Statement win: Sounders top Galaxy, advance in Leagues Cup

SEATTLE – The Seattle Sounders bounced back from their loss to Necaxa by beating the LA Galaxy 3-1 in the Leagues Cup Round of 32 on Thursday. First-half goals from Yeimar Gomez Andrade, Jackson Ragen and Alex Roldan powered the Sounders to victory despite a late Gabriel Pec goal to deny Andrew Thomas and Seattle the shutout.

The Sounders started in much the same way it seemed like the Necaxa game had started, taking an early two-goal lead. The differences this time around were simple: both goals came from the center backs off of corner kicks, and the goal to make it 2-0 didn’t get called back despite a short review.

Yeimar got things started in the 4th minute, rising up to get a head on a corner from Albert Rusnák that Galaxy goalkeeper John McCarthy swung at but couldn’t do anything to stop. It only took three minutes for Seattle to find the back of the net again from yet another corner. This time Rusnák’s service found Morris, but McCarthy was able to keep the shot out with a save off his face. Unfortunately for him the rebound fell to Jackson Ragen at the far post, and Ragen smashed his shot in off the crossbar to make it 2-0 in the 7th minute.

The Sounders would end up conceding 64% of possession during the first half, but for all their possession the Galaxy hardly created any real danger. The visitors only managed two shots during the half, neither of which required a save from Thomas. Seattle kept pushing to add to their lead, taking a total of 12 shots with 11 of them coming from inside the area. The one shot from outside the box was a memorable one, though. Deep in first-half stoppage time the Sounders took a throw-in in Galaxy territory. Cristian Roldan jumped on a loose defensive header inside the box and played the ball back to his brother at the top of the area. Alex Roldan took a touch to control, then hit a gorgeous curling shot that nestled right into the far side netting to make it 3-0 in the 4th minute of stoppage time.

The second half had its moments, as the Galaxy seemed to have pulled a goal back in the 53rd. Paul Rothrock committed a foul at the edge of the box and earned a yellow for his trouble, and Maya Yoshida made contact with the ensuing free kick to put it in the back of the net. After a review, though, it was determined that Yoshida was offside and the goal was called back. Seattle created plenty of chances after that close call, but couldn’t capitalize on any of them. The Galaxy did eventually get their goal in the 83rd minute. Joseph Paintsil played the ball from the left inside to Riqui Puig, who hit a remarkable slip pass that split the defense, immediately eliminating four players including both centerbacks and the two more defensively minded midfielders, to find Gabriel Pec who made a run from the space between the defense and midfield into the gap between Yeimar and Jon Bell before clipping the ball over Andrew Thomas to make the game 3-1.

That’s how things would finish as the Sounders advance to the Round of 16 where they’ll host Pumas at Lumen Field on Monday, August 12.

Key moments

4 - GOAL! Albert Rusnák sends in a great corner and Yeimar rises up and heads it hope to give the Sounders an early lead! 1-0 Sounders

7 - GOAL! Jackson Ragen makes it two! Jordan Morris connects on another Rusnák corner and John McCarthy makes a save, but the rebound falls to Ragen who puts his shot in off the crossbar. 2-0 Sounders

14 - The Galaxy have their first real chance following some prolonged possession in Seattle’s end, but the header from Gabriel Pec is easily over the bar.

25 - Obed Vargas gets into a great spot after receiving a pass between two defenders, but his shot is blocked and the Galaxy clear.

30 - Morris finds Alex Roldan after a clever little play working into the box, but Roldan’s eventual shot is blocked out for a corner.

35 - Another pair of really good looks for Seattle, but Alex Roldan’s shot is saved by McCarthy and Morris’ follow-up is blocked.

45+4 - GOAL! Alex Roldan, take a bow. Deep into first half stoppage, Roldan gets the layoff from his brother, takes a touch and curls his shot into the far netting to close out the half. 3-0

68 - Cristian Roldan makes a great play to pick up a loose ball in midfield and run it down before hitting a dangerous cross behind the defense that just misses connecting with Morris and goes behind Rothrock.

69 - McCarthy comes up with a huge save to deny Rusnák after Vargas found him with a great pass into a pocket of space.

76 - Rusnák goes on a marauding run from midfield into the penalty area before dishing the ball to Morris who can’t get enough on his shot to beat the GK.

83 - Goal, Galaxy. Gabriel Pec finishes off a pass from Riqui Puig that eliminates four players as Pec ghosts behind Josh Atencio and Splits Yeimar and Jon Bell with his run before clipping the ball over Thomas. 3-1 Sounders

86 - Morris gets in behind the defense with a chance to either go for goal or play in Cristian Roldan to his right. He opts to try to find Roldan, but a defender slides in to put the ball out for a corner.

Quick thoughts

Resiliency returns: The concern over the team’s fragility expressed in this very space after the Necaxa game – fueled in part by the LAFC loss – remain valid, but Seattle’s ability to bounce back with a pretty impressive win over an LA Galaxy team with a lot of firepower shows that the perseverance and resiliency shown earlier this summer didn’t completely dry up under the hot August sun. Notably the turnaround in results came with much-improved performances from some of the established core who struggled against Necaxa, particularly along the back line where Jackson Ragen, Alex Roldan and Yeimar all got on the score sheet to go along with stronger defensive showings. It’s not perfect, there’s clearly still room for improvement, but it’s good to know that the Sounders aren’t ready to count themselves out.

Why not win it?: The Sounders have a date with Pumas in the Leagues Cup Round of 16, meaning they’re potentially three wins away from the tournament’s final and a chance to add a new trophy to the collection. If they win they probably have a fourth meeting with LAFC waiting for them, but the seeding for the tournament gives Seattle a friendly path in terms of hosting. No one is looking past that Pumas game, but it doesn’t hurt to dream a little. We’ve come this far, we might as well go ahead and win the dang thing. Anything can happen in a knockout tournament, so why not that?

Frustrating and efficient: It’s admittedly a little weird to be frustrated or annoyed about finishing after a win where the team scored three goals. It’s fun to have three “defenders” – I say “defenders” because, although Alex Roldan is part of the back line as the right back, in the Sounders’ system “defender” is a pretty incomplete description of his role – score, and it’s great to get some set-piece production and a golazo. The annoyance or frustration come from the lack of goals from the team’s front four. They created plenty of chances and got into good positions, and Rusnák and Cristian Roldan are both credited with assists, but if the Sounders really want to compete consistently with the top teams in the region, let alone in the league or in the West, they need to get Jordan Morris and the rest of the attack producing again.

Notable quote

Brian Schmetzer on how the Sounders started the game: “I would echo my longtime adversary, his words, my guys came out ready to play… the discussion we had prior to this game was, it’s Leagues Cup, but it also had a secondary meaning… that is a well coached Galaxy team."

Player spotlight

Albert Rusnák – Rusnák only gets credit for one assist tonight, but his set piece delivery was key to the Sounders’ first two goals. He created six chances, went 2/2 on attempted dribbles, and caused the Galaxy defense tons of problems.