SEATTLE — For most of the week leading into Saturday’s match between the Seattle Sounders and LAFC, there was a buzz about “two of the league’s best teams” squaring off. I don’t think that was hyperbole.
LAFC are the defending Supporters’ Shield and MLS Cup winners, and had outscored their opponents 11-4 in their first four competitive matches. The Sounders are the defending Concacaf Champions League winners and were leading MLS in many of the advanced stats this year.
That the game ended in a 0-0 draw felt at least a little underwhelming, especially from the Sounders’ perspective, as it felt like a pretty big missed opportunity to register a statement win.