Sounders eliminate West top-seed LAFC in 2nd-half extra time

Field Level Media|published: Sun 24th November, 01:47 2024

Nov 23, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; Seattle Sounders FC forward Pedro De La Vega (10) and LAFC defender Aaron Long (33) battle for the ball in the second half in a 2024 MLS Cup western conference semifinal match at BMO Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

Jordan Morris scored in second-half extra time as the Seattle Sounders defeated host Los Angeles FC 2-1 on Saturday night, eliminating the Western Conference's top seed from the MLS Cup playoffs.

Seattle will play the winner of Sunday's match between Minnesota and the Los Angeles Galaxy in the conference final.

The Sounders, who tied the score at 1-1 on an own goal by LAFC's Maxime Chanot in the 59th minute, snapped a 10-match winless streak (0-8-2) against LAFC and beat them for the first time in five tries this season. That included losses in the Leagues Cup quarterfinals and the U.S. Open Cup semifinals.

Sounders goalkeeper Stefan Frei made nine saves, including a stop on a bicycle kick by Aaron Long in the 87th minute, another on Ryan Hollingshead's attempt in second-half stoppage time, a kick save on Mateusz Bogusz in the first overtime and another on Hollingshead while crashing into the left post in the 120th minute.

The Sounders got the winner after a left-wing corner kick by Joao Paulo in the 109th minute. LAFC headed the ball to the top of the 18-yard box, where Seattle's Cristian Roldan kept it in play. The ball went off a Los Angeles defender and fell to Morris outside the top right corner of the 6-yard box and he spun and put a shot into the upper right corner of the net.

After a scoreless first half, Los Angeles broke through in the 50th minute. After a Seattle turnover near midfield, LAFC pushed forward on the counterattack. Bogusz got the ball at the top right of the 18-yard box and fed Hollingshead, who was just outside the penalty spot. Hollingshead's right-footed one-timer skimmed inside the far post and just out of the reach of a diving Frei.

The Sounders tied it as Albert Rusnak took a pass on the right side of the penalty area and fed Obed Vargas, who was making a run toward the end line. Vargas' low cross deflected off Chanot and just inside the right post, leaving LAFC goalkeeper Hugo Lloris flat-footed.

Lloris made four saves for LAFC, which outshot the Sounders 26-13 -- including 10-6 in attempts on net.

--Field Level Media

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