Starting XI presented by Modelo: LA Galaxy vs. Seattle Sounders FC | June 19, 2021

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Lineup Notes:

  • Jonathan Bond makes his eighth start of the 2021 MLS regular season and leads the league in saves (40). The Galaxy are 5-2-0 in Bond’s seven starts in 2021. No relation to James.
  • Séga Coulibaly makes his Galaxy and MLS regular-season debut after LA acquired him from French club AS Nancy on April 28, 2021. 
  • Next to Coulibaly is Daniel Steres, who has started every match (7) along the backline this season. 
  • On the right, Julian Araujo continues after his best performance of the year, as confirmed by his MLS Team of the Week honor. Araujo continues to develop as a player and is showing why he is one of the best young defensive talents in MLS.
  • On the left, Jorge Villafaña has started 17 career regular-season matches against Seattle since making his MLS debut in 2009. 
  • In the middle of the pitch is Sacha Klejstan, who has made 286 MLS regular-season appearances. Klejstan’s 286 career regular-season games played ranks tied with Logan Pause for the 56th most in MLS history. 
  • Alongside Kljestan is Sebastian Lletget, who is making his first appearance for the Galaxy since winning the 2021 Concacaf Nations League with the United States. In four appearances (4 starts) for the Galaxy in 2021, Lletget has tallied one goal and one assist. 
  • Out wide is the Efrain Alvarez, who makes his fifth start of the 2021 campaign. 
  • Opposite Alvarez is Victor Vazquez, who makes his fifth appearance of the regular season. Vazquez has tallied one assist in three starts for the Galaxy this year. 
  • Playing up top is LA Galaxy Designated Player Kevin Cabral, who makes his third start for the club. 
  • Next to Cabral is, Chicharito, Major League Soccer’s leading goal scorer. He will look to score more goals.

Game Notes:

  • LA are 5-2-0 (15 pts) this season, sitting in third place in the Western Conference standings behind only Seattle Sounders FC (5-0-3, 18 pts) and Sporting KC (5-2-2, 17 pts). 
  • Saturday’s match marks the 32nd MLS regular-season meeting between LA and Seattle, with the all-time series tied 10-10-11. 
  • In 16 regular-season matches at Dignity Health Sports Park against the Sounders, the Galaxy hold a 6-4-6 record. 
  • In their last four home matches against Seattle, dating back to July 29, 2017, the Galaxy are 1-1-2. 
  • In the last meeting between the two clubs earlier this season, LA fell 3-0 on the road to the Sounders on May 2, 2021. 
  • The last time the two teams met at Dignity Health Sports Park, LA and Seattle played to a 1-1 draw on Nov. 4, 2020. Javier Hernandez scored his first career goal against Seattle, while Efrain Alvarez notched an assist in the draw. 
  • The LA Galaxy starting lineup contains six players from California (Alvarez, Araujo, Lletget, Kljestan, Steres, Villafaña) and three players from the club’s developmental system (Araujo, Steres, Alvarez).
  • Nine LA Galaxy players were named to their respective country’s preliminary roster for the 2021 Concacaf Gold Cup (Costa Rica – Giancarlo Gonzalez; Honduras – Danilo Acosta; Jamaica – Oniel Fisher; Mexico – Efrain Alvarez, Jonathan dos Santos, Javier Hernandez; Panama – Carlos Harvey; USA – Julian Araujo, Sebastian Lletget)

Storylines:

  • Will MLS’ leading goal-scorer Chicharito add to his total?
  • How will Séga Coulibaly, making his LA Galaxy and MLS regular-season debut, fare in starting XI?
  • Will the Galaxy be able to avenge an early season loss to Seattle?

Quick hits:

Uncle Kracker Lyrics – "Drift Away"

Day after day I'm more confused

Yet I look for the light through the pourin' rain

You know that's a game that I hate to lose

And I'm feelin' the strain, ain't it a shame?

Oh, give me the beat, boys, and free my soul

I wanna get lost in your rock 'n' roll and drift away

Oh, give me the beat, boys, and free my soul

I wanna get lost in your rock 'n' roll and drift away

Beginnin' to think that I'm wastin' time

I don't understand the things I do

The world outside looks so unkind

Now I'm countin' on you to carry me through

Oh, give me the beat, boys, and free my soul

I wanna get lost in your rock 'n' roll and drift away

Hey, give me the beat, boys, and free my soul

I wanna get lost in your rock 'n' roll and drift away

And when my mind is free

You know a melody can move me

And when I'm feelin' blue

A guitar's comin' through to soothe me

Thanks for the joy that you've given me

I want you to know I believe in your song

And rhythm and rhyme and harmony

You've helped me along, makin' me strong

Oh, give me the beat, boys, and free my soul

I wanna get lost in your rock 'n' roll and drift away

Give me the beat, boys, and free my soul

I wanna get lost in your rock 'n' roll and drift away

Ho, ho, oh-ho, yeah

Give me the beat, boys, and free my soul (free my soul)

I wanna get lost in your rock 'n' roll and drift away

Yeah, hey, hey, yeah

Give me the beat, boys, and free my soul

I wanna get lost in your rock 'n' roll and drift away

Na, na, now won't ya

Won't ya take me?

Whoa-ho, take me