Vela scores twice as LAFC defeats Seattle
Carlos Vela scored twice to give him an MLS-leading 10 goals this season and the Los Angeles Football Club snapped the run of the league's last remaining undefeated team with a 4-1 victory against the visiting Seattle Sounders on Sunday.
Eduard Atuesta and Christian Ramirez also scored for LAFC (7-1-1, 22 points), which remained in sole possession of first place in the Western Conference. Goalkeeper Tyler Miller, who started his career with Seattle before being selected No. 1 overall in the 2017 expansion draft, was forced to make just one save as the hosts held a 16-6 edge in shots, including 8-2 on target.
Trailing 2-0 at the half, the Sounders' Harry Shipp scored in the 51st minute, beating Miller from about 10 yards. The play was set up when the Sounders forced a turnover near midfield, with Victor Rodriguez dribbling the pass to the top of the penalty area before passing to an open Shipp on the right wing.
But Vela scored his second just four minutes later, staying onsides as he slipped past the defense to take a pass from Atuesta before deking his way past goalkeeper Stefan Frei and avoiding Kim Kee-hee's sliding tackle as he put a left-footed shot into the net.
Ramirez capped the scoring in the 61st minute on a nifty give-and-go with Mark-Anthony Kaye.
The Sounders (5-1-1, 16 points) played their third straight match without forward Raul Ruidiaz (right heel contusion), who shares the team lead in scoring, and his backup Will Bruin didn't make the trip because of a left hamstring strain. That forced coach Brian Schmetzer to move Jordan Morris up top as the lone forward in Seattle's formation. The Sounders were also without central defender Chad Marshall, who was scratched with right knee inflammation.
Vela opened the scoring in the 12th minute, taking a pass at the top of the penalty area from Kaye and putting a left-footed shot from 10 yards into the upper left corner of the net.
Atuesta made it 2-0 in the 39th minute after Kaye stole the ball in the Seattle end of the field. Atuesta dribbled into the penalty area unmarked before beating Frei.
--Field Level Media
