A professional and efficient effort on the ends of the pitch saw Sounders FC advance to the League’s Final with a 2-0 win over LA Galaxy. With a previous 4-0 defeat of the Galaxy just over two weeks ago in MLS play, revenge was a storyline both sides tried to downplay, but was front and center in the players’ and coaches’ minds.
ON THE FRONT FOOT
Due to their poor form in MLS play, the Galaxy were always looking to the League Cups as their one legitimate shot at raising a trophy. The defending MLS Champions are dead last in the Western Conference standings with four wins, seven draws, and 16 losses.The fourth-place Sounders were looking to make it two consecutive wins over the Galaxy, who beat them in last season’s MLS Western Conference Final.
A fast start by the Sounders would have the homeside asking questions about their ability to beat the Sounders.
“We wanted to play in there half the field because we knew Greg was going to have his team ready, so it was critical for us to try and get off to a fast start, “ said Schmetzer after the game. The Sounders showed some guile when they attacked from the opening kickoff. A give and go between Jesus Ferreria , Paul Rothrock then to Obed Vargas ended with a cross into the LA goal box by Pedro Dela Vega. While the cross was headed out of the box it was an early sign of intent by the Sounders.
“We wanted to play in their half of the field because we knew Greg was going to have his team ready, so we needed to try and get off to a fast start, “ said Schmetzer after the game.
SOUNDERS CONTINUE TO PUSH FORWARD AND ARE REWARDED FOR IT
The Sounders continued to use the speed of Rothrock on the right wing and De la Vega on the left with passes to space and feet. The link-up play between Obed Vargas, Cristian Roldan, and Fereira was key in the Sounders continuing to keep the pressure on the Galaxy back line of Mathias Jorgensen, Maya Yoshida, Julan Aude, and Marucio Cuevas.
Adding more misery to the Galaxy backline was the hold-up play of Osaze De Rosario, who used his speed and size to create two chances early in the contest. The continued attack by the Sounders paid dividends seven minutes into the game. De Rosario tracked down a line-breaking pass by Cristian Roldan, but saw his shot saved by Galaxy keeper Novak Micovic.
The ball bounced off Mocovic to an onrushing Rothrock, who pounced on the loose ball and was fouled as the ball rolled to Ferreria, whose shot was blocked, then blasted into the back of the net by an onrushing De la Vega for the 1-0 lead.
LA GALAXY GETS BACK IN THE GAME
With the Sounders dominating the run of play LA Galaxy coach Greg Vanney switched his midfielders. Right mid Gabriel Pec switched sides, while Joseph Paintsil, who was on the left. The move gave the Galaxy some infusion, but it was only temporary as the Sounders’ back line and midfield stayed diligent and brave in their defending. All of the Galaxy’s possession was in front of the Sounders defenders. Andrew Thomas continued his stellar goalkeeping. The visiting Sounders went into the halftime break with a 1-0 lead.
A BURST OF ENERGY
As expected, the Galaxy started the second half with determination and energy. Just like the first half, the Sounders kept the Galaxy at bay with resolute defending and line-breaking passes. De Rosario nearly doubled the Sounders’ lead five minutes into the second half when he picked up De la Vega’s tap and galloped down the midfield, only to see his shot saved by Micovic. De Rosario made amends in the 56th minute when his goal doubled the Sounders’ lead.
The goal showed his determination, deft touch ability ,and strength. The Guyanese international received a throw-in from Alex Roldan, flicked the ball past a Galaxy defender, then bullied his way past two more Galaxy defenders and flicked the ball into the back of the net for the game-winning goal.
Please credit Mike Fiechtner / Sounders FC Communications
ONE BLEMISH AT THE END
Three minutes after the goal, Schmetzer substituted Danny Leyva for Rothrock and Reed Baker-Whiting for De la Vega. With the lead, the Sounders continued to keep the Galaxy in front of them when defending. Schmetzer’s final substitutions saw Kalan Kossa-Rienzi for Cristian Roldan and Synder Brunell for De Rosario. It all looked good and well until the 83rd minute, when Nouhou was shown a red card for his tackle on Pec. Despite playing a man down, the Sounders finished the game with several counterattack chances
BIG PICTURE
The message of start on the front foot was delivered and heard by the Sounders players. More importantly, the Sounders were disciplined in defending, clinical in passing, and made the shots they needed to advance. Yes, the team could have scored more goals, but two were enough. More importantly was the shoutout.
Schmetzer has tried to distance himself from being a defensive coach. I suggest that is pure coach speak. Defenses win championships, and the Sounders find themselves preparing to host Inter Miami FC in the Leagues Cup Final. This generation’s greatest player leads Inter Miami.
POST GAME NOTES
- Sounders FC advances to the Leagues Cup 2025 Final with the result and will host Inter Miami CF on Sunday, August 31 on the Emerald Queen Casino Pitch at Lumen Field (5:00 p.m. PT / Apple TV, Apple TV, Univision, TUDN, iHeartMedia Seattle, El Rey 1360 AM). Tickets to Sunday’s match are available for purchase HERE.
- This marks the second time the Rave Green have played in the Leagues Cup Final, also reaching the championship match in 2021, where they fell 3-2 to Liga MX side Club Léon.
- Sunday’s matchup with Miami marks just the second time the two sides have met across all competitions. Miami won the lone previous meeting 1-0 on April 16, 2022 in MLS regular-season play.
- Seattle has now reached 12 major tournament finals since joining MLS in 2009: five Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Finals (2009-2012, 2014), four MLS Cup Finals (2016-2017, 2019-2020), two Leagues Cup Finals (2021, 2025) and one Concacaf Champions Cup Final (2022).
- The club has won eight major trophies: four U.S. Open Cups (2009-2011, 2014), two MLS Cups (2016, 2019), one Concacaf Champions Cup (2022) and one Supporters’ Shield (2014).
- Pedro de la Vega’s goal in the seventh minute was his third in Leagues Cup 2025 play and ninth in all competitions.
- Osaze De Rosario’s goal in the 57th minute was his third strike in Leagues Cup 2025 action and his fourth in all competitions. He also scored against Atlanta United FC in MLS play earlier this year.
- Andrew Thomas made four saves and recorded his second shutout of Leagues Cup 2025. The fifth-year goalkeeper has three clean sheets in 13 appearances across all competitions this season.
- Nouhou was issued a red card late in tonight’s match and will be suspended for Sunday’s Final against Miami.
- Sounders FC also punched their ticket to the 2026 Concacaf Champions Cup with the result. Seattle remains the only MLS team to win the tournament, doing so in 2022.
- The Rave Green have lost one match since playing in the FIFA Club World Cup 2025™ in June, holding a 9-1-4 record in all competitions in its last 14 games, including a 4-0-1 mark in Leagues Cup 2025 play.
- Seattle is 9-5-1 all-time in Leagues Cup action following tonight’s result.
- Sounders FC and the LA Galaxy have met 54 times in all competitions since Seattle joined MLS in 2009. The Rave Green hold a 22-18-14 advantage, including a pair of victories this season.
- Cristian Roldan made his 350th all-competitions start tonight, the second Sounders FC player – and first field player – to reach that mark (Stefan Frei, 413).
- Danny Leyva made his 100th all-competitions appearance tonight. The midfielder originally signed with the club in 2019 as a Homegrown Player.
- Brian Schmetzer made nine changes to the lineup from Sunday’s MLS win over Sporting Kansas City, with Andrew Thomas, Alex Roldan, Jackson Ragen, Nouhou, Obed Vargas, Paul Rothrock, Jesús Ferreira, Pedro de la Vega, Osaze De Rosario replacing Stefan Frei, Reed Baker-Whiting, Jonathan Bell, Cody Baker, Snyder Brunell, Kalani Kossa-Rienzi, Danny Leyva, Georgi Minoungou and Danny Musovski.
MATCH SUMMARY
Seattle Sounders FC 2 – LA Galaxy 0
Wednesday, August 27, 2025
Venue: Dignity Health Sports Park
Referee: Adonai Escobedo Gonzalez
Assistants: Michel Ricardo, Leonardo Castillo
Fourth Official: Victor Caceres
VAR: Guillermo Pacheco
Attendance: 16,255
Weather: 76 degrees and sunny
SCORING SUMMARY
SEA – Pedro de la Vega 7’
SEA – Osaze De Rosario 57’
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY
LAG – Diego Fagúndez (caution) 16’
LAG – Mauricio Cuevas (caution) 20’
LAG – Julián Aude (caution) 35’
SEA – Paul Rothrock (caution) 35’
LAG – Gabriel Pec (caution) 62’
SEA – Cristian Roldan (caution) 67’
LAG – Maya Yoshida (caution) 75’
SEA – Nouhou (caution) 80’
SEA – Nouhou (ejection) 83’
LINEUPS & STATS
Seattle Sounders FC – Andrew Thomas; Alex Roldan, Yeimar Gómez Andrade, Jackson Ragen, Nouhou; Obed Vargas, Cristian Roldan – Captain (Kalani Kossa-Rienzi 76’); Paul Rothrock (Danny Leyva 60’), Jesús Ferreira (Kim Kee-hee 83’), Pedro de la Vega (Reed Baker-Whiting 60’); Osaze De Rosario (Snyder Brunell 76’)
Substitutes not used: Stefan Frei, Jacob Castro, Jonathan Bell, Cody Baker, Travian Sousa, Georgi Minoungou
Total shots: 14
Shots on goal: 8
Fouls: 15
Offside: 0
Corner-Kicks: 4
Saves: 4
LA Galaxy – Novak Micovic; Julián Aude (John Nelson HT), Mathias Jørgensen, Maya Yoshida, Mauricio Cuevas (Miki Yamane 68’); Diego Fagúndez (Elijah Wynder 68’), Edwin Cerrillo (Harbor Miller 86’), Gabriel Pec, Marco Reus, Joseph Paintsil; Miguel Berry (Christian Ramírez 60’)
Substitutes not used: Brady Scott, Isaiah Parente, Eriq Zavaleta, JT Marcinkowski, Christopher Rindov, Tucker Lepley, Lucas Sanabria
Total shots: 9
Shots on goal: 4
Fouls: 11
Offside: 1
Corner-kicks: 6
Saves: 6
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