The Seattle Sounders will step into the MLS FIFA World Cup break on a two-game losing streak, following Sunday’s 1-0 loss to LAFC. Not what head coach Brian Schemtzer had in mind or could have imagined after the team’s 3-2 win over Western Conference leader San Jose. A disappointing 2-0 home loss to the LA Galaxy and Sunday’s loss to LAFC left Schmetzer in soul-searching mode.
“ The adjustments we made at halftime were great. And we’ll digest this game. And then, of course, as a coaching staff, we’ve got another preseason where we’ll have to get them physically right,’ Schmetzer said in his post-game press conference.
It’ll be a test for you, knowing what that looks like for future seasons in MLS, having the break in the summer. Adam, Santefani, best trainer in the league, best fitness guy in the league, is gonna give the guys programs to go home with, make sure they’re physically fit, and then, obviously, the coaching staff’s gonna revisit, you know, the good things that we’ve done this year to get 7, 3, and 3, which isn’t a bad record. But it just feels really poor, or, you know, feels bad right now, because, you know, starting with that Sporting Kansas City game, you know, we drop points there, you know, San Diego at home, we drop, like, a few points. Uh, you know, then the galaxy game, and now this, so, you know, we’ll do our normal, uh, revisiting of this game, and certainly try and write the ship when we come back against Portland.”
MISSED OPPORTUNITY
The loss to LAFC is a missed opportunity and tells the story of how the first half of the season has gone.
Both teams were looking for the opportunity to finish the first half of the MLS season on a positive note and right a wavering ship. LAFC was looking to snap a four-game losing streak in which they conceded 13 goals. The Sounders were looking to rebound from a disappointing 2-0 home loss to the LA Galaxy. The loss snapped a 22-game home unbeaten streak. The Sounders had never beaten LAFC at BMO Stadium in nine attempts. After the Sounders’ loss, make that 0-10 for the Sounders.
STRONG START
Schmezer shuffled the deck from the loss to the Galaxy, looking for some offensive firepower.
The game started with the Sounders on the front foot, with Albert Rusnak nearly giving the visitors a dream start inside the first minute of play. Rusnak pounced on a loose ball inside the LAFC goal mouth and just missed the goal with a left-footed strike. Rather than staying in the advanced attacking formation, the Sounders quickly retreated and were under siege for the majority of the first half. LAFC had 12 shots to the Sounders’ three. Both sides had just one shot on target, with the home side winning the lion’s share of possession at 60% and 12 touches inside the Sounders’ goal box.
SECOND HALF STRATEGY CHANGE
The second half started with the Sounders on the front foot, and, unlike the first half, the visitors kept their foot on the pedal, dominating possession but lacking creativity in the final third.
The complexion of the game changed in the 63rd minute. Schmetzer inserted Snyder Brunell for Hasani Dotson, and Antonio Lopez replaced Kim Kee-Hee. Brunell’s speed and ability to carry the ball opened up the middle of the field. The Sounders attack took full flight with the insertion of Danny Musovski for Rothrock. Morris switched to the left wing, which opened up room for Musovski upfront.
ANOTHER MISSED OPPORTUNITY
The best chance for the Sounders came in the 75th minute, when Morris’ pass from the left flank found a streaking Musovski inside the LAFC goal. The left-footed shot by Musovski hit the crossbar and out of play. On the other end, Andrew Thomas made a diving save to thwart Son Ming’s shot in the 76th minute. Thomas came up big on the ensuing corner kick when he swatted the ball from the crossbar.
LAFC TAKES THE LEAD
Lackadaisical defending gifted the home side a goal when Tyler Body was given time and space to find an onrushing Timothy Tillman on the far side of the Sounders’ goal in the 86th minute. Tillman beat Kalani Kossa-Reinzi to the ball and scored the game-winner. The Sounders are now goalless in their last two games against LA.
‘ We have to score goals to win games, and I told them in the locker room that I needed some of those money guys to score goals, Schmetzer said. “It’s not just Jordan Morris, Albert Rusnak, Jesus Ferreria, we need everyone to score goals. It’s not just one person.”
MATCH NOTES
- With the result, Sounders FC now sits in sixth place in the Western Conference with 24 points (7-3-3).
- This marked the first matchup of the season between the two sides. Seattle trails the all-time regular-season series with LAFC at 4-11-4, but holds a 3-1-0 advantage in the postseason.
- Kim Kee-hee made his first start and appearance of the year today, spending the first part of the season recovering from a calf injury. The defender made 20 appearances in all competitions last year for the Rave Green.
- Brian Schmetzer made five changes to his lineup from its match against the LA Galaxy on May 16. Kalani Kossa-Rienzi, Kim, Cristian Roldan, Albert Rusnák and Paul Rothrock replaced Peter Kingston, Antino Lopez, Snyder Brunell, Paul Arriola and Danny Musovski.
- Major League Soccer now takes an extended break from league play due to the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Seattle returns to action on Thursday, July 16 against the Portland Timbers on the Emerald Queen Casino Pitch at Lumen Field (7:30 p.m. PT / Apple TV, iHeartMedia Seattle, El Rey 1360 AM).
MATCH SUMMARY
Seattle Sounders FC 0 – Los Angeles FC 1
Sunday, May 24, 2026
Venue: BMO Stadium
Referee: Ramy Touchan
Assistants: Chris Elliott, Tyler Wyrostek
Fourth Official: Elijio Arreguin
VAR: Lukasz Szpala
Attendance: 22,146
Weather: 62 degrees and partly cloudy
SCORING SUMMARY
LAFC – Timothy Tillman (Tyler Boyd, Marco Delgado) 86’
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY
None
LINEUPS & STATS
Seattle Sounders FC – Andrew Thomas; Kalani Kossa-Rienzi (Peter Kingston 90’), Kim Kee-hee (Antino Lopez 63’), Jackson Ragen, Nouhou; Hassani Dotson (Snyder Brunell 63’), Cristian Roldan – Captain; Jesús Ferreira (Osaze De Rosario 90’), Albert Rusnák, Paul Rothrock (Danny Musovski 69’); Jordan Morris
Substitutes not used: Stefan Frei, Cody Baker, Alex Roldan, Sebastian Gomez
Total shots: 11
Shots on goal: 5
Fouls: 10
Offside: 3
Corner-kicks: 5
Saves: 2
Los Angeles FC – Thomas Hasal; Ryan Hollingshead, Ryan Porteous, Aaron Long (Nkosi Tafari 82’), Eddie Segura; Marco Delgado, Mathieu Choinière (Stephen Eustáquio 79’), Timothy Tillman; David Martínez (Tyler Boyd 79’), Son Heung-min, Denis Bouanga (Artem Smoliakov 90+2’)
Substitutes not used: Jacob Carter, Ryan Raposo, Jude Terry, Nathan Ordaz, Cengiz Ünder
Total shots: 18
Shots on goal: 3
Fouls: 12
Offside: 0
Corner-kicks: 7
Saves: 5
– SOUNDERS FC –
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