The LA Galaxy overcame a first-half red card to take a 2-1 lead but conceded an own goal equalizer in the 82nd minute, settling for a 2-2 draw against the Seattle Sounders at Dignity Health Sports Park on Saturday.
Raul Ruidiaz netted the opening goal for Seattle in the 42nd minute, but a brace from Zlatan Ibrahimovic had the Galaxy up 2-1 despite playing down a man for almost the entire match after a sixth-minute red card to Daniel Steres. But a bizarre own goal off a deflection for Seattle late in the second half would force the sides to split the points.
The Galaxy were on the front foot early, forcing Sounders goalkeeper Stefan Frei into a pair of reaction saves, but were dealt a massive blow when Steres was sent off shortly after kickoff for chopping down Ruidiaz when he was the last man back, forcing the Galaxy to play with 10 men for the next 84 minutes.
The Sounders struggled to press the action in the minutes after the red card, but found the game's opening goal in the 42nd after Ruidiaz finished off a counterattack spearheaded by Jordan Morris giving Seattle a 1-0 lead. But they would relinquish that lead in short order courtesy of a perfectly placed headed finish from Ibrahimovic off a feed from Sebastian Lletget, bringing the match level as it hit halftime.
The Galaxy found the go-ahead goal in the 65th after Ibrahimovic was brought down in the box by Kim Kee-hee, drawing a penalty kick whistle from referee Robert Sibiga. The Swedish superstar made no mistake from the spot, improbably handing the shorthanded home side the second-half lead.
LA looked destined for the shocking victory, but the Sounders drew the game level in the 82nd after goalkeeper David Bingham came off his line and saw his attempted save on Morris deflect off Jorgen Skjelvik and roll into the net, sealing the 2-2 final scoreline.
GOALS
- 42' - SEA - Raul Ruidiaz | WATCH
- 45' - LAG - Zlatan Ibrahimovic | WATCH
- 65' - LAG - Zlatan Ibrahimovic | WATCH
- 82' - SEA - Jorgen Skjelvik (OG)
Next Up
- LAG: Tuesday, August 20 vs. Cruz Azul (10:30 pm ET | ESPN2 in US; TSN in Canada) | Leagues Cup
