Sunday, August 30, 2020
7:00pm PT
TV: FS1, FOX Deportes
RADIO: ESPN LA 710AM, ESPN App, KFWB 980 AM
This Sunday in Seattle, the Black & Gold will still be looking to bounce back from their first regular season loss of 2020 after the Club’s match on August 26 against Real Salt Lake was postponed in support of the players standing in solidarity with the Black community. LAFC’s bounce back game is a difficult one – against the MLS Cup Champion Seattle Sounders FC, who are fresh from walloping their rival Portland Timbers 3-0 on Aug. 23.
LAFC certainly earned a modicum of payback the last time the two clubs met, sending the Sounders home early in the Round of 16 in the MLS is Back Tournament and avenging the 2019 Western Conference Finals matchup where the Sounders dashed the Club’s title hopes.
Sunday night’s contest will mark the fifth regular season meeting between the two sides, with LAFC yet to lose in regular season play. LAFC’s all-time regular season record of 3-0-1 against the Sounders features historic wins including the first game in club history at CenturyLink Field in 2018, defeating Seattle 1-0 on the Club’s first-ever goal scored by Diego Rossi, as well as beating the Sounders 1-0 in the first-ever match at Banc of California Stadium.
The reigning MLS Cup Champions have seen success early this season, beginning with a 2-1 victory over the Chicago Fire and 1-1 draw against the Columbus Crew. The Sounders made it out of MIB group play seeded second in Group B, taking home four points before ultimately being sent home by LAFC. Seattle returned home from the MLS is Back Tournament on a mission, opening its latest MLS season restart with a 3-0 victory against Cascadia Cup rival, Portland Timbers. The Sounders currently sit second in the Western Conference regular season table with 11 points overall.
The Black & Gold opened the 2020 MLS Season with a win over expansion Inter Miami FC and a draw against the Philadelphia Union before the season was suspended on March 12th as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. In the MLS Is Back Tournament, the Black & Gold were sent home by Orlando City SC in the Quarterfinals by way of penalties, but not before picking up five regular season points in the group stage with ties against Houston and Portland and a win over the Galaxy. The Club suffered its first regular season loss last weekend and currently sits in fifth place in the Western Conference with 9 points overall.
SEATTLE IN DEPTH
Carrying the defending MLS Cup champion moniker already provides the Sounders an air of success, with play that can back it up. The experienced, physical squad are dangerous because of their multi-dimensional style. They can operate on the inside and outside, and have a strong ability to create consistent dangerous scoring opportunities. If opposing teams allow the Sounders enough space, their strong ability in the midfield creates nightmares for backlines.
Defensively, they do not concede a lot of shots from the counterattack and are among the best set piece defenders in the league. The Sounders usually don’t press high against LAFC, however in their last matchup against the Club, they deviated slightly from this strategy to less than ideal results.
SET PIECE STRUGGLES
Throughout the 2020 regular season, LAFC has continued to struggle on set pieces. LAFC head coach Bob Bradley has said they have concentrated on set piece defending this week in attempt to raise themselves up from a league worst 0.63 goals conceded per 90 minutes from set pieces compared to the MLS average of 0.26 goals conceded per 90 minutes from set pieces.
LAFC WILL WIN IF…
The Club can get back to playing with their accustomed high level of intensity. In LAFC’s last match against the Galaxy, the conditions were difficult due to extreme heat and the odd circumstances of an empty Banc devoid of the usual manic 3252-led energy. If LAFC’s leaders can find a way to motivate and prepare the squad accordingly with the numerous off-field challenges the Club is dealing with, they have a perfect opportunity in this game to prove to the league that they continue to be a force to be reckoned with, even without injured 2019 MVP Carlos Vela and 2019 Best XI midfielder Eduard Atuesta.
SEATTLE CAN WIN IF…
They are able to exert their physicality and make it difficult for LAFC to play through their midfield. Seattle has also been creating quality set piece chances at a high rate, and if LAFC continues to struggle in the air in front of their own net, Seattle can find its way to three points.
SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT…
Not much has changed since the two clubs recently faced one another on the field, but off the field, it’s difficult to understate the added challenges players from both squads have been facing. With the compressed MLS Regular Season schedule, both teams are continuing to face short turnaround times, with games scheduled approximately four days apart. Moreover, other challenges including fan-less stadiums, the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the continued fight for social justice and systematic change all takes a emotional toll on both squads.
