This year’s MLS Cup Playoffs has been all about the upsets.
Jordan Morris scored in the 109th minute, during extra time, to help the Seattle Sounders beat Los Angeles FC 2-1 in their conference semifinal Saturday night at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles.
“They’ve had our number for a while,” Morris said of LAFC, unbeaten in 10 previous matches against Seattle before Saturday. “We got two more to go.”
LAFC was considered the favorite to win MLS Cup along with the L.A. Galaxy after the Crew, Lionel Messi’s record-setting Inter Miami, and last year’s Supporters’ Shield winners, FC Cincinnati, were eliminated in the first round earlier this month.
LAFC, the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference, fell short in its pursuit of reaching a third straight MLS Cup final. LAFC won the 2022 MLS Cup, and fell to the Columbus Crew in last year’s Cup final.
The L.A. Galaxy hosts Minnesota on Sunday; the winner will face Seattle in the Western Conference finals next weekend. Orlando City and Atlanta United also play Sunday, hoping to meet the New York Red Bulls in the Eastern Conference finals.
Despite the final score favoring Seattle, LAFC scored more goals in this match.
Seattle found new life when LAFC’s Maxime Chanot scored an own goal that stunned his side and tied the match in the 59th minute. Chanot’s attempt to make a clearance instead found his net.
It was a major letdown for LAFC after Ryan Hollingshead scored from the penalty spot on an assist from Mateusz Bogusz in the 50 minute to take a 1-0 lead.
Entering the match, LAFC had won 30 of 33 games when they’ve scored first in all competitions this season.
LAFC’s season comes to an end without more championship hardware: The club won the U.S. Open Cup against Sporting Kansas City, after losing to the Columbus Crew in the Leagues Cup final earlier this year.
Seattle endured its share of tough defeats to LAFC, including knockout losses in the quarterfinals of the Leagues Cup and semifinals of the U.S. Open Cup. They also lost to LAFC in the conference semifinals last year.
Seattle has reached the Western Conference final for the fifth time, reaching the MLS Cup final each of the previous four times in a five-year span from 2016-2020. They won the MLS Cup in 2016 and 2019.
Jordan Morris turned and pulled the trigger. And the Seattle Sounders have taken the lead in extra time.
The score from Morris in the 109th minute gives Seattle a 2-1 lead with about 10 minutes left.
Tied 1-1 after seven minutes of added time in the second half, LAFC and the Seattle Sounders are going to extra time in their conference semifinal in the MLS Cup Playoffs. Two, 15-minute periods will be played. If tied after extra time, the match will be decided by penalty kicks.
French star Olivier Giroud came off as a substitute. He remains scoreless through the first 14 MLS games of his career, including each of LAFC’s four playoff matches.
The Seattle Sounders are on the board, thanks to a shocking own goal by LAFC’s Maxime Chanot in the 59th minute. Chanot attempted to make a clearance, but instead scored in the opposing team’s net. This game is now tied.
LAFC’s Ryan Hollingshead scored from the penalty spot, on an assist from Mateusz Bogusz in the 50th minute to take a 1-0 lead over the Seattle Sounders.
After a scoreless first half, Hollingshead’s right boot found the left corner of the net. It was a stellar attack by LAFC, which is 30-2-1 when they’ve scored first in all competitions this season.
The Los Angeles FC vs. Seattle Sounders FC game will stream on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.
Los Angeles FC will host Seattle Sounders FC on Saturday, Nov. 23 at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles.
According to BetMGM, here are the odds after regulation: Los Angeles FC (-110), Seattle Sounders FC (+275), tie (+250). The over/under is set at 2.5 goals.
According to BetMGM, here are the odds for winning the league championship: Los Angeles FC (+165), Los Angeles Galaxy (+300), Orlando City SC (+500), New York City FC (+700), New York Red Bulls (+800), Seattle Sounders FC (+1000), Minnesota United FC (+1600) and Atlanta United (+2500).
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