LAFC and Seattle Sounders clash in a Western Conference heavyweight battle on June 21st at BMO Field in Los Angeles, California.
Earlier this season the two sides met at Lumen Field in Seattle, Washington, in a game that ended in a 0-0 draw. But now, both teams are neck-and-neck in the West with LAFC’s 29 points to Seattle’s 28, raising the stakes.
LAFC boast one of the most lethal attacking units in MLS with Denis Bouanga, Carlos Vela, and Kwadwo Opoku, scoring 25 goals in their fixture-congested season that saw them fall short in the Concacaf Champions Cup against Liga MX side Club Leon.
The Sounders attackers aren’t shabby themselves, either. They have the likes of Cristian Roldan, Jordan Morris, and Raul Ruidiaz in their ranks, managing 24 goals in 2023. However, Morris and Roldan are set to link up with the USMNT for the Gold Cup that starts this upcoming weekend.
Depending on the availability of players in international duty, could this matchup have the potential to be end-to-end with goals on the horizon?
When is kick-off? 10:30 PM EST
Where is the game being played? BMO Field
TV channel/live stream? MLS Season Pass on Apple TV
What time does TV coverage start? 10:15 PM EST
Kellyn Acosta’s leg injury will force him to miss out, joiningTim Tillman on the sidelines. Sergi Palencia, Giorgio Chiellini, and Maxime Crepeau are also out due to injury and are expected to be back in late June/early July.
Golden Boot contender Denis Bouanga should be back in time from international duty with Gabon to feature in some capacity, while Jose Cifuentes’ status is in the air as he remains on international duty with Ecuador. Center-back Aaron Long is also unavailable for selection as he’s been called up the USMNT squad for the upcoming Gold Cup.
Despite being in second place in the Western Conference, LAFC’s recent form has taken a hit. The current MLS Cup champions have just one win in their last five games in all competitions, coming against Sporting Kansas City on the road, 2-1.
The Sounders will be missing several players between international duty and injuries.
A groin injury will limit Nicolas Lodeiro from taking part in the game as he’s expected to return early next month, while Sota Kitahara and Ethan Dobbelaere remain sidelined with their respective injuries until the end of the month.
Jordan Morris and Cristian Roldan both received call-ups for the USMNT ahead of the Gold Cup and will both be unavailable for selection.
Seattle’s last five games haven’t been that much better than LAFC’s. They, too, have just one win in their last five tries, which was a 1-0 home win against the struggling New York Red Bulls.
If Seattle was at full strength in their attacking department, they would have more than a shot at winning this game. But given that’s not the case and LAFC will have most of their forwards available, it wont be a fair fight.
Despite their recent form, LAFC are still a team that poses a threat to any defense in MLS. They should have enough firepower up front to knock off the Sounders and create a little bit of breathing room between second and third place in the Western Conference standings.
Prediction: LAFC 2 – Seattle Sounders 0
