Cristian Roldan scored two goal as the Seattle Sounders FC (7-3-3,24 points) returned their scoring ways in a relatively easy 3-1 win over the LA GALAXY( 4-6-3, 15 points) in LA. While it wasn’t exactly a leisurely Sunday stroll at Dignity Health Sports Park the Rave Green had their way against the home side.
EARLY GOAL
The Galaxy played a high line against the fleet footed Sounders and the strategy was disastrous from the get go. After receiving a pass from defender Nohou Sounder forward Jordan Morris blew past the Galaxy defender who were at midfield and crossed the ball from the left side to a wide open Roldan. Roldan blasted the ball into the back of the Galaxy goal for the 1-0 lead just 12 minutes into the game.
MORRIS BLAST
Morris’ made it 2-0 in the 38th minute, beating the Galaxy offside trap on a long through ball from Nico Lodeiro before slotting a shot past goalkeeper David Bingham. It was the seventh goal of the season for Morris, second on the team behind Raúl Ruidíaz. Lodeiro tallied his fifth assist of the season, giving him 60 in MLS action (including postseason) since signing with Sounders FC in July of 2016.
ROLDAN DOUBLES UP
Roldan completed his brace in the 61st minute, getting behind the defense on a ball from João Paulo and chipping the onrushing Bingham to make it 3-0. The Southern California native now has six career MLS regular season goals against the Galaxy, the most of any Seattle player in club history.
Sebastian Lletget pulled one back for the Galaxy in the 88th minute, but it wasn’t enough, as the Rave Green bring three points back to Seattle ahead of next weekend’s home match with Cascadia rival Vancouver. Sounders FC has now lost just once in its last 10 regular-season matchups with the Galaxy (5-1-4), dating back to October of 2015.
MATCH NOTES
- Including postseason play, Sunday night’s contest in Southern California was the 35th all-time meeting between Sounders FC and the LA Galaxy. In regular season action, Seattle has posted a record of 9-10-10, including a 4-6-5 record on the road. Seattle has lost just once in its last 10 regular season matchups with the Galaxy (5-1-4), dating back to October of 2015.
- With the opening goal of the match, Cristian Roldan netted his first strike of 2020. He added another tally in the 61st minute. In his sixth professional season with the Rave Green, the University of Washington product now has 22 regular-season goals.
- Jordan Morris fed Roldan the assist on the opening goal, giving the Mercer Island native six assists on the season, leading the team in this category and moving him into a four-way tie for the third-best mark in the league. Morris now has 18 regular season assists all-time.
MATCH SUMMARY
Seattle Sounders FC 3 – 1 LA Galaxy
Sunday, September 27, 2020
Venue: Dignity Health Sports Park
Referee: Jair Marrufo
Assistants: Frank Anderson, Andrew Bigelow
Fourth Official: Joe Dickerson
VAR: Guido Gonzalez Jr.
Attendance: Closed Door
Weather: 69 and sunny
SCORING SUMMARY
SEA – Cristian Roldan (Jordan Morris, Nouhou) 12′
SEA – Jordan Morris (Nicolás Loderio) 38′
SEA – Cristian Roldan (João Paulo) 61′
LA – Sebastian Lletget (Rolf Feltscher, Cristian Pavón) 88′
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY
LA – Julian Araujo 40′
LINEUPS & STATS
Seattle Sounders FC – Stefan Frei, Kelvin Leerdam (Alex Roldan 69′), Yeimar Gómez Andrade (Shane O’Neill 79′), Nouhou (Miguel Ibarra 82′), Xavier Arreaga, Gustav Svensson (Jordy Delem 79′), João Paulo, Cristian Roldan, Nicolás Lodeiro – captain, Jordan Morris, Will Bruin (Brad Smith 70′)
Substitutes not used: Stefan Cleveland, Joshua Atencio
Total shots: 12
Shots on goal: 7
Fouls: 3
Offside: 4
Corner-kicks: 5
Saves: 4
LA Galaxy – David Bingham, Emiliano Insúa (Diedie Traore 78′), Daniel Steres, Nick DePuy, Julian Araujo (Efrain Álvarez 53′), Rolf Feltscher, Jonathan dos Santos – captain, Joe Corona (Perry Kitchen 78′), Sebastian Lleget (Gordon Wild 89′), Cristian Pavón, Javier Hernandez
Substitutes not used: Jonathan Klinsmann, Giancarlo González, Emil Cuello, Sacha Kljestan, Ethan Zubak
Total shots: 9
Shots on goal: 5
Fouls: 9
Offside: 3
Corner-kicks: 8
Saves: 4
