Opinion: Making sense of LAFC’s elimination

The most exciting factor of any playoffs is that often the best team of the regular season doesn’t win the championship. And the full domination of Los Angeles FC by the Seattle Sounders was not the exception to the standard rule.

LAFC broke or reached every MLS record, became the best team in the history of the league and had the MVP of the 2019 season. However, Los Angeles FC is now a statistic.

The elimination at the hands of Seattle turned a fantastic campaign into a book of numbers. The weight of LAFC’s failure will remain longer in the memory of the fan than the functionality of the team during the regular season, because in the end, the functionality failed.

Bob Bradley’s squad exhibited punctual deficiencies in defense during El Trafico. Nevertheless, LAFC surpassed LA Galaxy, which represented more a mental rival than a quality football team.

The Sounders took advantage of LAFC’s declining backline. Also, they disarmed its potent offense with the most basic principles of football: order and coordination. Brian Schmetzer lined two blocks of four men to defend the last 35 yards of the Seattle’s field, and put special effort in disconnecting Carlos Vela from the game by leaving him in a two-v-one disadvantage. The same two lines of four deployed Jordan Morris, Raul Ruidiaz, Joevin Jones and Nicolas Lodeiro in counterattacks.

Between the experience of Lodeiro, ability of Ruidiaz and physical form of the squad, the Sounders surpassed the mythical LAFC side with authority. Scoring three goals at Banc of California Stadium was not even the best part of their match; the Sounders unplugged Vela’s creativity. LAFC barely generated offensive opportunities and looked like a rookie team instead of a record squad.

Schmetzer outplayed Bradley in the most crucial match in LAFC franchise history. Seattle executed a perfect match, conceding one goal on a free kick and scoring three goals in five shots on target. For the third time in four years, the Sounders will play for the MLS Cup.

What LAFC did during the 2019 season was valuable. However, they failed during the playoffs. And while records matter, championships are more prestigious.

Follow Luis on Twitter: @LFulloa.

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