Galaxy finally solve Sounders, advance to MLS Cup final

The irresistible force met the immovable object for the Western Conference title on Saturday night.

The Los Angeles Galaxy were the irresistible force, with a vaunted attack featuring the likes of wingers Gabriel Pec and Joseph Paintsil, striker Dejan Joveljic and playmaker Riqui Puig. The Galaxy had scored the third most goals in the league (68 goals) this past season and continued to find the back net with very little resistance in the playoffs, scoring an astounding 15 goals in its three playoff matches.

However, the Seattle Sounders played the role of the immovable object on Saturday night. The Sounders proudly carried the reputation of having a stingy, rigid defense that results in them turning the beautiful game into 90 minute slogs (extra time if needed), and it showed in the stats, as the 35 goals they surrendered this year were the fewest in the league. Sure enough, Seattle imposed its will on the match, breaking up numerous passes and crosses, throwing themselves in front of balls and basically imposing its will on the match.

However, the Galaxy’s firepower ultimately proved too much to contain for Seattle. Joveljic provided the big moment of the match, as his goal late in the second half was all they needed to propel them to its first MLS Cup Final in a decade, as the host Galaxy grinded the 1-0 result at Dignity Health Sports Park.

“Seattle is very organized, they make you play around them,” Galaxy keeper John McCarthy said. “They are not easy to break down and pass through the middle and create quick combinations. They are an experienced group that proves their record of giving up the least amount of goals.”

The win sends them to its first MLS Cup Final since 2014, which was also the last time it hoisted the MLS Cup. Just like 10 years ago, they will host the final, and just like 10 years ago, a team from the East Coast is the last obstacle standing between them and the MLS Cup title. That team from the East is the New York Red Bulls, who are carrying that team of destiny feel to them. Despite finishing sixth in the Eastern Conference, NYRB have turned the tables in the playoffs with a Cinderella Run of sorts, upsetting the defending champion Columbus Crew in the first round, followed by a Hudson River Derby win over New York City FC at Yankee Stadium and finishing its run through the East with 1-0 win over Orlando City in the conference final.

“They have done a lot of things right over the course of the year to make sure that they have given themselves this opportunity and this opportunity to play at home with our fans, who also from day one of the start of this year were a hundred percent behind this group and saw the changes and saw the first game against Miami,” Galaxy head coach Greg Vanney said. “Also, I think I felt that there was something different that was going on inside of this group. So I am proud of these guys. Again, they have answered every challenge over the course of the year and now we’ve got one more.”

Scoreless late in the second half, and with the match having well played into Seattle’s game plan, the Galaxy were finally able to break through in the 85th minute. A ball by Alex Roldan was intercepted by Marky Delgado, who after a touch played a ball to Riqui Puig, who then slipped a ball to Joveljic, and the Serbian international right away fired a right-footed shot just outside the penalty area, Sounders keeper Stefan Frei got his right hand on the ball, but not enough to prevent the ball from going into the back net to put the Galaxy ahead. The Galaxy were able to wilt away the remainder of the match.

“Before the goal, it was a good reaction,” Joveljic said of his goal. “I’m not sure Riqui got the ball, I knew he was going to play. I saw the open space. I run into it and I know the goalkeeper is going to make one step to his left side so I just shot it with 60 percent of power but he almost saved it. I was a little bit lucky.”

Despite its defensive reputation, it was the Sounders that had the first scoring chance, and it came early in the match. Three minutes in, Seattle was on the attack, Obed Vargas played a ball to Georgi Minoungou, who then while dribbling forward tight-roped the left sideline, but he kept the ball in play, then sent a ball into the penalty area, and Albert Rusnak took the ball towards the end line and fired a left-footed shot, but Galaxy keeper John McCarthy parried the ball over the end line.

Photo courtesy of the LA Galaxy

The Galaxy had its chances as well. Its first scoring chance came in the 19th minute. as Miki Yamane crossed into the penalty area, and Joveljic fired a right-footed shot at goal, but apparently did not get enough of the ball, which allowed Frei to make the save and ultimately allow the defense to clear the ball away. A minute later, Pec played Joveljic into the penalty area, Joveljic was virtually unmarked inside the 18-yard box, and got the shot off, but Sounders center back Nathan threw his body in front of Joveljic and blocked the shot. Seattle had another great look in the 40th minute, as they had a free kick on the left side at the line of the penalty area, Rusnak sent the set piece on target aiming for the near post, but McCarthy came through, and sent the ball over the crossbar. The best chance early in the second half came from Seattle, as Jackson Ragen sprung Nohou down the left side, Nohou crossed into the penalty area, the cross was cut off, but fell to the feet of Jordan Morris, who left a ball for Rusnak, and seeing a sightline, fired a shot on goal, but McCarthy calmly made the save.