FULL-TIME: The Sounders are back in MLS Cup thanks to a massive performance against the best regular-season team in league history. Despite giving up an early goal, the Sounders bounced back with three straight of their own to claim a 3-1 win over Los Angeles FC. They’ll face the winner of Atlanta United-Toronto FC in MLS Cup on Nov. 10.

LAFC 1, SOUNDERS 3: After mostly sitting back for the bulk of the second half, the Sounders made good on their first scoring chance. Nico Lodeiro picked off a pass deep in LAFC territory, pushed it to Raúl Ruidíaz who took one touch to set himself up and then beat Tyler Miller to the near post.

LAFC 1, SOUNDERS 2: Just a few minutes after equalizing, Nicolas Lodeiro gave the Sounders their first lead, finishing off a well-worked counter-attack.

LAFC 1, SOUNDERS 1: Undeterred by the goal on the other end, the Sounders picked up right where they had left off and found an equalizer just four minutes later. The goal came off the foot of Raúl Ruidíaz, a rifled shot from the edge of the penalty area.

LAFC 1, SOUNDERS 0: After a strong start that saw the Sounders mostly control the early stages of the match, an Eduard Atuesta free kick on LAFC’s first shot of the match provided the first goal. Carlos Vela drew the foul with a clever spin move, but deferred to Atuesta on the free kick.

LINEUPS: The Sounders go with their tried-and-true starting 11 for the biggest match of the season. There was some question about whether or not Roman Torres would start, but he’s on the bench. LAFC gets Zimmerman back in their lineup but Kaye is unable to start.

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The two best teams in the Western Conference meet tonight when LAFC host the Seattle Sounders at Banc of California Stadium. This will be the third meeting between these two team this season and the first-ever playoff meeting.

The Sounders have struggled against LAFC, going 0-3-1 in four regular-season meetings. They finally scored their first-ever goal against LAFC the last time these two met on April 21 when LA defeated Seattle 4-1. A week later, the two teams played to a 1-1 tie that saw the Sounders play down a man for 72 minutes and finish out the match with just nine players on the field.

The winner of this match will take on the winner of Wednesday night’s Eastern Conference finals in the 2019 MLS Cup to be held on Nov. 10.

Absences: Injury, international duty and suspension

Seattle

OUT: Will Bruin (Right ACL tear)

QUESTIONABLE: Roman Torres (left hamstring strain)

LAFC

OUT: MID Alejandro Guido – Illness; MID Javier Perez – Left ACL tear; DEF Danilo Silva – Lumbar Disc surgery

QUESTIONABLE: FWD Rodolfo Zelaya – Left Foot contusion

No players can be suspended for MLS Cup due to yellow-card accumulation

REFEREE: Jair Marrufo

AR1: Frank Anderson

AR2: Logan Brown

4th: Ted Unkel

VAR: Geoff Gamble

AVAR: Eric Weisbrod

Keys to the Game:

• Keep it close: No team in MLS has played more games decided by one goal or less than the Sounders and no team has won more games by one goal than the Sounders. LAFC have played far fewer and only won four games all year by one goal. If this game is close during the late stages, you’ve got to give the Sounders a bit of an experience edge.
• Don’t get stretched: While the Sounders need to be willing to press the LAFC backline, they can’t allow themselves to get caught too far upfield. LAFC thrives in transition and the Sounders need to make sure they’ve always got at least three players back.
• Attack the wings: If there’s one area on the field where LAFC seem vulnerable it’s at fullback where the exceptionally mediocre Jordan Harvey and the attack-oriented Steven Beitashour are their starters. Whether it’s Jordan Morris, Joevin Jones or Victor Rodriguez, all three seem to have the matchup advantage and the Sounders need to exploit that.

How to Watch

Match date/time: Tuesday, Oct. 29 @ 7:00 PM

Venue: Banc of California Stadium — Los Angeles, CA

Online Streaming: YouTube TV, Fubo TV (affiliate link), WatchESPN

Local English TV: ESPN (Jon Champion, Taylor Twellman and Sebastian Salazar)

Local Radio: 950 KJR-AM Seattle ( Matt Johnson and Kasey Keller)

Local Spanish Radio: El Rey 1360 AM (Mario Rodriguez, Felipe Maqueda and Carlos Tapia)

Local Spanish TV: ESPN Deportes ( Mauricio Pedroza and Herculez Gomez)

International TV

Listings via LiverSoccerTV.com

Lineups

Seattle

LAFC

Highlights will be posted as the match progresses.

This is Seattle Sounders at LAFC; watch with us

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