CARSON, Calif. – The Seattle Sounders FC defeated the LA Galaxy, 2-1, in an MLS Reserve League match on Tuesday at University Field #1 at The Home Depot Center. Nate Jaqua and Lamar Neagle scored two first half goals for the Sounders (7-0-0, 21 pts), while Adam Cristman pulled back a goal late for the Galaxy (1-5-0, 3 pts) to make for a tense final 15 minutes.
With the temperature in the mid-80s and the sun shinning down, both sides got off to a strong start moving the ball around the field with quick one-touch passing, charactistic of the two clubs.
Seattle got off to a better start, however, scoring first with a strike from Jaqua at the top of the box in the 18th minute. Collecting the ball on the left wing, Neagle sent a low cross into the box for Jaqua, who took a controlling touch before firing a low shot past the Galaxy’s Josh Saunders.
Seattle doubled its lead in the 31st minute when Neagle converted a penalty kick, giving the midfielder an assist and a goal of his own in the first half. On the play that led to the penalty kick, Seattle’s Mike Fucito had broken through the Galaxy back line and into the box with just the keeper to beat, but a recovering Dan Keat made one last defensive effort only to be called for the foul.
In the second half, Los Angeles looked to battle back into the game but that elusive first goal seemed just out of reach against a strong Sounders defense. The Galaxy would finally break through in the 74th minute with a strike from Cristman. Just back from the U-17 FIFA World Cup with the U.S. National Team, Jack McBean provided the assist flicking a pass into the box for Cristman to slot past Seattle’s Terry Boss.
With Seattle’s lead cut in half, Los Angeles pressured the Sounders incisively in the final minutes of the match and nearly earned a penalty kick of their own in stoppage time when Cristman went down following a tackle by Boss, but referee Alejandro Mariscal waived play-on and the game finished 2-1 in favor of the Sounders.
Up next in MLS Reserve League action, the Galaxy will take on the Vancouver Whitecaps at 11 a.m. on Sunday, July 31 at a yet to be determined location, while the Sounders will also take on the Whitecaps on Tuesday, August 9 at 2 p.m. at a yet to be determined location.
Scoring Summary:
SEA – Jaqua (Neagle) ‘18
SEA – Neagle (penalty kick) ‘31
LA – Cristman (McBean) ‘74
LA Galaxy Lineup: Josh Saunders; Bryan Jordan (Grady Howe ‘78), Daniel Keat, Kyle Davies, Ryan Thomas; Paolo Cardozo (Justin Dhillon ’73), Jovan Kirovski, Dustin McCarty, Hector Jimenez; Adam Cristman, Miguel Lopez (Jack McBean ’60).
Substitutes Not Used: Kevin Guppy.
Seattle Sounders FC Lineup: Terry Boss; Zach Scott, Taylor Graham, Patrick Ianni, Leonardo Gonzalez; Pat Noonan (David Estrada '46), Mike Seamon, Servando Carrasco, Lamar Neagle (Miguel Montano '60); Nate Jaqua (Aaron Kovar '70), Mike Fucito
Substitutes Not Used: Josh Ford, Brandon Brockway.
Misconduct Summary:
SEA – Lamar Neagle (caution – Reckless Challenge) ‘47
SEA – Mike Fucito (caution – Dissent) ‘64
SEA – Miguel Montano (caution – Reckless Challenge) ‘88
Referee: Alejandro Mariscal
Referee's Assistants: Cesar Calderon, Jesse Yzaguirre
4th Official: Gegham Vardanyan
Attendance: 150; Weather: Sunny, 81 degrees
