Everything you need to know about Sounders-LAFC

The Seattle Sounders will host LAFC in the U.S. Open Cup semifinals tonight. This will be the fourth time across three competitions that these two teams have faced off this year, with LAFC winning the first three encounters by a cumulative score of 8-1.

Here’s what you need to know:

Stats to look smart

• LAFC are riding a nine-game unbeaten streak against the Sounders, going 7-0-2 in that span. The Sounders last beat LAFC on May 26, 2021.
• This will be the first time the two teams have faced one another in the U.S. Open Cup and the first time LAFC have played at Starfire Stadium.
• LAFC are coming off a loss in the Leagues Cup final on Sunday, leaving them 1-4 in cup finals.
• The Sounders are 11-3-1 in their last 15 matches across all competitions, while LAFC are 18-2-3 in their last 23 across all competitions.

Tactics to impress

• The Sounders and LAFC present dramatically different approaches. While the Sounders tend to pride themselves on positional play that lends itself to a possession advantage, LAFC are more inclined to defend deep and strike on the counter.
• Starfire’s tight dimensions – it’s about 11.5% smaller than Lumen – can pose problems for both styles, as virtually any turnover or set-piece can quickly become a scoring opportunity.

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