LAFC defeated the Seattle Sounders 1-0 at Lumen Field on Sunday night in the Western Conference Semifinal behind a first-half goal from Dénis Bouanga.
Josh Atencio forced goalkeeper Maxime Crépeau into a save inside three minutes with his shot from outside the box.
Jordan Morris had the Sounders’ best chance of the first half one minute later when he split LAFC’s two center backs and had his breakaway attempt saved by Crépeau.
Bouanga broke the deadlock in the 30th minute when he took off on a break down the left flank and finished into the far corner past Stefan Frei. The tally was the MLS Golden Boot winner’s 37th in all competitions this season.
Morris has another opportunity in the 60th minute after an interchange with Albert Rusnák and Nicolás Lodeiro, but Morris’ shot was blocked.
Yeimar had a chance in the 76th minute off a deflection on a set piece, but his shot was cleared off the line.
Alex Roldan unleashed a great left-footed strike from just outside the box in the 80th minute, but Crépeau parried it over the bar.
João Paulo forced Crépeau into another difficult save a minute later that would have picked out the top corner.
The Sounders’ best chance of the second half came in the fourth minute of stoppage time when Rusnák’s shot from outside the box hit the crossbar.
Seattle dominated with nearly 70% possession and outshot LAFC 8-2 on target, but was unable to capitalize. The loss ends the Sounders’ 2023 campaign, while LAFC will host the Houston Dynamo in the Western Conference Championship.
THREE TAKEAWAYS
Home playoff streak snapped
Seattle snapped a 19-match home playoff unbeaten streak, which was tied for the longest run in MLS Cup Playoffs history. The Sounders went 17-0-2 in that span dating back to 2014.
First postseason loss to LAFC
Seattle had taken the first two playoff meetings between the clubs, the first in 2019 in Los Angeles and the second a year later at Lumen Field.
Offseason awaits
The Sounders will enter the offseason after a long campaign that started in February in Morocco at the FIFA Club World Cup.
