One Los Angeles Major League Soccer (MLS) team was no problem for the Seattle Sounders. The Sounders prevailed over LAFC 2-1 Nov. 23. But two proved too much, as the team found stiff competition in LA Galaxy.
With the Sounders’ loss to LA Galaxy Saturday, the Seahawks and Kraken are now the city’s last hopes for a championship this academic year. The Spectator has covered the Mariners’ playoff miss, the Seattle Reign FC’s playoff miss and the Seattle Storm’s playoff loss. The Sounders are the latest team to fall in pursuit of a banner for the rafters of the city’s sports venues.
Both teams fought until the last moment. Veteran keeper Stefan Frei was unable to stop an 85th minute goal from Galaxy forward Dejan Joveljic. Saturday was Frei’s 36th postseason game in goal for Seattle, having started in every Seattle playoff appearance since 2014.
Frei acknowledged his age and tenure with the team in a post-game press conference and discussed the conclusion of the match.
“When you’re playing against an opponent that is stacked offensively, the longer you can frustrate them and keep them off the score sheet the better that is for you. But ultimately, you have to find the back of the net yourself,” Frei said.
The mismatched offenses of the two teams contributed to the game’s outcome. Seattle had a tough playoff run offensively, scoring just two goals in their entire playoff run. They won both games against Houston Dynamo in penalty kicks and came out on top over LAFC in part thanks to an own goal by City of Angels defender Maxime Chanot.
Frei also noted the Sounders’ unsuccessful previous playoff runs. The team has not won the MLS Cup since 2019.
“Close enough is not going to be remembered… we were pushing in everything that we had and just came up short, unfortunately,” Frei said.
Midfielder Cristian Roldan, another Sounders veteran, said that the team’s feelings around the knife’s-edge loss would stick around into the postseason.
“The fact that we were in it until the 85th minute hurts us a little bit more and we’ll be dwelling on it,” Roldan said.
Still, Seattle has a lot to be proud of. The team’s defense had a strong performance throughout the playoffs, shutting out the Houston Dynamo in their first game and never letting in more than a single goal.
Head coach Brian Schmetzer never doubted his team’s focus, highlighting how contributions from coaching staff and support staff helped players shine.
“Every single player that has played for this club this year has put something into this season,” Schmetzer said. “I don’t think that this team, at any point in the year, ever gave up.”
Schmetzer acknowledged the team’s perseverance through injuries. He highlighted Pedro de la Vega’s progress—the Argentinian midfielder lost several weeks to a hamstring injury in March—from the team’s injured list to starting against the Galaxy.
Still, the way the game was decided hurt.
“We uncharacteristically gave them that goal. There was some things that we could have done better on that, but that’s kind of what makes it hurt,” Schmetzer said.
The loss is especially tough for the city given that the MLS Cup will be played in the Western Conference home stadium. Lumen Field would have hosted the MLS Cup in the event of a Sounders victory. Instead, LA Galaxy will host Red Bull New York Dec. 7.
The Seattle playoff win dry spell continues, with Seattle Reign FC (formerly known as OL Reign) being the last team to win a championship, winning the NWSL Shield in 2022. Here’s hoping the next playoff check-in with a major Seattle sports team will be more positive.
