Making their second successive appearance in the Leagues Cup quarter-finals, Los Angeles FC travel to Lumen Field on Saturday for a date with the Seattle Sounders.
On Monday, Seattle demolished Pumas 4-0, while the Black and Gold earned a comfortable 4-1 triumph over the San Jose Earthquakes.
Match preview
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The Sounders made some noise this week with an emphatic victory, sending a message to those remaining in this competition that they can be a force to be reckoned with.
That was their biggest victory ever at the Leagues Cup and their second-biggest of the 2024 campaign, defeating CF Montreal at home 5-0 in April in Major League Soccer (MLS) action.
Saturday will only be their second trip to the last eight of this tournament, with the previous time occurring in 2021 when they knocked out Tigres and then Santos Laguna before losing the final versus Club Leon (3-2).
This encounter will be the first time they battle an MLS opponent in the knockout phase of this tournament, with the Sounders defeating Minnesota United (2-0) and the Los Angeles Galaxy (3-1) in the Leagues Cup this year.
Seattle have a 100% record at Lumen Field in knockout matches at this tournament, winning those four encounters by a combined margin of 11-1.
Since a 1-0 defeat against the Los Angeles Galaxy in March, Brian Schmetzer's men are unbeaten in their last 17 matches when conceding a goal or fewer.
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Aside from a minor setback in their second group fixture when they lost on penalties to the Vancouver Whitecaps, Los Angeles FC have proven to be a contending team in this tournament.
The Black and Gold have won three of their four Leagues Cup games this year, conceding only once in those three victories, against the Quakes on Tuesday.
Steve Cherundolo's men can exercise some Leagues Cup demons from last year, with his side squandering a 2-0 half-time advantage and losing 3-2 to Monterrey in the 2023 quarter-finals.
However, this upcoming fixture will be the first knockout match for them outside California and their second Leagues Cup clash outside BMO Stadium, with the first time being that fateful collapse against Monterrey last year at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena.
Los Angeles have not lost any of their previous six matches across all competitions in normal time since suffering a 5-1 humiliation at home to the Columbus Crew in July.
They are unbeaten in eight successive matches across all competitions versus the Sounders and have not conceded in their last three visits to Lumen Field, claiming a 3-0 triumph in Seattle earlier this year.
Team News
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In their victory over Pumas, Seattle were missing Braudilio Rodrigues due to a hamstring strain, while Pedro de la Vega was sidelined once again and has not featured since suffering a knock versus Necaxa.
Paul Rothrock has started the last two matches in his place, while Andrew Thomas has been between the sticks in each of their Leagues Cup affairs this year but may be replaced by first-choice goalkeeper Stefan Frei.
Rothrock justified his place in the starting 11, scoring the winner against Pumas, with Jordan Morris netting a brace and Albert Rusnak rounding out the scoring.
Against the Goonies this week, LA did not have Luis Muller available due to a hip issue, and Lorenzo Dellavalle will not be back this season because of a torn ACL.
Olivier Giroud made his long-awaited debut for the team on Tuesday, replacing Cristian Olivera in the second half against San Jose.
Olivera netted the opening goal in their round of 16 clash, Mateusz Bogusz scored his first of the tournament, while Denis Bouanga had a brace, giving him four at the Leagues Cup this year, one fewer than Tai Baribo of the Philadelphia Union in the Golden Boot race.
Seattle Sounders possible starting lineup:
Frei; A. Roldan, Gomez Andrade, Ragen, Tolo; C. Roldan, Baker-Whiting, Paulo, Rothrock; Morris, Rusnak
Los Angeles FC possible starting lineup:
Lloris; Murillo, Chanot, Long; Palencia, Sanchez, Duenas, Hollingshead; Olivera, Bogusz, Bouanga
We say: Seattle Sounders 0-1 Los Angeles FC
An already formidable LA squad are that much more dangerous with the addition of Giroud, and their depth in the attacking third should propel them to a narrow triumph this weekend.
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