Seattle Sounders Dominate LAFC 5-2 in Disjointed Display

Los Angeles FC endured a tough day in Seattle, falling 5-2 to the Sounders in a match that felt more like a preseason scrimmage than a competitive league fixture. With both teams fielding heavily rotated lineups, LAFC struggled to find cohesion, ultimately paying the price for defensive lapses and sluggish ball movement.

A Night of Firsts and Costly Mistakes

LAFC handed first career starts to Artem Smolyakov and Adam Saldana, and the inexperience showed. The midfield lacked fluidity, and the off-the-ball movement reflected a team unfamiliar with each other. Despite creating a few early chances, LAFC failed to capitalize.

Seattle struck first in the 11th minute when Kalani Kossa-Rienzi, called up from Tacoma Defiance, pounced on a defensive miscue by Smolyakov, finishing off a counterattack to put the Sounders ahead 1-0.

LAFC responded in the 37th minute with a well-worked corner. Smolyakov’s in-swinging delivery caused hesitation from Sounders goalkeeper Andrew Thomas, and after a chaotic scramble in the box, Nathan Ordaz smashed home the equalizer.

Halftime Adjustments, but No Spark

At the break, LAFC made three changes, bringing on Igor Jesus, Marlon, and Ryan Hollingshead for Delgado, Long, and Palencia. The substitutions seemed to be a move to manage minutes ahead of the Concacaf Champions Cup second leg against Columbus, but they did little to improve LAFC’s rhythm.

Seattle regained the lead in the 57th minute through Paul Rothrock, who unleashed a 30-yard rocket past a screened Thomas Hasal.

Steve Cherundolo then introduced Dénis Bouanga for Smolyakov, shifting Yaw Yeboah to left-back and moving Ordaz to the right wing. However, in the 62nd minute, Marlon, who had just come on, went down clutching his hamstring and had to be helped off the field. David Martínez replaced him, prompting a shift to a 4-3-3 formation, though it often resembled a 4-2-3-1, with Martínez operating as a No. 10 behind Giroud.

Seattle Pulls Away

The Sounders continued to expose LAFC’s defensive frailties. In the 77th minute, a slow recovery from Yeboah left space for Seattle to exploit on the right flank. A quick combination in the final third allowed Jordan Morris to nutmeg Hasal, extending the lead to 3-1.

Cristian Roldan made it 4-1 in the 84th minute with a curling strike from outside the box, capitalizing on LAFC’s failure to close him down.

Martínez provided a moment of brilliance in stoppage time, picking up the ball near midfield and weaving through five Seattle defenders before slotting past Thomas for a stunning solo goal. But Seattle had the last word, as Georgi Minoungou dribbled into the box and set up Albert Rusnák for an easy finish in the 94th minute, sealing the 5-2 rout.

Looking Ahead

LAFC now shifts focus to the crucial Champions Cup second-leg clash against Columbus, carrying a 3-0 aggregate lead but facing another defensive setback with injuries piling up at center-back. Cherundolo’s squad can’t afford to lose any more depth in that position as the season grinds on.