Sounders Hopes Dashed by Late LAFC Winner Before World Cup Break
News, Analysis Qasim Ali News, Analysis Qasim Ali

Sounders Hopes Dashed by Late LAFC Winner Before World Cup Break

It was all going to plan for the Seattle Sounders through eight games.

Sitting at 6-1-1 with the best defense in the league, head coach Brian Schmetzer’s squad looked to insert itself into the top of the Supporters Shield Race with a road game against flailing Sporting Kansas City and a three-match homestand coming.

Instead of thriving on the schedule, Seattle went 1-1-2 heading into a key road date with a struggling LAFC squad (7-5-3), fresh off three losses, on the final Sunday before the June World Cup Break.

Seattle managed to play a scoreless game through 85 minutes, bringing on offensive subs late to try and steal three points. But it was the home team that notched the win, as midfielder Timothy Tillman came out of nowhere late to slam a cross-goal service past Andrew Thomas for the win.

Seattle dropped to 7-3-3 and into sixth place out west with nearly two months to go before its return to play against Portland on July 16.

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Sounders’ Home Unbeaten Streak Ends at 22, Pec Runs Riot for Galaxy
News, Analysis Qasim Ali News, Analysis Qasim Ali

Sounders’ Home Unbeaten Streak Ends at 22, Pec Runs Riot for Galaxy

The Seattle Sounders had been through the wringer in a three-game week, but were facing an LA Galaxy team coming off a tough loss to Kansas City to close the stretch Saturday. Seattle, on the other hand, was riding high with a win over the top-ranked San Jose Earthquakes on Wednesday, and set their lineup to rotate against the 11th-place Galaxy.

Unfortunately for Seattle, LA found its footing in this one, as star winger Gabriel Pec had a goal and an assist in transition late to bury the Sounders in a 2-0 shocker. The loss meant the end of a 22-game home unbeaten run dating back to last summer against European champion Paris Saint-Germain in the Club World Cup.

Seattle, as it has for the past few matches, spent plenty of time in LA's box with 30 touches in the 18, but couldn't cash in on 1.4 expected goals on mostly half-chances. The Sounders also took 15 shots and got five on frame with 58% possession, but the Galaxy's counterattacks late buried Seattle as LA generated 1.7 xG on nine shots.

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Sounders Down Western Conference Front-Runner San Jose in Heritage Cup Classic
News, Analysis, Video, Preview Qasim Ali News, Analysis, Video, Preview Qasim Ali
Preview

Sounders Down Western Conference Front-Runner San Jose in Heritage Cup Classic

Emerald City Spectrum reporter Qasim Ali breaks down a 3-2 barn-burner between the Seattle Sounders (7-1-3, 3rd in Western Conference) and San Jose Earthquakes (9-2-2, 2nd in Western Conference).

Osaze De Rosario netted an 89th-minute game-winner as the game swung back and forth after an early Sounders mistake led to a second-minute San Jose goal. Albert Rusnák scored off a penalty kick late in the first half to equalize before Jesús Ferreira went coast-to-coast in a spectacular individual effort to give Seattle the lead.

The goals come at good times for Ferreira and De Rosario, who have both been lacking on the scoring edge as Seattle finally met its expected-goal mark after two frustrating draws against Kansas City and San Diego.

The win also meant history for the Sounders, who swept San Diego in the regular season for the first time.

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Quick Hits: Sounders Offense Hits Season-High Four Goals vs. St. Louis
News, Analysis Qasim Ali News, Analysis Qasim Ali

Quick Hits: Sounders Offense Hits Season-High Four Goals vs. St. Louis

The Seattle Sounders continued their offensive brilliance at home, scoring a season-high four goals against St. Louis City on Saturday night in a 4-1 win. The result, which came in Seattle's second MLS home game of the season (this time on grass made for the World Cup), pushed the Sounders to 5-1-1 on the young season — good for fourth place out west.

Cristian Roldan followed a two-assist Concacaf Champions Cup second leg win vs. Tigres on Wednesday with a brace on Saturday night. Albert Rusnák assisted on both of Roldan's set-piece goals while scoring his own on a second-half penalty drawn by Paul Rothrock. Striker Osaze De Rosario came on late to score the fourth — his first of the season as the young forward vies for minutes in a competitive lineup.

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Sounders' Furious Concacaf Comeback Comes Up Short
News, Analysis Qasim Ali News, Analysis Qasim Ali

Sounders' Furious Concacaf Comeback Comes Up Short

The Seattle Sounders had a mind for a comeback heading back to Lumen Field for the first time since February 22.

Seattle lost 2-0 to Mexican side Tigres UANL in Monterrey last Wednesday in the first leg of the Concacaf Champions Cup quarterfinals. With the tournament adhering to an away-goal tiebreaker, Seattle needed to avoid a Tigres goal to ensure its best chance to make up the multi-goal disadvantage.

The Sounders started strong, benefitting from a renewed Albert Rusnák, who scored in the 11th and 82nd minutes to break a cold streak in the scoring department with Cristian Roldan assisting on both.

Ultimately, a rally wasn’t meant to be as the Sounders won the match 3-1, but lost the 3-3 series on the tiebreaker, courtesy of a late first-half goal from Tigres.

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Sounders Overcome Tough Calls, Injuries in 2-0 Season-Opening Win
News, Analysis Qasim Ali News, Analysis Qasim Ali

Sounders Overcome Tough Calls, Injuries in 2-0 Season-Opening Win

In one of the clunkier games of soccer ever played under the lights of Lumen Field, the hometown Sounders emerged with a 2-0 win over the Colorado Rapids to open the 2026 season.

Paul Rothrock took over early for an injured Jordan Morris, picking up a hustle-driven assist and a second-half goal to add to his local legend. Keeper Andrew Thomas wasn't tested much, but logged a clean sheet in his first game after being named the starter.

All in all, the Sounders were in another weight class from a younger Colorado squad, winning practically every moment of the game.

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