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Excuses were baked into Saturday’s match.
Few teams in any sport are expected to win a season opener on the road. That was the ready-made excuse for the Sounders, who traveled to sunny California for their MLS opener against Los Angeles FC. Other passes were their 1-6-0 record at BMO Stadium and the Black & Gold being undefeated in six previous home openers.
Add the Sounders taking the field without four projected starters and a loss was destined. What occurred was a 2-1 loss but featured more promise than distress.
“It’s a little early even without injuries,” Sounders coach Brian Schmetzer said. “We’ll work through some of the issues.”
Sounders young designated player Pedro de la Vega subbed on for winger Leo Chu in the 64th minute and the MLS newcomer netted his debut goal from the spot in the 73rd minute. It’s Seattle’s first goal against LAFC in their past three matches, including a shutout in the Western Conference semifinals last year.
De la Vega said his teammates immediately telling him to take the penalty gave him confidence. He was unfazed as the roar of the 22,000 in attendance grew louder.
“I was relatively relaxed,” said de la Vega, as translated from Spanish. He dedicated the goal to his family in his native Argentina. “I already decided which post to put the ball and at one point thought about crossing it out. In the end, I opened up the leg and foot and put the ball where I put it.”
The Sounders couldn’t overcome some of the inexperience created by veteran injuries. MLS Defender of the Year finalist Yeimar Gomez Andrade (fitness) and keeper Stefan Frei (hamstring), who collected a league-best 14 clean sheets last season, were unavailable.
The Black & Gold did stun the Sounders with two goals, but Nathan, a free-agent pickup who missed the 2023 season with a ACL injury, was impressive on the back line.
“That’s one thing you can say about the Sounders going back across seasons is the way guys work, the way they put their bodies on the line, they’re never going to leave anything out there on the field,” keeper Andrew Thomas said of his teammates. “Jackson (Ragen) sprinting back against (LAFC forward Denis) Bouanga, who’s got a few yards on him and making tackles. Nouhou against Bouanga, too. Irrespective of score line, whoever’s starting in front of goal are going to absolutely work their (butts) off.”
The absence Schmetzer and his technical staff felt the team couldn’t absorb was intended offensive anchor Albert Rusnak. The midfielder suffered a right ankle sprain in training Friday.
Instead of deploying more youth, Schmetzer changed formations and used two forwards up top in Jordan Morris and Raul Ruidiaz. Thomas made his MLS debut in goal. He spent the past three seasons making starts for MLS Next Pro side Tacoma Defiance.
“I’m delighted to have gotten to this point,” Thomas said. “The whole pathway to this point has been with (starting) in mind. I’m proud but the disappointment of the day is the result, for sure.”
LAFC had a different look for opening day, but not because of injuries. The two-time Western Conference champs didn’t return defenders Kellyn Acosta, Diego Palacios, keeper Maxime Crepeau or forward Carlos Vela, the latter being out of contract. The upgrades in keeper Hugo Lloris, who started in the 2022 FIFA men’s World Cup final for France, and defender Omar Campos made their MLS debuts Saturday.
Campos notched his first MLS assist in the 45th minute. He dismissed one-on-one defending from Obed Vargas to send a cross to Timothy Tillman deep in the box. The midfielder volleyed a right-footed shot past Thomas.
LAFC displayed their quickness in transition for their second goal. Mateusz Bogusz fired a right-footed shot from the top of the box into the back of the net off a feed from Bouanga. The score put LAFC up 2-0 in the 55th minute.
“Andrew was good. There was nothing he could’ve done on the goals,” Schmetzer said of Thomas, who had four saves. “The game was not too big for him. He was able to calm his nerves and had a couple of saves early that helped him.”
MLS is using replacement officials because of stalled contract negotiations. Sounders players appeared to have problems with Wesley Costa throughout the match. His biggest moment was deciding whether to award the penalty after LAFC defender Aaron Long clipped Morris in the box.
Costa, whose previous experience was a few U.S. Open Cup matches, took an extended period to discuss the play with VAR. He called for a penalty and showed Long a yellow card in the 72nd minute.
The Sounders play Austin FC in their home opener March 2. Schmetzer is hopeful he’ll have more of his first-choice players available but Ruidiaz could be added to the list. He subbed off in the 58th minute and appeared to be in pain.
“If you take Raul and his new positioning in account, the team looked at some times like we wanted to play,” said Schmetzer of directing Ruidiaz to play deeper in the attack with Morris. “We need to be more lethal in our attacking movements and finish our chances. That’s the story of the game.”
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