In a rematch from the 2023 MLS Cup playoffs, Los Angeles FC and the Seattle Sounders will meet again in the Western Conference semi-finals, this time at BMO Stadium on Saturday.
The Black and Gold edged the Vancouver Whitecaps 1-0 the last time out, winning that series 2-1, while the Sounders swept the Houston Dynamo in round one, winning both games on penalties.
Match preview
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This edition of the MLS Cup playoffs has been a virtual carbon copy for Los Angeles from a year ago, who ousted the Caps in round one and will meet the Sounders in the conference semi-finals for a second successive campaign.
Steve Cherundolo has never lost a post-season fixture versus a Western Conference opponent, guiding them to the cup final on two successive occasions.
The top team in the Western Conference this year have won five successive home games across all competitions, going unbeaten in their last six competitive fixtures at BMO Stadium.
Counting their 2022 MLS Cup triumph against the Philadelphia Union, LA have won seven consecutive post-season contests at BMO Stadium.
If you include the 2024 playoffs, this team have won 10 domestic encounters by a single goal while losing only once by that thin margin (3-2 versus the Colorado Rapids).
LAFC are undefeated in their last 10 meetings against the Rave Green, defeating them 1-0 at this stage of the 2023 playoffs in Seattle.
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It has been a nervy couple of months for the Sounders, but they are still standing, with their last three MLS games finishing tied after normal time.
For a second successive regular-season campaign, Brian Schmetzer's men conceded the fewest goals in the league (35), and their defensive shape has remained strong of late, conceding a goal or fewer in their last six matches.
Seattle have triumphed in their previous four MLS away games, though they have not won any of their last three playoff contests as the visitors in normal time.
Since suffering a 2-1 defeat at Sporting Kansas City in early June, the Sounders are unbeaten in their last 12 MLS fixtures counting the playoffs when scoring first, winning 10 of those affairs after 90 minutes.
They lost six away matches in the regular season by just a single goal, and this weekend, they can claim successive playoff wins in the same year for the first time since 2016, when they won their first MLS Cup.
While they have struggled against LAFC over the past few years, the Sounders were the last team to beat them on their home field in the post-season, claiming a 3-1 triumph in 2019.
Team News
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In game three of their opening-round series with the Whitecaps, LA were without Lorenzo Dellavalle, who will not return this season after sustaining an ACL injury.
From game two to three of that series, Cherundolo made just one change to his opening lineup, with Marlon coming into the fold and Olivier Giroud relegated to the bench for that deciding fixture.
A second-half strike from Mateusz Bogusz was enough to see them advance beyond round one as Hugo Lloris made two saves to collect his first career MLS post-season clean sheet in their previous encounter.
There may be some good news on the injury front for the Sounders this weekend with Jordan Morris returning to training after missing game two of their series with Houston due to a minor knock, while Cody Baker sat out of that match as well because of concussion protocol and Albert Rusnak was sidelined with tightness in his hip but may be available on Saturday.
Schmetzer made two changes to his starting 11 from game one to two, bringing in Obed Vargas and Raul Ruidiaz to replace Rusnak and Morris.
The only goals in normal time of game two versus the Dynamo came courtesy of Cristian Roldan, who put his side in front three minutes from the end and levelled that match with an own-goal in stoppage time, though he was bailed out by Stefan Frei, with the Seattle keeper stopping Tate Schmitt in the shootout to send his side through.
Los Angeles FC possible starting lineup:
Lloris; Murillo, Chanot, Long; Palencia, Tillman, O'Brien, Hollingshead; Bogusz, Giroud, Bouanga
Seattle Sounders possible starting lineup:
Frei; A. Roldan, Gomez Andrade, Ragen, Tolo; Vargas, Paulo; de la Vega, Rusnak, C. Roldan; Morris
We say: Los Angeles FC 1-0 Seattle Sounders
LAFC seem to thrive in close games, and often, all they need is one chance to claim victory, which should give them an edge over a solid defensive unit this weekend, but who do not possess as much attacking depth as the Black and Gold.
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