Seattle grind out unlikely point against LAFC

In a top of the table clash from the Western conference, Seattle Sounders managed to cling onto a point in unlikely fashion in a 1-1 draw against leaders LAFC at the CenturyLink Field today.

Jordan Morris scored early for the Sounders but they were pegged back minutes later by a Carlos Vela strike. Despite having had Cristian Roldan sent off in the first half, Seattle held on as Kelvin Leerdam’s sending off late in the game left the Canadian side with nine men on the pitch.

24-year-old Morris found the back of the net in the first 46 seconds of the game. A defensive error from one of the Western conference’s meanest of defenses saw the ball handed to Morris close to the box, allowing him to slot home from close range to grab his fourth of the campaign.

But Vela leveled the score up three minutes later, as Jordan Harvey’s long ball out from the back met Diego Rossi on the flank. Rossi’s cross was high and Seattle stopper Stefan Frei came out to catch it. But it went over him, allowing Vela to capitalize and easily redirect the ball into the goal.

A controversial moment came in the 18th minute though, as Roldan was involving in a scuffle with Mark-Anthony Kaye. Eduard Atuesta had tried to intervene, but Roldan struck Atuesta across the face, leaving the referee with no choice but to send the 23-year-old off.

As Seattle fought on with a man down, it took a massive defensive effort from them in the second half to do so. LAFC mustered a total of 20 shots on target but failed to break through. They were kept to their minimum while coming forward, as the Seattle defense covered everything out at will.

Christian Ramirez managed to miss a near open goal chance, fluffing an attempt from close range in the 46th minute. Kaye too had an effort hit the post but he was adjudged offside deeming the shot invalid.

Leerdam was sent off in the fifth minute of stoppage time but thankfully, the job was done for them. But the sending offs will cause Brian Schmetzer’s men more problems as they had come into the LAFC game with six players out due to injury.

Defensive midfielder Gustav Svensson (hamstring), left winger Victor Rodriguez (concussion), and Nouhou (ankle) had sustained injuries during the side’s draw against San Jose last midweek.

Despite the result, LAFC remained top of the Western conference with 23 points in the bag and they still are four points clear of second placed and Zlatan Ibrahimovic led LA Galaxy.

Their next game sees them host Chicago Fire, who lost 1-0 to Montreal Impact earlier today. Followed by that, LAFC will travel to Columbus.

As for Seattle they stayed five points behind leaders LAFC, staying at third in the league despite having six players out due to injury.  They are currently just one point clear of fourth placed Dallas, who have 17 points on board currently.

The Canadian side will travel to Minnesota next weekend, followed by a home game against Houston Dynamo, who picked up a 2-0 win over Columbus Crew earlier today.