MLS Cup Playoffs preview: Los Angeles FC vs. Seattle Sounders

The 2019 MLS Cup Playoffs have reached the conference finals, and in the Western Conference we have the matchup soccer fans have been dreaming about as top-seeded Los Angeles FC looks to book their first trip to the final when they host the Seattle Sounders.

Los Angeles FC vs. Seattle Sounders odds

Los Angeles FC needs to tighten up its defense

LAFC finally exorcised some demons when they beat crosstown rival LA Galaxy for the first time last week. They had a mesmerizing performance by MVP favorite Carlos Vela, while they also got Diego Rossi playing at the top of his game at the right time. Off the bench, Adama Diomande was amazing and was the difference against the Galaxy, and they’ll need that option once again to dispatch the Sounders. The questions will be on defense, as they had some serious lapses last week that almost cost them the match. They will need to tighten that up if they want to host the MLS Cup final at Banc of California Stadium.

Seattle needs a big game from Raul Ruidiaz

The Sounders got to the conference finals by beating FC Dallas in the first round as well as dismissing Real Salt Lake in the conference semifinals. They’ve been pretty sound defensively (no pun intended), and they’ve used that to pick their chances to strike and make them count. Raul Ruidiaz on the break is something the Sounders will want to see often, and Cristian Roldan and Jordan Morris helping out on offense will be something the team relies on to create scoring chances. Their midfield will have to work hard to keep the ball and not let LAFC’s stars get it and run the other way.

Prediction: LAFC will win 4-3

This is going to be another classic match for LAFC, with lots of offense and there will be times where the action is going to go back and forth. In the end, I suspect Carlos Vela is going to prove to be too much for the Sounders to handle. Ultimately, it will be a Diego Rossi goal that will be the difference in a 4-3 LAFC victory.

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