Seattle Sounders goalkeeper Stefan Frei, right, catches the pass intended to Los Angeles FC forward Olivier Giroud during the first half of an MLS Western Conference semifinal soccer match in Los Angeles, Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Jordan Morris scored in the 109th minute and Stefan Frei made nine saves to lead Seattle to a stunning 2-1 overtime victory over top-seeded Los Angeles FC on Saturday night in a Western Conference semifinal at BMO Stadium, earning the fourth-seeded Sounders a trip to the conference final.
Seattle advances to play the winner of Sunday’s semifinal matchup between the second-seeded Los Angeles Galaxy and No. 6 seed Minnesota United after ending a 10-match winless streak in all competitions (0-8-2) against LAFC.
Defender Ryan Hollingshead gave LAFC the lead five minutes into the second half when he used assists from Mateusz Bogusz and Eduard Atuesta to score after a giveaway by Seattle defender Jackson Ragen.
It was the first goal this postseason for Hollingshead and his fifth in 23 playoff appearances. Bogusz snagged his third assist in nine postseason appearances over the past two seasons. Atuesta’s helper was his first in seven playoff appearances.
Los Angeles FC forward Olivier Giroud (9) heads the ball during the first half of an MLS Western Conference semifinal soccer match against the Seattle Sounders in Los Angeles, Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)
Seattle lost defender Yéimar Gomez Andrade to an injury in the 66th minute and Nathan Raphael Pelae Cardoso replaced him.
Morris found the net unassisted to put the Sounders on top. It was his ninth career goal in 23 postseason appearances. He scored a career-high 13 goals during the regular season.
All of Frei’s saves came in the second half and overtime in his 35th postseason start for the Sounders. He allowed 33 goals through his first 34 starts with 15 shutouts. Seattle allowed a league-low 35 goals during the regular season.
Hugo Lloris stopped four shots — three after halftime — for LAFC in his first season in the league. Lloris allowed four goals through his first three postseason starts with a clean sheet.
Seattle had lost all four previous matchups with LAFC this season and scored just one goal. The Sounders lost 2-1 in LA and 3-0 at home during the regular season. They dropped a 3-0 decision at home in a Leagues Cup quarterfinal and fell 1-0 at home in a U.S. Open Cup semifinal in the most recent meeting.
Los Angeles FC midfielder Lewis O’Brien (8) dribbles the ball over the tackle by Seattle Sounders midfielder Obed Vargas (18) during the first half of an MLS Western Conference semifinal soccer match in Los Angeles, Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)
LAFC entered as the highest remaining seed and would not have had to leave home to claim its second MLS Cup since joining the league in 2018. The club beat the Philadelphia Union 3-0 on penalty kicks in 2022 after a 3-3 draw in regulation. LAFC advanced to the final last season but lost 2-1 to the Columbus Crew.
The Sounders, who joined the league in 2009, won Cups in 2016 and 2019. Their only previous victory at BMO came in 2019 when they beat LAFC — that season’s winners of the Supporters’ Shield — 3-1 in the conference final.
Los Angeles FC goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, right, blocks a header by Seattle Sounders forward Jordan Morris during the first half of an MLS Western Conference semifinal soccer match in Los Angeles, Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)Seattle Sounders midfielder Obed Vargas, left, shoots during the first half of an MLS Western Conference semifinal soccer match against the Los Angeles FC in Los Angeles, Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)Seattle Sounders defender Yeimar Gómez (28) heads over Los Angeles FC forward Denis Bouanga (99) during the first half of an MLS Western Conference semifinal soccer match in Los Angeles, Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)Seattle Sounders forward Jordan Morris, left, dribbles the ball as Los Angeles FC defender Maxime Chanot chases during the first half of an MLS Western Conference semifinal soccer match in Los Angeles, Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)Los Angeles FC forward Denis Bouanga (99) reacts after missing a shot during overtime in an MLS Western Conference semifinal soccer match against the Seattle Sounders in Los Angeles, Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)Seattle Sounders players celebrate a goal by forward Jordan Morris (13) during overtime in an MLS Western Conference semifinal soccer match against the Los Angeles FC in Los Angeles, Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)Seattle Sounders defender Nathan (4) reacts on the team’s 2-1 win over Los Angeles FC in overtime in an MLS Western Conference semifinal soccer match in Los Angeles, Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)Seattle Sounders forward Jordan Morris, left reacts after scoring a goal during overtime in an MLS Western Conference semifinal soccer match in Los Angeles, Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)Los Angeles FC players celebrate a goal by midfielder Ryan Hollingshead (24) during the second half of an MLS Western Conference semifinal soccer match against the Seattle Sounders in Los Angeles, Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)Los Angeles FC defender Aaron Long (33) attempts a bicycle kick over Seattle Sounders defender Jackson Ragen (25) during the second half of an MLS Western Conference semifinal soccer match in Los Angeles, Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)Los Angeles FC forward Denis Bouanga (99) shoots over the tackle by Seattle Sounders defender Nathan (4) during the second half of an MLS Western Conference semifinal soccer match in Los Angeles, Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)Los Angeles FC defender Maxime Chanot, bottom right, looks away as an own goal goes into the net during the second half of an MLS Western Conference semifinal soccer match against the Seattle Sounders in Los Angeles, Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)Los Angeles FC forward Cristian Olivera, left, shoots as Seattle Sounders midfielder Reed Baker-Whiting defends during the second half of an MLS Western Conference semifinal soccer match in Los Angeles, Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)Los Angeles FC defender Aaron Long, left, and Seattle Sounders forward Pedro De La Vega battle for a header during the second half of an MLS Western Conference semifinal soccer match in Los Angeles, Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)Seattle Sounders midfielder Reed Baker-Whiting, right, dribbles the ball over the tackle by Los Angeles FC defender Sergi Palencia (14) during the second half of an MLS Western Conference semifinal soccer match in Los Angeles, Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)Los Angeles FC forward Olivier Giroud, left, controls the ball in front of Seattle Sounders defender Jackson Ragen during the second half of an MLS Western Conference semifinal soccer match in Los Angeles, Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)
The Associated Press is an independent global news organization dedicated to factual reporting. Founded in 1846, AP today remains the most trusted source of fast, accurate, unbiased news in all formats and the essential provider of the technology and services vital to the news business. More than half the world’s population sees AP journalism every day.
