Seattle Sounders FC (1-4-1, 4 points) fell 1-0 at Los Angeles FC (5-2-0, 15 points) at a sold-out Banc of California Stadium in front of 22,000 fans in the first match ever played at the new MLS venue. After over 90 minutes of back-and-forth play between the two sides, Lauren Ciman scored a late-winner in the third minute of second-half stoppage time via a free kick from 25 yards outside of Seattle’s goal. The loss snapped a two-match unbeaten run for Seattle, who returns home to take on Columbus Crew SC next Saturday, May 5 on the Xbox Pitch at CenturyLink Field (1:00 p.m. PT / JOEtv, YouTube TV, Univision-Seattle, 950 KJR AM, El Rey 1360 AM).
Despite Román Torres’ last-minute lineup scratch due to a strained right hamstring that forced his removal from the match, Seattle’s backline held a strong account of itself in the first half of play. With new South Korean international Kim Kee-hee making his first MLS start for the club alongside Gustav Svensson in central defense due to Chad Marshall’s recent neck sprain, Seattle’s defense held LA to just one shot on-target through 45 minutes of action. On the other end of the pitch, the Rave Green attack lumped pressure on the home side, registering eight total shots (three on-target) and four corner-kick opportunities during the first half.
Seattle continued to apply pressure and create chances throughout the second half of play, but ultimately it was the home team’s night, as Ciman’s free kick bested Seattle’s defense to claim all three points for LAFC. Sounders FC is now 0-2-0 against Los Angeles FC in MLS play, following a 1-0 LAFC win in the season-opener on March 4.
Brian Schmetzer’s men return to the Emerald City on Monday, with a Saturday clash versus Columbus Crew SC on the horizon. That contest is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. PT on May 5, with JoeTV, Univision-Seattle and YouTube TV carrying the match. Sports Radio 950 KJR AM and El Rey 1360 AM have the call on regional radio.
MEDIA RESOURCES
MATCH HIGHLIGHTS:https://bit.ly/2HADtsq
PHOTOS - IMAGES FOR MEDIA USE:https://bit.ly/2Krgxto
VIDEO - BRIAN SCHMETZER POST-MATCH PRESS CONFERENCE: https://bit.ly/2vXLBxF
VIDEO – STEFAN FREI POST-MATCH MEDIA SCRUM:https://bit.ly/2HGcF5S
VIDEO – CRISTIAN ROLDAN POST-MATCH MEDIA SCRUM:https://bit.ly/2HANCoQ
AUDIO - DOWNLOADABLE POST-MATCH SOUNDBYTES: http://sndrs.com/audio
MATCH NOTES
- With the loss, Sounders FC sees its two-match unbeaten streak (1-0-1) ended and falls to 1-4-1 on the season.
- Sounders FC is now 0-2-0 against Los Angeles FC in MLS play, following a 1-0 LAFC win in the season-opener on March 4.
- Clint Dempsey registered a season-high five shots and two shots on goal in Sunday’s contest, his first start since being issued a two-match suspension for a red card at FC Dallas on March 18.
- Kim Kee-hee made his first MLS start on Sunday after Román Torres was a late scratch due to a right hamstring strain. The South Korean defender previously played 16 minutes at FC Dallas on March 18 in his MLS debut and logged 55 minutes at Chivas Guadalajara in Scotiabank CONCACAF Champions League play on March 14.
- Gustav Svensson made his first start of the season in central defense after starting the first five matches of 2018 at central midfield. The Swedish international filled in for the injured Chad Marshall, who suffered a neck sprain in last Sunday’s win over Minnesota United FC. Svensson is one of three Sounders FC players who has played every regular-season minute thus far in 2018 (Stefan Frei, Cristian Roldan).
- Rookie Alex Roldan made his third-consecutive start for Sounders FC alongside his brother Cristian. It marked a homecoming of sorts for the Roldan brothers, who hail from Pico Rivera, California.
MATCH SUMMARY
Seattle Sounders FC 0 – Los Angeles FC 1
Sunday, April 29, 2018
Venue: Banc of California Stadium
Referee: Kevin Stott
Assistants: Brian Poeschel, Cameron Blanchard
Fourth Official: Baldomero Toledo
VAR: Alex Chilowicz
Attendance: 22,000
Weather: 63 degrees and clear
SCORING SUMMARY
LAFC – Laurent Ciman 90’+3’
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY
SEA – Osvaldo Alonso (caution) 15’
LAFC– Mark-Anthony Kaye (caution) 63’
SEA– Cristian Roldan (caution) 82’
LINEUPS & STATS
Seattle Sounders FC – Stefan Frei; Kelvin Leerdam, Kim Kee-hee (Jordy Delem 69’), Gustav Svensson, Nouhou; Osvaldo Alonso – captain (Magnus Wolff Eikrem 79’), Cristian Roldan, Nicolás Lodeiro, Clint Dempsey, Alex Roldan (Lamar Neagle 87’); Will Bruin
Substitutes not used: Bryan Meredith, Jordan McCrary, Tony Alfaro, Handwalla Bwana
Total shots: 13 (Dempsey, 5)
Shots on goal: 6 (Dempsey/Svensson, 2)
Fouls: 16 (Three players, 3)
Offside: 2 (Lodeiro/Bruin, 1)
Corner-kicks: 6 (Lodeiro, 5)
Saves: 3 (Frei, 3)
Los Angeles FC – Tyler Miller; Steven Beitashour, Walker Zimmerman, Laurent Ciman, Jordan Harvey; Mark-Anthony Kaye (Eduard Atuesta 64’), Benny Feilhaber, Omar Gaber (Latif Blessing 59’), Diego Rossi (Joao Moutinho 89’), Carlos Vela; Marco Ureña
Substitutes not used: Charlie Lyon, Dejan Jakovic, Tristan Blackmon, Shaft Brewer
Total shots: 14 (Urena, 4)
Shots on goal: 4 (Urena, 2)
Fouls: 11 (Kaye, 4)
Offside: 0
Corner-kicks: 4 (Vela, 2)
Saves: 4 (Miller, 4)
POST-MATCH AUDIO
Post-match soundbytes from Sounders FC Head Coach Brian Schmetzer, goalkeeper Stefan Frei and midfielder Cristian Roldan are available via the following link: http://sndrs.com/audio.
