Will the force be with LA Galaxy as they play their consecutive match on the road against Seattle Sounders FC

By Wendy Pintor

LA Galaxy will be playing in their second consecutive match on the road, LA travels to face Seattle Sounders FC at Lumen Field on later today, May 5. 

Now LA Galaxy stands in 4th place after playing  in their sixth road match of the 2024 campaign, LA  was shut out for the first time this season in a 2-0 loss on the road to Austin FC at Q2 Stadium on Saturday afternoon of last weekend. Although the team had a highly favorable possibility for them to take an easy victory on the road the team came short as the were quickly beaten in the first half, outrunning the team as soon as the match begun. Saturday’s match marked the seventh MLS regular-season meeting between the Galaxy and Austin, with LA continuing to leading the all-time series 4-2-1 even after falling short this time around. 

Austin FC is known for unexplainable home match wins, the team wasn’t defeated going in to the match, even though the away team was standing in first, it showed on the pitch how irrelevant it was to them in 8th place last week. Things quickly happened and LA Galaxy was left in unexpected measures, Diego Rubio’s low shot from inside the box was converted at the far post in the 7th minute shortly after winning the ball, Alex Ring delivered a long pass down the right flank that Jader Obrian latched onto and his ensuing shot from the edge of the penalty area was fired in. The score remained 2-0 for the remainder of the match. 

It marked the first time in 10 games this season that the Galaxy were held scoreless. Through the 10 matches played during the 2024 MLS Regular Season, the LA Galaxy hold a 5-2-3 record (21 GF,17 GA; 18 points), lead the Western Conference and sit in second place in the Supporters’ Shield standings behind only Inter Miami CF (5-2-3; 22 GF, 15 GA; 18 points).

In six road matches played during the 2024 MLS Regular Season, the LA Galaxy hold a record of 3-2-1 (12 GF, 10 GA). So tonight’s game against Seattle Sounders FC will be somewhat easy since they have shied away from first place. Sometimes it can be that it becomes too much pressure for teams to remain in first place the entire season, or it can be a tactic to just be enough for standings and then baffle others teams when playoffs enter the season. 

Riqui Puig finished the match with a game-high five chances created, won eight of 15 duels and completed 85 of 92 passes (92.4%) and four dribbles against Austin. Puig will miss next week’s match against Seattle Sounders FC due to yellow-card accumulation after receiving his fifth yellow card of the 2024 campaign.

“ We didn't show up for the first 20 minutes. I mean, it was as simple as that. We weren't competitively there, whether it was defending, doing the work, getting close to guys. We just weren't to the speed that we needed to be at, and the game tilted on us really fast. So for me, just an unacceptable start. We talked about these early games, it was imperative to get off to a good start because the difference can be in the first 15 minutes. And we came out and laid an egg for the first 15 minutes, 20 minutes, and we found ourselves chasing an uphill battle for the rest of the game. You know, even at times through the game, even though we had our moments and stretches of controlling things, still, just things were a little bit too slow and a little bit too passive. We conceded ground on the defensive side a lot. We ended up putting in a lot of work but a lot of work that didn't come to much in terms of fruits for the labor. And makes for a frustrating day. Again, as I said to the guys, having momentum in this league is ever so precious, and you want to make sure that you don't do anything to spoil that momentum, and come out and lay it all out on the line and really compete from the opening whistle and if a team beats us, they beat us. But we just can't even arrive in the first 20-plus minutes. And then we tried to push for it thereafter, and we just couldn't get the final actions.” Added coach Vanney regarding the first 20 minutes of the match. 

Today’s match is important for LA Galaxy not only did they stop in standings but Captain Maya Yoshida expressed, “ Austin, humidity, everything made a more difficult situation. But we were not enough today, and no one deserves to talk anything to be honest. I don't deserve anything for my performance. We deserve to lose today. We are very disappointed. We have to learn from this defeat… “As I say, probably last game, last home game, it's still just nine, ten games. Too early to talk about the tables. We need to focus on ourselves, especially after a defeat like this game. We need to come back strong like we did after the defeat from LAFC last time. So we need to have a good recovery and recharge mentality and get ready for the game in Seattle. That's also a difficult against them away that we remember from last game, last season…  We have to adapt. I don't excuse it , So I prefer to show a good reaction for the next game.” 

Sunday’s match between the LA Galaxy and Seattle Sounders FC marks the 50th meeting across all competitions between the two teams, with the Galaxy trailing the all-time series 17-19-13. Against Seattle, the Galaxy hold a 11-14-13 record in league play, a 4-3-0 record in the MLS Cup Playoffs and a 2-2-0 record in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. In the first meeting between LA and Seattle during the 2024 campaign, the Galaxy earned a 1-0 shutout over Sounders FC at Dignity Health Sports Park on March 30. In the last meeting between the two teams at Seattle, LA fell 2-1 to the Sounders at Lumen Field on Oct. 4, 2023. 

In 18 regular-season matches played on the road against Seattle, the Galaxy hold a 4-8-6 record. LA will be looking for its first regular-season win on the road against the Sounders dating back to a 1-0 victory on July 9, 2016. In six road matches played during the 2024 MLS Regular Season, LA holds a record of 3-2-1 (12 GF, 10 GA).

INJURY UPDATES: Joveljic is out for this weekend. Martin Caceres is day-to-day. He had a shot to manage some nerve pain. They'll assess how he handles training today.

Riqui Puig out  due to yellow card accumulation. Newest CB signing, Garces will be available, but won't be rushed per Vanney 

LA has a high chance of winning today as the team has showed to create grand momentum after losses this year compared to last years campaign and if all goes well bringing home the tie would be considered worthy of them, making them closer to win the supporters shield.