the call. Ragen is down grasping at his knee and the GK complains to the ref. Ragen landed wrong from a high jump. Joao Paulo carded #4 on the team for a late tackle on Acosta on the ground. Roldan plays to Morris, he has to get a shot of despite the defenders, otherwise you get the same result, a goal kick if you miss, send it goal ward. Bouanga with another foul and no card despite numerous fouls by him and a similar one that drew a card before. Jordan Rules, he is the Golden Boot winner. Some great ball movement in the area, a shot should have been taken by Bouanga, and Vela on his first touch, not 2nd as he was then blocked. Corner by Vela comes way out, then back in on a long shot for a goal kick. RuiDiaz in for Atencio, a lot of offensive firepower in there for Seattle now. Raul is tied with Vela for most goals since entering the league. Vela brings Joao Paulo to the ground. 15’ left and Seattle has been knocking on the door now a DFK not enough on the ball in the area by Neiymar. Bogusz for Vela, the first sub for LAFC at 78’. Nouhou drives one from 50 yards to low gets it back. A great drive by Alex Roldan as he beats his man, tipped just over the bar. Lodeiro on near post, back and back in again the GK covers it. Joao Paul with a shot destined for the upper corner if not for Crepeau, wow. Last 7’ now. Tilman down, a blow to the face costing Seattle advantage headed to the goal. Now the GK carded for delay of game. Oliveira fouled or not but it is called and they get a DFK very deep with less than 5’ and the ref hears it from the crowd. Frie grabs it in the 6. Palacios cautioned for a high kick on Alex Roldan. Lodeiro sends it in, it is headed out then Hollingshead called for one out of danger. It finds RuiDiaz, who commits a handball before he scores, no goal. Seattle are just not getting shots though dominating play. Chiellini with an off the ball foul gets carded now Long and Palencia await coming in. 8’ of stoppage time. Lodeiro wins a corner. RuiDiaz from 20+ yards and Seattle keeps the ball. Rusnak from a distance, all of his 7 goals on the year have been GWGs, again deflected and just over as it hits the bar. Lodeiro pushed, kinda, and a DFK . Joao Paulo high again. One last push all on their feet at the stadium, LAFC gets it Joao Paulo steals it, the GK grabs it we are beyond the 8’. LAFC lives on to defend their title.