DIGNITY HEALTH SPORTS PARK - The Seattle Sounders ended their two-match road trip with a nervy win as they edged out a 2-1 victory over Greg Vanney’s LA Galaxy, who remain below the playoff line in the Western Conference. Seattle maintains their place in the top two alongside next week’s opponents St. Louis CITY SC.
Head Coach Brian Schmetzer’s continued faith in the squad that demolished Sporting Kansas City and the Jordan Morris - Léo Chú partnership was rewarded as the two combined for the opener before Chú tucked the ball past Jonathan Klinsmann from range to double the Seattle advantage and secure the eventual win.
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Of major interest when the lineup was released was Schmetzer’s decision in what would be his 100th win as Sounders manager to rest many of his returning internationals; only Alex Roldan (listed as questionable due to a midweek injury that saw him exit at halftime in El Salvador’s Nations League matchup against the United States) replaced the injured Kelyn Rowe in an XI that otherwise mirrored that from a week ago.
The Galaxy focused their efforts on Seattle’s left side in an attempt to exploit Alex Roldan, who was playing on his weak side. An attacking trident featuring Dejan Jovelić, Tyler Boyd, and Memo Rodriguez was frequently targeted by cutting through balls from Puig, given too much space in midfield. However, Seattle dropped into a low block when the Galaxy had possession, effectively neutralizing the extended possession that Vanney’s men have more than any other side in the league.
The home side’s dangerous moments came when they were able to draw the Sounders into their half, coaxing Jackson Ragen and Yeimar Gomez Andrade into moving forwards with the ball. However, poor finishing from the Galaxy saw their 0.54 xG wasted as they entered the break to a cascade of boos and without a goal.
The second half caused more issues for Seattle as Preston Judd was introduced as a replacement for Rodriguez. Pressure mounted, with the Galaxy winning several corners before one was finally recycled and a Stefan Frei fumble was turned into the net by 19-year-old center-back Jalen Neal.
The game became far more stretched, with both sides spurning several chances, and while the Galaxy were ultimately unable to find the equalizer, they garnered over 1.5 goals worth of xG in the second half. The Sounders’ second-45 concession of three times the chances was the prompt for the changes by Brian Schmetzer that ultimately brought three points back to Seattle.
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Seattle made a return to their oft-favored 3-2-4-1 when Nouhou and Obed Vargas entered, countering Vanney’s move to a two-forward look. The 69’ substitution that saw Cameroonian international call-up Nouhou replace Albert Rusnák allowed the Sounders to spare a player in the back line to float and provide cover for the two man-marking center backs. Without that player, they struggled on the break to delay the ball carrier, more often than not Riqui Puig, and conceded more chances than they’d have liked.
Schmetzer was critical of the side’s second-half mentality, saying after the match that, “We stopped playing…we just stopped possessing the ball, we just couldn’t get out of our half”. While part of that is down to the loss of an outlet in Chú, it highlights concerns about Seattle’s ability to play out of heavy presses.
Once they were subjected to the pressure of Jovelić and Judd, the normally calm play of Yeimar and co. became frantic, often scrambling the ball up the pitch rather than dissecting the Galaxy midfield as they did in the first half.
Morris described the team’s frustration with their inability to find a third goal, saying, “If we put (the shot) in, I think it kills the game”. Seattle didn’t concede, though, and Morris cast away fans’ negative recollections as he said, “(last year), I think that’s a game we would’ve tied or even lost”.
The potential defensive frailties are something they’ll look to focus on in training over the week - Schmetzer noted that they’ll go in-depth on the match film. Seattle’s press has been in the spotlight this season so far, but the next phase of the campaign will depend on how they can deal with the intentions of others in their defensive third.
Once again, Seattle’s prime danger was down to the dynamic duo of Morris and Chú, who combined for four in Kansas City and produced the Sounders’ two in the City of Angels. Most impressive, though, was the defensive work rate of the two. Chú spoke postmatch against Kansas City about his work defensively in the offseason, and it was on display again today as both he and Morris were found tracking Tyler Boyd and Memo Rodriguez throughout the first half.
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Especially notable was the drop in Seattle’s line of confrontation with the introduction of Raúl Ruidíaz, a move that shifted Morris into the substituted Chú’s place on the left wing. The change coincided with a significant uptick in the Galaxy’s ability to move forwards in possession, something that rarely happened in the first half. In conjunction with the Galaxy's move to a two-forward set, Seattle struggled to prevent the forays that were stifled with regularity in the opening 45 minutes.
The offensive production from Seattle’s two eventually secured the win, though, as Galaxy defenders backed off and Léo Chú took full advantage. The Brazilian, in his second straight start, told the story of his goal in the press conference. “Look, I always have the confidence to shoot…when I saw the space opening I just thought…control the body, and then I was very happy with the result!”.
Chú’s goal and assist, which make six total goal contributions in 211 minutes for the winger, are signs of a new turn of form for the Sounders’ U-22 Initiative signing in his third year with the club.
The opening goal, a carbon copy of Morris’ first against Kansas City, was a result of a sublime Nicolás Lodeiro through ball that allowed Chú’s left foot to find the USMNT striker for the Sounders’ best chance of the match. Klinsmann was off his line but unable to prevent what is quickly becoming inevitable from Seattle’s in-form forwards.
Morris talking to the media postgame said, “I feel like I’m a goalscorer”. He noted his first-time finishing and mentality as the traits that have allowed him to succeed as Seattle’s number nine, and his performance from the central position leave Schmetzer with a headache in weeks to come.
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It’s unclear whether the side that secured two straight wins on the road will return when St. Louis comes to Seattle, but Schmetzer reasserted that the Sounders were, “...together as a collective, and this team has enough talent and the right mentality to go a long way in this league”. If that means bringing Ruidíaz and Héber off the bench, it appears that he’ll reward those players who make the team better.
The Sounders’ coach said, “Sounders fans should be happy because we’ve got a really freaking good team”. That doesn’t mean that they’re looking at St. Louis next week as anything but the biggest test yet for their season.
Reacting to news of the expansion team’s loss to Minnesota United, Schmetzer dispelled any thoughts of the pressure being taken off in his statement, saying, “We’re at home. We only put pressure on ourselves - it doesn’t matter what St. Louis does. They’ll be a good team, and we’ll be ready for them next weekend.”
The Sounders kick off against St. Louis CITY SC next Saturday, April 8, at 7:30 in Seattle. The match will stream for free on MLS Season Pass.
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