Seattle Sounders FC are on their way to a Concacaf Champions League final rematch in the Leagues Cup Round of 16 after dispatching with the top team in the MLS Western Conference, LA Galaxy, in a 3-1 win at Lumen Field on Thursday night.
Riding an ideal opening stanza to victory, Sounders wasted no time jumping out to a 2-0 lead within seven minutes with a goal from each of their center-backs on consecutive corner kicks to start the match. Galaxy has conceded the joint-most goals from set pieces in MLS this season and Seattle quickly took advantage through Yéimar and Jackson Ragen in Leagues Cup as well.
“We as a coaching staff watch tape and film and we get together our plan. The majority of it is what we do because in my opinion set pieces — corner kicks especially — it’s about the service and it’s life or death inside the penalty box. It’s usually more about the player’s desire inside the 18-yard box to get their head on something,” analyzed Sounders head coach Brian Schmetzer. “Set pieces are a big part of our league, EPL, Serie A, Bundesliga. All around the world set pieces are critical.”
As they have also done all year, Galaxy dominated possession whether they were winning or losing to the tune of 64% in this first half. Despite racking up 317 passes including 40 from star playmaker Riqui Puig, LA could not muster a single shot on target in the first half.
At least Galaxy’s control of the ball prevented further bleeding in the scoreline, right? Almost.
With the last kick of the half, fullback Alex Roldan expertly placed a curler into the side netting to put an exclamation mark on a formidable first-half performance on both ends from the home side.
“It’s the last play of the half. We give up a third goal which really makes it a hell of a lot more difficult,” shared Galaxy head coach Greg Vanney. “Maybe at [a] two [goal deficit], you can get one and you feel like you’re right back in it but three makes it a lot more difficult.”
The second half saw the same game flow without as many goals as LA continued to hold the ball while Seattle created the more dangerous goalscoring opportunities. Unlike the first half, Gabriel Pec found his finishing boots to chip in a clever assist from Riqui Puig and give Galaxy hope with just under ten minutes remaining in the match.
It was always too little too late for the Galaxy, however, as their Leagues Cup campaign came to an end in Seattle, leveling the all-time record in head-to-head knockout matches between these historic MLS sides at six.
For the Sounders, a 2022 Concacaf Champions League final rematch looms on the horizon as they prepare to host Pumas in the Round of 16. Seattle has fond memories of the CCL final second leg at home which saw them become the first MLS outfit to win CCL in a 3-0 drubbing of UNAM and will hope to only build on that in Leagues Cup.
“I love it. If I was a fan I’d buy my tickets tomorrow,” Schmetzer said of the rematch. “I think it’s going to be great. It’s very recent history. Pumas is a great team. I’m looking forward to it.”
