It had been nearly 11 months since the Seattle Sounders lost a game at Lumen field, nearly three months since their last MLS loss home or away, and a decade since their last home loss vs the LA Galaxy. All three of those streaks were snapped Saturday night as the Galaxy grabbed an early goal and held on to best the Sounders 2-0 in the final home game for the Rave Green before the World Cup break.
Pre-match
Brian Schmetzer made a raft of changes to the starting lineup from Seattle’s 3-2 win over San Jose on Wednesday, with five new additions to the 11.
In attack, Schmetzer gave a rest to Paul Rothrock and Albert Rusnak, with Paul Arriola and Jordan Morris occupying the wings.
After pulling the strings all night in a man-of-the-match performance midweek, Jesus Ferriera was moved from the wing to the center of the pitch, just behind Danny Musovksi.
Defensively, Antino Lopez replaced Alex Roldan at centerback, and Kalani Kossa-Rienzi was replaced by a similarly attacking-minded fullback option in Peter Kingston. The selection marked the first start in the young career of Kingston.
The final personnel change was Hassani Dotson stepping into midfield in place of Cristian Roldan.
The Galaxy, on the other hand, did not change their starting 11 from three days ago when they fell 3-1 on the road in Kansas City.
The two sides came into the match headed in opposite directions, with LA having just been dealta loss by wooden-spoon contenders Kansas City for the second time in 2026. SKC have only two wins this season, both coming against the LA Galaxy.
The Sounders on the other hand came in off the back of a 3-2 win over previous Western Conference leaders San Jose.
Another slow start
The final match at Lumen before the World Cup break began with a statement from the Emerald City Supporters, unveiling a tifo reading “THE GAME BELONGS TO THE PEOPLE” in response to ticket prices and the accessibility of the summer’s upcoming spectacle in the US, Canada, and Mexico.
Jordan Morris fed a through ball to Danny Musovski for the first chance of the match in the 5th minute, but LA goalkeeper JT Marcinowski was able to close the distance and make a big early save.
Just a few seconds after having his shot denied, Musovski caught a forehead in the mouth while jostling for a header at the top of the box, losing a tooth in the process, and prompting movement from the Sounders bench.
Despite playing a couple of minutes at 10 men while waiting to see if Musovski could return, eventually the change was made, with Ferreira shifting to central striker and Albert Rusnak taking over in central midfield.
The Sounders once again would have to think on their feet, with Rusnak’s rest day being cut short prematurely.
“Danny’s situation probably slowed the game down and helped the Galaxy, because we had some momentum.”
-Christian Roldan
The Galaxy would find a breakthrough in the 22nd minute through their designated player and Marquee signing Marco Rues. The German legend broke multiple defensive lines with a gorgeously threaded through-ball, finding Gabriel Pec all alone on goal, and Pec would convert. For the third time in as many games, Seattle would play from behind at home.
After a performance on Wednesday where Seattle was at times living in the attacking third, the Rave Green struggled early to threaten LA’s net, as service into the area did not consistently find a friendly jersey.
The teams went to the tunnels for half-time, having combined for just 1.00 expected goals and three shots on target. The lone Sounder to have a clear chance at net in the first 45 was the injured Danny Musovski in the 5th, with LA converting their best look at goal to hold a 1-0 advantage.
Second half changes
Peter Kingston was booked right before the break and was replaced for the second 45 by last match’s starter at right fullback, Kalani Kossa-Rienzi.
Kossa Rienzi showed his instincts in the opposition box with a control off the chest and to the feet of Jesus Ferreira in the 56th, but the ensuing shot sailed high.
Jesus Ferreira returned to the fray in the 60th, looping a ball between an onrushing Paul Arriola and JT Marcinowski. Arriola won the race to the ball, but Marcinowski was able to get big for his second point-blank save of the night.
“Definitely my clearest chance of the MLS season so far… Jesus does amazing knowing I’m at the back post and chipping that through, JT made a great save coming out and limiting the space.”
-Paul Arriola
Schmetzer utilized a triple-substitution in the 61st to shake up the 11, introducing leading-scorer Paul Rothrock, central striker Osaze De Rosario and Christian Roldan. Roldan would shift back to an unusual centerback role, while Rothrock took over duties on the left wing and De-Rosario occupied the nine.
“I knew (Christian Roldan) was going to come into the game, I didn’t know he was going to come into the game in those circumstances.”
-Brian Schmetzer
LA Grind out the result
Gabriel Pec almost had a cheeky second goal in the 64th, unleashing a backheel from six yards out to catch the defense and goalkeeper sleeping, but striking the far post.
The woodwork-rattler was just the second shot on frame for LA, but Seattle, regardless, found themselves chasing the game, looking for a player to step up in the attacking third.
An Albert Rusnak free-kick forced a save out of Marcinkowski in the 75th, but LA fell further and further into their defensive shape to strangulate the field.
The fans at Lumen were treated to an MLS debut for young winger Sebastian Gomez, as the Academy product came in for Snyder Brunell in the 77th.
Despite dominating possession down the stretch, Seattle just couldn’t find a spark, with LA happy to defend the 1-0 lead. By the final 5 minutes, the game had devolved into a meat-grinder, with Seattle trying in vain to break down a sea of defenders in an LA back-five.
The nail in the coffin of Seattle’s home unbeaten streak going back to the club World Cup would come in the second minute of extra time. An errant Jackson Ragen backpass was intercepted by Gabriel Pec, who took it 50 yards to the end line before centering for an easy finish from Matheus Nascimento.
For the first time in a year Seattle had been beaten at Lumen, and for the first time in a decade the Galaxy would leave Seattle with three points.
Post-match quotes
At the conclusion of the match, the first questions from the fans were directed at Brian Schmetzer’s personnel decisions, and Schmetzer owned up to some possible misteps.
“I don’t think we found our rhythm (after the opening goal) and that’s on me. The starting 11 I put out there with the intention of fresh legs, did that upset the rhythm, maybe… Obviously the changes I made didn’t work, so I have to own that.”
-Brian Schmetzer
Brian Schmetzer has always been a strong proponent of duels being an indicator of success, and believed that the duels went the way of the visitors on the night.
The Galaxy won more duels than we did… They looked fresher than us… This team has consistently out-dueled teams at home and on the road, but we’re not always going to be perfect, and I’ll give credit to the Galaxy.”
-Brian Schmetzer
When asked about positives that the Rave Green could take from the match, Schmetzer kept it simple:
“No, There’s no positives here.”
-Brian Schmetzer
Paul Arriola voiced the disappointment of the locker room on losing their home unbeaten streak.
“We expect to win every game at home… Losing at home is a tough pill to swallow… we’re disappointed with the way we played.”
-Paul Arriola
Team leader Christian Roldan pointed to the fact that Seattle went down early in all three matches of the homestand.
“There’s going to be games where you just can’t catch up… We cannot be starting games the way we are if we want to compete for a supporters shield.”
-Christian Roldan
Seattle will play one last road match against LAFC next Sunday before entering the World Cup Break.
Match Notes
- Following tonight’s result, Sounders FC sits in fourth place in the Western Conference with 24 points (7-2-3). The loss snaps a nine-match unbeaten streak in MLS play (6-0-3).
- Tonight’s result ended Seattle’s club-record home unbeaten streak in all competitions at 22 games (16-0-6). It’s the Rave Green’s first loss at home since June 23, 2025.
- The loss also ends Sounders FC’s regular season home unbeaten streak of 14 matches (10-0-4), tied for the club record.
- Sebastian Gomez subbed into the match in the 76th minute, making his debut for the club. The Sounders FC Academy product signed with the club prior to the 2026 season after two seasons with Tacoma Defiance.
- This marked just the third time this year that Sounders FC allowed more than one goal in a match.
- Tonight marked the 42nd all-time meeting between Seattle and the Galaxy in MLS regular-season play, tied for the second-most matches against a single opponent in club history.
- Brian Schmetzer rotated his lineup from Wednesday’s win over the San Jose Earthquakes. Peter Kingston, Antino Lopez, Hassani Dotson, Jordan Morris and Paul Arriola replaced Kalani Kossa-Rienzi, Alex Roldan, Cristian Roldan, Albert Rusnák and Paul Rothrock, respectively.
- The Rave Green now travel to LAFC on Sunday, May 24 at BMO Stadium (6:00 p.m. PT / Apple TV, FOX, FOX Deportes, 93.3 KJR FM, El Rey 1360 AM). It’s the final game for Seattle before MLS pauses for the 2026 FIFA World Cup break.
MATCH SUMMARY
Seattle Sounders FC 0 – LA Galaxy 2
Saturday, May 16, 2026
Venue: Lumen Field
Referee: Joseph Dickerson
Assistants: Cameron Blanchard, Logan Brown
Fourth Official: Alyssa Pennington
VAR: Younes Marrakchi
Attendance: 32,659
Weather: 52 degrees and cloudy
SCORING SUMMARY
LA – Gabriel Pec (Marco Reus, Miki Yamane) 23’
LA – Matheus Nascimento (Gabriel Pec, Edwin Cerrillo) 90+2’
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY
LA – Jonah Haak (caution) 12’
SEA – Peter Kingston (caution) 44’
LA – Miki Yamane (caution) 45+4’
LA – JT Marcinowski (caution) 89’
LA – Edwin Cerrillo (caution) 89’
LINEUPS & STATS
Seattle Sounders FC – Andrew Thomas; Peter Kingston (Kalani Kossa-Rienzi HT), Antino Lopez (Cristian Roldan 61’), Jackson Ragen, Nouhou – Captain; Hassani Dotson, Snyder Brunell (Sebastian Gomez 76’); Jordan Morris, Jesús Ferreira (Osaze De Rosario 61’), Paul Arriola (Paul Rothrock 61’); Danny Musovski (Albert Rusnák 12’)
Substitutes not used: Stefan Frei, Kim Kee-hee, Cody Baker
Total shots: 15
Shots on goal: 6
Fouls: 3
Offside: 2
Corner-kicks: 5
Saves: 0
LA Galaxy – JT Marcinowski; Miki Yamane (Mauricio Cuevas 65’), Jakob Glesnes, Jonah Haak, John Nelson; Edwin Cerrillo (Maya Yoshida 90+2’), Erik Thommy (Lucas Sanabria 66’), Elijah Wynder; Gabriel Pec, Marco Reus (Harbor Miller 65’), Joseph Paintsil (Matheus Nascimento 83’)
Substitutes not used: John McCarthy, Chris Rindov, Isaiah Parente, Ruben Ramos Jr.
Total shots: 8
Shots on goal: 2
Fouls: 13
Offside: 3
Corner-kicks: 1
Saves: 6
Sounders FC Communications
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