Seattle Sounders v Los Angeles FC: Hosts ´flying´ with win in ´massive game´, says Schmetzer

The Seattle Sounders will be “flying” if they can beat Los Angeles FC on Saturday.

That was the message from coach Brian Schmetzer, who is relishing a huge occasion at Lumen Field, where the Sounders have been outstanding.

Seattle are on a five-game winning run in MLS, with four of those matches coming at home. They have lost in Seattle only once this year, back in April.

After a slow start, there are now only five teams above them in the Western Conference, but one of those are LAFC.

It was a defeat in Los Angeles that set in motion the Sounders’ five-game winless run to start the campaign, while their 2023 season ended with a defeat to LAFC at Lumen Field.

Seattle should not be short of motivation then, and Schmetzer is now shying away from the significance of this game.

“Saturday is such a big game against LAFC,” Schmetzer said. “Everyone needs to come out and show up.

“We’ve set ourselves up pretty good.”

Take a listen to Coach Schmetzer’s speech to the team following last night’s win! pic.twitter.com/Heqj1pJ0Yd

— Seattle Sounders FC (@SoundersFC) July 18, 2024

“This is a massive game for us. We’ve only lost twice in 18 games. That’s pretty darn good if you ask me.

“We come out with a result on Saturday, and we’re flying.”

A win would close the gap between sixth-placed Seattle and second-placed LAFC to just four points, with this weekend’s visitors wobbling in recent weeks against elite opposition.

The performance in the midweek draw with Real Salt Lake was merely “a little better” than in the prior humbling 5-1 defeat to the Columbus Crew, according to coach Steve Cherundolo.

“No, I was not happy with the performance [against RSL],” he said.

LAFC had won nine of their previous 10 ahead of the Columbus game.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Seattle Sounders – Albert Rusnak

Rusnak assisted Jon Bell’s first Seattle goal in the midweek win over St Louis City, continuing his fine form. That was his sixth consecutive home match in which he had registered a goal contribution.

Obafemi Martins is the only Sounders player with a longer such streak in a single regular season, with a seven-game run in 2014.

Los Angeles FC – Mateusz Bogusz

Olivier Giroud officially became an LAFC player this week, but Bogusz has contributed handily while the team have waited for the World Cup winner to arrive.

Bogusz has contributed to goals in each of his past five away matches, the longest active streak in MLS. Only Carlos Vela has had goal contributions in more consecutive road games in the regular season for LAFC (six matches in 2018).

MATCH PREDICTION: LAFC WIN

Across MLS and the US Open Cup, the Sounders have won six games in a row, their longest winning run since a streak of the same length ended in MLS Cup glory in 2019.

But LAFC are the Sounders’ bogey side right now. They have won three in a row against Seattle and are unbeaten in seven in this fixture.

The Rave Green have not beaten LAFC since May 2021, and Saturday’s visitors will hope to provide another reality check.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Seattle Sounders – 32.1%
Los Angeles FC – 42.5%
Draw – 25.4%