SEATTLE – The LA Galaxy didn’t get the win in Seattle on Sunday, but the team had no reason to hang their heads.
Gyasi Zardes scored the lone goal of the evening for Los Angeles who split the spoils with Western Conference leaders Seattle Sounders FC with a 1-1 draw. The tie and a series of favorable results across the Western Conference kept the Galaxy’s slim postseason hopes alive for yet another week.
Although the Galaxy couldn’t get the win, head coach Sigi Schmid had plenty to be pleased about.
“I’m proud of the team. I’m proud of the way they battled. I thought the team fought hard which is something that we’ve been trying to get to,” Schmid told reporters. “I thought our fighting spirit was good and I thought at times we played some real good soccer.”
Despite facing the top team in the Western Conference, it was the Galaxy who were the better team for wide stretches. Buoyed by strong showings from Romain Alessandrini and Jonathan dos Santos, and boasting a fully fit squad for the first time in months, the Galaxy’s front six was able to hassle a Sounders defense that struggled to contain Los Angeles.
In the 25th minute, the two Galaxy star men helped put the visitors on the board when dos Santos sprayed the ball wide to Alessandrini who fired a cross to a wide-open Zardes for the only goal. The lead did not hold, however, as a defensive breakdown led to a late tally by Seattle’s Lamar Neagle.
“It’s a totally different because guys are back and healthy,” Zardes said. “We’re progressing each week. You can see it. Today, I thought we were phenomenal; we just gave up one play.”
“A win tonight would have been big. They’re top of the standings, so to come away and get a win would have been great, but we also see a lot of positives from this game,” Ema Boateng added. “We’ll just take it game by game.”
Los Angeles will look to build upon Sunday’s draw next week when they host Supporters’ Shield leading Toronto FC at StubHub Center Saturday. They’ll do so without two vital pieces, however, as Romain Alessandrini and Jermaine Jones will miss the match due to yellow card accumulation.
As the team looks to build for the postseason – or the 2018 campaign –, the clash with the league’s leaders is a crucial one.
“We’re progressing each and every single week, but this upcoming game is going to be the true test,” Zardes said.
Adam Serrano is the LA Galaxy Insider. Read his blog at www.LAGalaxy.com/Insider and contact him at LAGalaxyInsider@Gmail.com
