Sights, Sounds and Notes from Sounders FC 2-0 win over LAFC

GAME NOTES

MATCH NOTES

• With Sunday’s victory Seattle matches the record for the best start to a season in club history (MLS era). With five wins and one draw (16 points), Brian Schmetzer’s side equaled the record of the 2019 team through six games.

• Following the win, Seattle remains both top of the Supporters’ Shield race and MLS Western Conference standings (both by four points). Sounders FC has also scored more goals (13) than any other team in the league, and has the best goal difference (+11).

• Sounders FC is tied with Orlando City for the best defensive record in MLS, with both clubs allowing just two goals (Seattle has played six matches to Orlando’s five). Seattle leads the league in shutouts, accumulating four clean-sheets on the season (three clubs are tied with three shutouts).

• In three home matches thus far, Seattle has not conceded a goal at Lumen Field in 2021. Sounders FC is the only team in the league that has not conceded a goal at home (other than expansion side Austin FC, who has yet to play at its new stadium). In addition to tonight’s win, the club previously recorded a 3-0 win over Minnesota United on April 16 and 3-0 victory over the LA Galaxy on May 2.

• After playing an adjusted 3-4-3 formation on Wednesday night in San Jose, Sounders FC Head Coach Brian Schmetzer reverted back to the 3-5-2 look that he fielded the first four matches of 2021. After starting midweek in Northern California, Xavier Arreaga remained in the lineup tonight alongside fellow centerbacks Yeimar Gómez Andrade and Nouhou. João Paulo returned to the lineup in central midfield for Danny Leyva, as did forward Will Bruin, replacing Ethan Dobbelaere.

• Sounders FC is 5-4-2 all-time against LAFC in MLS play (including postseason results). The club has a 3-4-2 record in regular-season action. The two sides also met in the Knockout Stage of the MLS is Back Tournament in Orlando last season, with LAFC earning a 4-1 win.

• Replacing the injured Stefan Frei in goal (L knee sprain), Stefan Cleveland made his Sounders FC regular-season debut on Sunday night, recording a shutout in just his sixth overall league match. Coincidentally, Cleveland’s only other MLS win came as a member of the Chicago Fire, a 3-1 victory that also came against LAFC on September 29, 2018.

• Scoring the go-ahead tally in the Xavier Arreaga in the 57^th minute of play, central defender Xavier Arreaga recorded his first Sounders FC goal in 33 regular-season appearances. The Ecuadorian joined the Rave Green during the 2019 season, and has played in five of Seattle’s six matches this campaign (four starts).

• Brad Smith’s strike in the 73^rd minute of play was his second goal in as many matches against LAFC this season. The speedy wingback also scored last month at Banc of California Stadium, netting the equalizer on April 24 in a 1-1 draw. The Australian now has three goals in 2021, good for second on the roster in scoring behind Raúl Ruidíaz (five goals).

• At 16 years and 46 days, recent Homegrown signing Reed Baker-Whiting is the fifth-youngest player in MLS history to play in a league match. The Seattle native made his professional debut tonight in second-half stoppage time as a substitute of João Paulo. Fellow Sounders FC Academy product Danny Leyva is fourth on the list of youngest players to feature in league play, having made his debut at 16 years and 31 days at Montreal on June 5, 2019.

• After tearing his right ACL on Wednesday night in San Jose, Seattle players honored injured midfielder Jordy Delem with a banner of support during the pre-match photo this evening. That image can be found in the match gallery and is available for editorial use.

• After playing on national television Sunday and five of six matches in 2021, Seattle prepares for a network television audience for the second time this season on Sunday, May 23 vs. Atlanta United. FOX is broadcasting the match, with Seattle last having played in front of a network audience on May 9 at Portland, when ABC carried the contest.