LAFC edges Sounders to reach U.S. Open Cup final

TUKWILA, Wash. — LAFC defeated the Seattle Sounders, 1-0, in a U.S. Open Cup semifinal on Wednesday night at Starfire Sports Complex, giving the team a chance to play for a championship on its home field next month.

Dénis Bouanga converted a penalty shot late in the second half to give LAFC a chance at its first U.S. Open Cup title. LAFC, which avoided any potential emotional hangover from its loss to Columbus in the Leagues Cup final last weekend, will host Sporting Kansas City in the Open Cup final on Sept. 25 at BMO Stadium.

Both teams spent the opening half feeling each other out and trying to adapt to the smaller confines of Starfire Stadium, a smaller venue that seats fewer than 5,000 people, virtually all of them seemingly right on top of the field, creating a high-energy atmosphere.

The field itself is also quite small, measuring 70 yards wide and 110 yards long. That’s 5 yards more narrow and 6 yards shorter – or about 11.5% smaller – than Seattle’s normal home (Lumen Field).

The dimensions can at times be a talent equalizer, making possession soccer harder to play with more turnovers and breakaways and games that are often tightly contested. Since the Sounders first started playing U.S. Open Cup matches at Starfire in 2005 when they were still in the USL, they had gone 25-1-3 (19-1-3 as an MLS team) going into Wednesday’s match.

LAFC had the first real scoring opportunity for either team in the 40th minute when Bouanga whipped in a free kick that was initially deflected into the air on a header before being punched away by Andrew Thomas. Kei Kamara took the ensuing loose ball off the volley from 12 yards out, but Jackson Ragen headed away a clearance off the goal line.

The Sounders’ first shot on target came in the 55th minute when Cristian Roldan shot from 25 yards out, but the former Pico Rivera El Rancho High star saw his attempt saved comfortably by Hugo Lloris.

Thomas made a diving stop in the 63rd minute to deny a flicked header to the far post off a Bouanga set piece.

LAFC earned a penalty when the referee deemed that Mateusz Bogusz’s volley hit the arm of one or both of Pedro de la Vega and Alex Roldan. Bouanga converted the spot kick in the 83rd minute.

Jordan Morris appeared to have tied the score on a diving header in the first minute of stoppage time, but his goal was whistled offside.

LAFC, which traveled from Columbus to Seattle without returning home, now has a 10-game unbeaten streak against the Sounders that dates to 2021 and includes six consecutive wins. LAFC defeated Seattle, 3-0, at Lumen Field less than two weeks ago in a Leagues Cup quarterfinal.

This will be LAFC’s fourth opportunity to play for a championship over the last 15 months. In addition to the Leagues Cup, the Black & Gold lost to Columbus in December’s MLS Cup final, and the club’s CONCACAF Champions League chase fell short last June against Liga MX’s Club Leon.