LA Galaxy vs. Sounders: Highlights, stats, quotes
The Seattle Sounders defended well for 85 minutes but weren’t threatening enough and ultimately succumbed to the LA Galaxy’s explosive offense, losing 1-0 on Saturday in the Western Conference finals. Dejan Joveljic delivered the game winner in the 86th minute, finishing off a Riqui Puig assist after a turnover.
Highlights
Stats
LA Galaxy: 1 vs Seattle Sounders FC: 0 #LAvSEA | #LAGalaxy | #Sounders | #mls | 🤖⚽
— MLS Analytics (@mlsstat.bsky.social) November 30, 2024 at 10:15 PM
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MATCH SUMMARY
Seattle Sounders FC 0 – LA Galaxy 1
Saturday, November 30, 2024
Venue: Dignity Health Sports Park
Referee: Drew Fischer
Assistants: Corey Parker, Kathryn Nesbitt
Fourth Official: Ted Unkel
VAR: Kevin Stott
Attendance: 26,327
Weather: 63 degrees and cloudy
SCORING SUMMARY
LAG – Dejan Joveljic (Riqui Puig, Mark Delgado) 85’
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY
SEA – Pedro de la Vega (caution) 55’
SEA – Cristian Roldan (caution) 61’
SEA – Nouhou (caution) 74’
SEA – Jackson Ragen (caution) 90’+6’
LINEUPS & STATS
Seattle Sounders FC – Stefan Frei; Alex Roldan (Léo Chú 88’), Nathan (Josh Atencio 90’+5’), Jackson Ragen, Nouhou; Obed Vargas, Cristian Roldan; Pedro de la Vega (Raúl Ruidíaz 82’), Albert Rusnák (João Paulo 69’), Georgi Minoungou; Jordan Morris
Substitutes not used: Andrew Thomas, Yeimar Gómez Andrade, Jonathan Bell, Cody Baker, Danny Leyva
Total shots: 9
Shots on goal: 5
Fouls: 13
Offside: 1
Corner-Kicks: 5
Saves: 4
LA Galaxy – John McCarthy; John Nelson, Maya Yoshida, Emiro Garcés, Miki Yamane; Riqui Puig, Edwin Cerrillo, Marco Reus (Mark Delgado 46’); Joseph Paintsil (Diego Fagúndez 90’+2’), Dejan Joveljic (Gastón Brugman 88’), Gabriel Pec
Substitutes not used: Miguel Berry, Eriq Zavaleta, Jalen Neal, Julián Aude, Novak Micovic, Mauricio Cuevas
Total shots: 12
Shots on goal: 5
Fouls: 8
Offside: 0
Corner-kicks: 3
Saves: 5
Quotes
Brian Schmetzer
“It’s really kind of frustrating because I don’t think we got played off the park. I’m not so sure we did enough to win. But we certainly have proved that even with the team that was expected to win we were right there.”
“With our club, the season has not been a success because we didn’t win any trophies. We were close, and a lot of teams around this league would say that’s a successful year. But for us that really doesn’t hold water. It’s always been about at least getting ourselves into a final every year and giving ourselves an opportunity to win a trophy.”
“We haven’t been able to come up with enough goals in those critical moments and that’s something we’ll address.”
“I don’t think that this team at any point in the year ever gave up. They actually increased the application of what my coaching staff did, what they wanted to accomplish. The players persevered through a lot of hardship. The support staff to get guys back from injury, get de la Vega back on his feet. He’s a much better athlete now. My opinion is, yeah, we had a good season, I did a great job, but the fact the matter is it’s always the players first. They’re the ones who do the hard work all the time. It’s my coaching staff who are excellent. They deserve all the credit.”
“The organization is very strong. That’s what I’m very, very proud of.”
Stefan Frei
“We didn’t have as clear of chances as we would have liked, but that’s something that we need to work on next year, and maybe add a few pieces to help us.”
“That’s the brutal part of this is that even if you’re just together for a year, you build connections, and if you’re going to stay together for many years, those connections grow even stronger. Once the season’s over, it’s over. We might have exit physicals, you might not even have exit physicals at the same time and teams are made up of international players. Those players might leave, so it’s literally over. I think we’ll stay in contact with a lot of the guys that have been here for a long time and because you’ve spent a lot of time battling and putting in the work together and sharing and in defeats and sharing in accomplishments. But the harsh reality of it is that and that’s why I’m not even thinking really about this game right. I’m thinking about the teammates that the composition is gonna be different next year.
Cristian Roldan
“We did enough to not lose the game. We didn’t do enough to win the game.”
“I felt like Obed and I formed a good partnership towards the end of the season. Our game plan obviously was to make Puig play wide, put pressure on him, make other players be the playmaker. Obed did a fantastic job of of putting pressure on him along with our front line guys. Obed is a special player and he has a lot of room to grow. I would love to see Obed take that next step and for us to even have a stronger partnership. Can we be the ones getting assists?”