MATCH RECAP: Sounders FC Suffers 2-1 Road Loss to LAFC in 2024 MLS Season Opener

LOS ANGELES – Sounders FC (0-1-0, 0 points) opened its 2024 Major League Soccer campaign with a 2-1 road loss to Los Angeles FC (1-0-0, 3 points) on Saturday afternoon at BMO Stadium. Pedro de la Vega scored a second-half penalty in his club debut, but it wasn’t enough to overcome a pair of LAFC goals on either side of halftime.

Sounders FC now returns to the Pacific Northwest for its 2024 home opener against Austin FC next Saturday, March 2 on the Emerald Queen Casino Pitch at Lumen Field (7:30 p.m. PT / Apple TV, 950 KJR AM, El Rey 1360 AM).

MEDIA RESOURCES

PHOTOS – IMAGES FOR MEDIA USE

VIDEO – MATCH HIGHLIGHTS

VIDEO – HEAD COACH BRIAN SCHMETZER POST-MATCH PRESS CONFERENCE

VIDEO – PEDRO DE LA VEGA & ANDREW THOMAS POST-MATCH MEDIA AVAILABILITY

MATCH NOTES

• Pedro de la Vega made his Sounders FC debut, coming on as a second-half substitute after signing as a Young Designated Player in January. Minutes later, the 22-year-old scored his first goal with the club, converting a penalty after Jordan Morris was fouled inside the area. De la Vega joined the club following five seasons with Lanús of the Argentine Primera División

• This marked Sounders FC’s second consecutive competitive matchup against LAFC after meeting in the 2023 Western Conference Semifinals in November. LAFC ended Seattle’s campaign before falling in MLS Cup to Columbus. The Rave Green trail the all-time regular-season series between the two sides 3-8-4, but have won two of three meetings in the postseason.

• De la Vega is the eighth player in Sounders FC history to score a goal in his club debut. He is the first since two players accomplished the feat last season: Paul Rothrock on May 13 vs. Houston and Héber on February 26 vs. Colorado.

• Raúl Ruidíaz made his 100^th regular-season start for Sounders FC since joining MLS in 2018. His 64 career MLS regular-season goals are the most in club history, while his 78 tallies across all competitions are one shy of Fredy Montero’s club record.

• Seattle goalkeeper Andrew Thomas made his MLS debut on Saturday, starting in place of Stefan Frei due to injury. The 25-year-old joined the club in 2021 and has made 34 appearances for Tacoma Defiance, as well as eight for New Mexico United on loan in 2023.

• Defender Nathan made his Sounders FC debut with the start on Saturday. Nathan came to Seattle this offseason after three seasons with the San Jose Earthquakes, previously making over 100 appearances in all competitions in Switzerland and Brazil prior to joining MLS.

MATCH SUMMARY

Seattle Sounders FC 1 – Los Angeles FC 2

Saturday, February 24, 2024

Venue: BMO Stadium

Referee: Wesley Costa

Assistants: Bruno Rizo, Miguel Yupari

Fourth Official: Gabriele Ciampi

VAR: Alan Kelly

Attendance: 22,214

Weather: 75 degrees and clear

SCORING SUMMARY

LAFC – Timothy Tillman 45’

LAFC – Mateusz Bogusz 55’

SEA – Pedro de la Vega (penalty) 72’

MISCONDUCT SUMMARY

SEA – Cristian Roldan (caution) 37’

SEA – Nouhou (caution) 66’

LAFC – Aaron Long (caution) 72’

LAFC – Timothy Tillman (caution) 89’

LINEUPS & STATS

Seattle Sounders FC – Andrew Thomas; Alex Roldan (Cody Baker 58’), Nathan (Xavier Arreaga 64’), Jackson Ragen, Nouhou; Cristian Roldan, Josh Atencio, Obed Vargas, Léo Chú (Pedro de la Vega 64’); Jordan Morris, Raúl Ruidíaz (Danny Musovski 58’)

Substitutes not used: Jacob Castro, Jonathan Bell, Danny Leyva, Dylan Teves, Paul Rothrock

Total shots: 15

Shots on goal: 8

Fouls: 6

Offside: 0

Corner-Kicks: 2

Saves: 4

Los Angeles FC – Hugo Lloris; Omar Campos; Jesus Murillo, Ryan Hollingshead (Eddie Segura 90’+3’), Aaron Long; Ilie Sanchez, Timothy Tillman, Mateusz Bogusz, Eduard Atuesta (Nathan Ordaz 87’); Cristian Olivera (Sergi Palencia 83’); Denis Bouanga

Substitutes not used: Abraham Romero, Erik Duenas, Tomas Angel, David Martinez, Tommy Musto, Diego Rosales

Total shots: 18

Shots on goal: 7

Fouls: 16

Offside: 2

Corner-kicks: 6

Saves: 7

- SOUNDERS FC -