PLAYING UPHILL FROM THE START
An early goal by the LA Galaxy saw the Seattle Sounders trying to climb a hill they never could overcome leading which read to another loss. A left-footed shot by Galaxy forward Gabriel Pec squeezed by Sounders keeper Stefan Frei four minutes into the game. The shot from a water lodged field is one Frei has made countless times before. In all fairness, the Galaxy should have scored two minutes earlier when Joseph Painstal snuck between Sounder defenders Jackson Ragen and Yeimer and unleashed a left-footed shot that hit the left post.
SETTLED NERVES
Brian Schmetzer shuffled his line up once again. Cody Baker started at right back Nouhou at left-back, Cristian Roldan played inside with Josh Atencio, Alex Roldan moved up to right midfield with Albert Rusnak in the Center, and Jordan Morris on the left side . Shaken but not rattled the team settled down after the early mishap. Possession and patience were the big reason the team could settle into the game. Lone striker Raul Ruidiaz brought energy and made impactful runs into the Galaxy defense but to no avail.
The ongoing issue with the Sounders is stagnation in the final third. There is a lack of players making runs to create space for the ball carrier. As a result, the Galaxy was able to close down on the Sounder’s ball career. The improvement in this game was the Sounder’s possession time with the ball. The Rave Green out-possessed the LA Galaxy by a 53% to 46.3 margin.
INTENTIONALITY A MISSING PIECE
Improved play by the Sounders defense is something the team can hang its hat on. I Say that cautiously. When you are 0-5 and last place in the Conference positives are hard to find. In fairness, the backline and midfield kept the Sounders in the game until the very end. Josh Atencio returned after missing the last game due to a red card and continued to play disciplined defensive soccer.
ALEX ROLDAN LOOKS COMFORTABLE IN THE MIDFIELD
Alex Roldan’s marshall of the right mightfield saw he belonged there. He played a solid defensive game and played some combinations with Rusnack who got his first start of the season. The lack of intentionality upfront is hurting the Sounders. For Morris, the effort is there but the technicality is lacking.
Morris had a golden opportunity to tie the game in the 90th minute but his right-footed shot was just wide of the goal. If Morris had just tapped the ball rather than guided it in, the Sounders would have come back to Seattle with a point. In soccer technicality is the key to execution. Right now the Sounders are lacking creativity, technicality, and the confidence to put the ball in the back of the next.
MATCH NOTES
- Sounders FC has yet to win in its first five games to start the 2024 MLS campaign (0-3-2), matching the club record for longest winless streak to begin a season (2015).
- The result snaps Seattle’s 11-match unbeaten streak (7-0-4) against the LA Galaxy in MLS regular-season play, dating back to 2018. Sounders FC is now 14-11-13 against the Galaxy in regular-season action.
- Saturday’s match marked the 45th meeting between the two sides in MLS regular season and postseason play, the most of any Seattle opponent since joining the league in 2009.
- Albert Rusnák made his first start of the 2024 season after dealing with an ankle injury. He had previously made two appearances as a substitute.
- Cody Baker made his first start of the 2024 season, slotting in at right back. Baker recorded his first career assist last weekend as a substitute against San Jose.
MATCH SUMMARY
Seattle Sounders FC 0 – LA Galaxy 1
Saturday, March 30, 2024
Venue: Dignity Health Sports Park
Referee: Ismail Elfath
Assistants: Cameron Blanchard, Jeremy Hanson
Fourth Official: Matthew Thompson
VAR: Michael Radchuk
Attendance: 22,736
Weather: 52 degrees and cloudy
SCORING SUMMARY
LAG – Gabriel Pec (Joseph Paintsil, Riqui Puig) 4’
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY
SEA – Alex Roldan (caution) 60’
SEA – Raúl Ruidíaz (caution) 68’
SEA – Nouhou (caution) 90’+3’
LINEUPS & STATS
Seattle Sounders FC – Stefan Frei; Cody Baker (Danny Musovski 60’), Yeimar, Jackson Ragen, Nouhou; Josh Atencio (Dylan Teves 85’), Cristian Roldan (Paul Rothrock 79’), Alex Roldan, Albert Rusnák, Jordan Morris; Raúl Ruidíaz (Danny Leyva 79’)
Substitutes not used: Andrew Thomas, Xavier Arreaga, Nathan, Jonathan Bell, Sota Kitahara
Total shots: 17
Shots on goal: 3
Fouls: 7
Offside: 0
Corner-Kicks: 6
Saves: 1
LA Galaxy – John McCarthy; Miki Yamane, Julian Aude, Maya Yoshida, Martin Caceres (Eriq Zavaleta 32’); Gaston Brugman (Edwin Cerrillo 67’), Mark Delgado, Riqui Puig; Gabriel Pec, Miguel Berry (Dejan Joveljic 66’), Joseph Paintsil (Diego Fagundez 84’)
Substitutes not used: Novak Micovic, John Nelson, Jonathan Perez, Mauricio Cuevas, Daniel Aguirre
Total shots: 9
Shots on goal: 2
Fouls: 11
Offside: 0
Corner-kicks: 4
Saves: 3
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