Sounders held by bottom side Galaxy

Seattle Sounders 2-2 LA Galaxy

SEATTLE, WA–Any chance the Sounders would be able to contend for a seed higher than fourth in the Western Conference took a hit on Saturday as the Sounders were held by bottom side LA Galaxy, 2-2, at Lumen Field. The Sounders are now seven points adrift of third place Vancouver (7-0 winners over Philadelphia) and just one above fifth place LAFC.

Photo: Paul Kahl

It looked like would be an easy night for the Sounders early. Danny Musovski found an oncoming Jesus Ferreria in the fifth minute to put the Sounders up in front. The Sounders has numerous chances to add to that lead, and eventually did four minutes from halftime through tic-tac-toe as Obed Vargas sent a thru-ball to Paul Rothrock, who fed it to Musovsky for the finish.

However, Galaxy would pull one back one minute before halftime. Diego Fagundez sent a cross across goal and it was headed in by Maya Yoshida. Seattle had a third goal disallowed as Paul Rothrock was in an offside position. Seattle would continue to push for a third, but could not get it. Galaxy pushed for an equalizer and got one three minutes from time following some lazy marking that allowed Mikie Yamane to pounce on a loose ball in the box to snare a point.

“Our setup, anybody could see, it was all wrong,” said Sounders head coach Brian Schmetzer on the goal. “That’s a terrible goal. That is an absolute terrible, terrible, terrible goal to give up.”

The Sounders now travel cross-country to Fort Lauderdale to take on Inter Miami on Wednesday night (4:30pm PT, Apple TV) in a rematch of the Leagues Cup Final. Galaxy, looking to avoid the wooden spoon, will host FC Cincinnati on Saturday (6:30pm PT, Apple TV).

Photos by Paul Kahl