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SPORTS Thursday 31 OcTOber 2019
Sounders upset league-best LAFC 3-1 to reach MLS Cup final

By GREG BEACHAM be proud with how we've
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Al- done all year, and we have
though Los Angeles FC had to learn. We have just two
the best regular season in years as a club. We have
Major League Soccer histo- things to improve."
ry, the 2-year-old club had Seattle beat LAFC for the
never been this deep in the first time in five meetings.
playoffs. The Sounders celebrated
The tough, tested Seattle with the large section of vis-
Sounders go deep almost iting fans before climbing
every year, and they'll get on a stage and raising the
to play for another cham- trophy despite loud songs
pionship after a vintage dis- from LAFC's indefatigable
play of postseason grit and North End supporters' sec-
guile in the Western Confer- tion.
ence final. Lodeiro followed up his
Nicolás Lodeiro scored a outstanding performance
goal and assisted on two against Real Salt Lake in
more by Raúl Ruidíaz, and the conference semifinal
the Sounders advanced to with another dominant of-
the MLS Cup final for the fensive game. The 30-year-
third time in four years with old Uruguayan set up Ruid-
a 3-1 victory over LAFC on íaz's goal and then scored
Tuesday night. Seattle Sounders midfielder Nicolas Lodeiro, right, celebrates his goal with teammates during the his own in a blistering se-
first half of the MLS soccer Western Conference final against Los Angeles FC, Tuesday, Oct. 29,
Ruidíaz and Lodeiro scored 2019, in Los Angeles. quence late in the first half.
four minutes apart in the Associated Press "We never stopped be-
first half to claim the lead lieving we could win,"
for the Sounders, who held won in a different way. Lodeiro joyously carried the for the MLS Cup final next Schmetzer said. "We found
probable MLS MVP Carlos We locked down defense. conference trophy back to Sunday, Nov. 10. The East- a way to score the equal-
Vela to one shot on goal We scored on our few op- the visitors' locker room at ern Conference finalists izer, and I think the second
while they upset the Sup- portunities. In other games, Banc of California Stadium meet Wednesday night. goal stunned LAFC a little
porters' Shield winners with maybe we would play after an on-field celebra- LAFC reached the MLS re- bit. They were going, 'OK,
a superb big-game perfor- pretty. But we knew it was tion that was drowned out cords for points, goals and what's going on here? This
mance. going to be a tough op- by LAFC fans' singing. goal differential during the shouldn't happen.'"
Los Angeles' MLS newcom- ponent away from home. "We wanted to push LAFC long MLS regular season. Ruidíaz made it 3-1 in the
ers have a raucous stadium We adjusted accordingly. into areas where they LAFC then beat the cross- 64th minute when Lodeiro
and a thrilling style of play, Sometimes we would press. were less effective," Seat- town LA Galaxy 5-3 last stole an attempted clear-
but the Sounders have Sometimes we would sit tle coach Brian Schmetzer Thursday for its first playoff ance and fed him for a
years of playoff experience back. Overall, it was just a said. "That was the entire victory. beautiful shot past Tyler
that LAFC can't match. fantastic performance." game plan, just to see if But Seattle largely kept the Miller, the former Sounders
Seattle's veterans pushed, Seattle slowed down the we could slow down their ball away from Vela, who backup goalkeeper. Ruid-
shoved and carried them most potent offensive team attack. And then on the followed up his record 34- íaz, the 5-foot-7 Peruvian
back to the one-game fi- in MLS history with physi- attacking side, we knew goal regular season with forward, has six goals in just
nal, where the Sounders cal defense, sometimes we could create chances two goals against the Gal- five career MLS postseason
won the league title in 2016 on the edge of legality. against this team. They take axy last week. Diego Rossi games.
and lost to Toronto FC in The Sounders committed many risks when they de- also was barely a factor, LAFC pushed in the sec-
2017. 12 fouls and appeared to fend or counter-press. Our managing just two shots. ond half but couldn't get
"The many times that we've get away with two hand- guys were well coached. "Nobody expected this end through.
been to MLS Cup now has balls in their box, but LAFC They did exactly what we for our season," Vela said. "If we play this game 10
been off grit, has been off failed to capitalize on any needed to do to get into "But we know in the play- times, we probably win
not playing pretty," mid- of its meager chances after their half of the field." offs, it's one game, and nine out of 10," LAFC mid-
fielder Cristian Roldan said. Eduard Atuesta scored on Seattle will either host To- if they make better plays fielder Mark-Anthony Kaye
"It's been off winning in a free kick in the opening ronto or visit defending than you, you're out. In said. "But playoffs are just
different ways. Today we minutes. champion Atlanta United the end, I think we have to different."q

Tour of California canceled for 2020, race future in doubt

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The and executive vice presi- 2021."
Tour of California has been dent of AEG Sports, cited The Tour of California is the
canceled for 2020, and changing "business funda- only U.S.-based event with
race owner AEG is reeval- mentals" since the event both its men's and wom-
uating whether to bring it began in 2006. en's races listed on the UCI
back in the future. "This new reality has forced WorldTour calendar and
The company said Tues- us to reevaluate our op- the only event of its kind to
day it has become "more tions," she said in a state- offer men's and women's
challenging" every year ment, "and we are actively stage races with equal
to stage the cycling road assessing every aspect of prize money at the same
race featuring men's and our event to determine if time. USA Cycling says it
women's events that tra- there is a business model stands ready to rally sup-
verse the state. that will allow us to success- port and resources to bring
Kristin Klein, race president fully relaunch the race in the event back in 2021.q