It was only about two weeks ago that the Seattle Sounders visited the LA Galaxy, delivering a 4-0 beat down in the process. Despite the result, the Sounders are approaching with the assumption that tonight’s Leagues Cup semifinal will be very different.
“That game they were coming off some heavy games played, had one day less of rest,” Sounders head coach Brian Schmetzer said during Tuesday’s pre-match press conference. “That’s not the Galaxy that Greg (Vanney) rolls out there on a normal basis.
“We just got on top of them early and were able to score some timely goals. I fully expect a different look.”
As generous of an interpretation as that may be, it is true that the Galaxy have been a shockingly different team in Leagues Cup play than in MLS play.
Their MLS campaign is on track to be the worst from a defending MLS Cup champion in history, sitting last in the Supporters’ Shield race with just 19 points through 27 matches. Their goal difference of -23 is second worst in the league and seven worse than any other team in the Western Conference.
In Leagues Cup, though, they are 3-0-1 while outscoring opponents 13-4. That includes a 2-1 win over Pachuca in the quarterfinals. Pachuca are 4-1-1 during the early stages of Liga MX play and won Concacaf Champions Cup in 2024.
The Galaxy are also surely keenly aware that this is their best chance at glory this year. The winner of this game will not only host the Leagues Cup final, but will also guarantee themselves a spot in the 2026 Concacaf Champions Cup.
To prepare for this match, the Galaxy rotated most of their starting lineup for their 3-0 win over the Colorado Rapids on Saturday.
"We all know that teams get ready for semifinals," Sounders midfielder Cristian Roldan said. "They're going to be at home, so we expect a team that's going to be behind the ball, playing really hard defensively. In the attack, I think they're going to be smarter with the ball. At times, we felt like we were able to press them really well. It's going to be a whole different team."
Even discounting the win over the Galaxy in their previous meeting, the Sounders have plenty of momentum on their side, too. Since the end of the Club World Cup, the Sounders are 8-1-4 with a +19 goal difference. In their most recent game, they thumped Sporting KC 5-2 while making eight changes to their lineup. They should also be reasonably well rested coming into this match.
The Sounders should also have plenty of their own motivation. Currently sitting 12th in the Supporters' Shield race, Leagues Cup represents by far their most direct path to Concacaf Champions Cup qualification, to speak nothing of the opportunity to win a ninth trophy in their MLS era.
A win tonight would put them in their first cup final since 2022. That three-year finals drought may be modest by most standards, but also represents their longest since Adrian Hanauer took over the club in 2002.
“Our approach is to just keeping doing what we’re doing,” Kalani Kossa-Rienzi said after Sunday’s match. “Confidence is high right now. We know our game. We just have to keep doing that. I don’t think we’re going to change the way we play for another team.”
