CARSON, Calif. – LA Galaxy Insider Adam Serrano’s Three Points to the Galaxy’s 1- 0 victory over Seattle Sounders FC in front of 27,000 at StubHub Center.
GALAXY FINALLY BREAK THROUGH AFTER MISSING REPEATED CHANCES
The LA Galaxy chipped away at the Seattle Sounders defense repeatedly in the second half and at the start of the second stanza, their patience was finally rewarded.
Chances rained down on the Seattle goal throughout the first half as the Galaxy were the more dangerous side. But less than 10 minutes into the second period, LA broke through as a Marcelo Sarvas shot inside the 18 took a deflection off Chad Marshall and into the Seattle net. Up a goal after Sarvas’ 52 minute strike, LA didn’t let up as Stefan Ishizaki rattled the cross bar on a free kick that nearly doubled LA’s lead.
Although the Galaxy earned a narrow victory in the home fixture of the two-leg series, their inability to capitalize on repeated chances could come back to haunt them next week up in the Pacific Northwest.
PENEDO AND TIGHT LA DEFENSE KEEPS SEATTLE OFF THE BOARD
With the LA Galaxy offense struggling to find the back of the net, it was Panamanian goalkeeper Jaime Penedo who kept LA in the game long enough for them to earn a 1-0 result.
Although the Galaxy dominated the run of play throughout the match, Seattle made their living on the counter attack with repeated chances at Penedo. Each time, the Panamanian’s quick reactions made it impossible to score as he made a pair of saves in quick succession twice to prevent the Sounders from finding an away goal.
Penedo wasn’t the only hero on the afternoon, however, as Tommy Meyer—who was filling in for the injured Leonardo—repeatedly made timely clearances and recoveries to hold the Sounders attack at bay.
WHAT NEXT?
The LA Galaxy earned the victory, but the visitors from the Pacific Northwest will feel confident heading into the second leg as their defensive performance kept LA at just a 1-0 aggregate margin heading into next week’s decisive match at CenturyLink Field.
By virtue of their victory, the Galaxy head into that second leg knowing that a victory or a draw of any type will put them through to their fourth MLS Cup final in six years. LA has experience earning a win in Seattle this season as they picked up a 3-0 win over the Sounders back in July. Despite the Galaxy’s slim aggregate advantage, the Sounders will be pleased knowing that they defeated LA in a do-or-die match on their home field back in October.
No doubt, it’ll be an exciting –and physical one— next week in Seattle.
