A deflected Marcelo Sarvas shot early in the second half gave LA Galaxy a nervy 1-0 win over the Seattle Sounders in the first leg of the MLS Western Conference final at StubHub Center on Sunday evening.
LA coach Bruce Arena will have wanted more against a defensively stalwart Sounders and he will also hope that Sarvas, who went off in the second half with a thigh injury, is fit for next weekend’s return in Seattle.
The visitors were without regular starters Lamar Neagle and Osvaldo Alonso, with the former out for “personal reasons”. Alonso was replaced by the more conservative Micheal Azira in midfield, and though his introduction came at the expense of a more dynamic counter for Seattle, it helped keep a compact defense. Central defenders Chad Marshall and Zach Scott made several key interventions to frustrate the two Robbies, Rogers and Keane.
The first real chance of the game came for the Galaxy in the 7th minute, with Sarvas’ shot to the right of goal saved low by Stefan Frei; the resulting corner saw Keane scooping the ball over the top of the net. Keane for his part was lively throughout, drawing a key yellow card for Seattle fullback DeAndre Yedlin early on and teeing up more than a few chances.
Seattle, though far less dangerous than they appeared when they drew 2-2 at StubHub in the regular season, managed to respond by forcing Galaxy keeper Jaime Penedo into a double save in the 20th minute. Clint Dempsey saw his attempt saved, immediately after the Galaxy keeper stopped Martins’ attempt following a long throw. But generally Seattle were content to sit back, with Landon Donovan’s creative passes flustered by some great defending.
LA responded by gradually ramping up the pressure, particularly toward the end of the half in which Stefan Ishizaki was allowed to send in cross after cross from the right. But the Galaxy’s world-class midfield were repelled by the likes of Scott, Marshall and Brad Evans, though Robbie Rogers did force Frei into another athletic save after he cut in, Robben-like, from the left of goal in the final minute of the first half.
Seattle coach Sigi Schmid felt confident enough in his defence and it looked to work in the 49th minute when Dempsey forced Penedo into a save early after a one-two with Martins on a quick counter. However a momentary lack of focus led to LA’s goal three minutes later when AJ DeLaGarza found himself in possession to the right of goal. He in turn found Sarvas in acres of space to take a shot which deflected past Frei.
LA, not content to sit on a slim lead, turned the screw deeper into the half, and Ishizaki’s 61st minute free kick from twenty yards out rattled off the bottom of the cross bar. Ishizaki also missed a chance after he fired a Robbie Keane cross well over the goal in the 74th minute as LA continue to buzz around the 18 yard box. Though Seattle defended well overall, the Galaxy may also wonder how Seattle centreback Zach Scott was able to stay on the pitch after several challenges which risked a second yellow card.
The hemmed in Sounders failed to take any advantage on the break although the late introduction of Andy Rose gave Dempsey and Martins a little more help. Rose nearly scored in the 83rd minute from a lovely Martins pass but saw his shot blocked. Still, the Sounders finished the game stuck in, and Marshall again showed his worth when his last minute tackle stopped a second LA goal via substitute Alan Gordon.
It’s not the most ideal result for Schmid and the Sounders, but perhaps the best they might have hoped for in light of their depleted line-up.
