TUKWILA, Wash. — The LA Galaxy saw their five-game unbeaten streak in Reserve League play come to and end with a wild 3-2 defeat to Seattle Sounders FC on Sunday afternoon. Michael Stephens had a goal and an assist while Jose Villarreal opened the scoring for the Galaxy, but it was not enough as Seattle scored three times in the final 18 minutes to claim the victory. Despite the loss, the Galaxy remain in first place in the West Division of the Reserve League with 13 points from a 4-2-1 record.
Jose Villarreal opened the scoring for LA in the 35th minute when he got on the end of a pass from Pat Noonan and beat Seattle goalkeeper Josh Ford with a first time shot that gave the Galaxy a 1-0 lead. The goal was the third of the season for Villarreal in the Reserve League, leaving him tied with Chad Barrett for the team lead. Noonan and Michael Stephens were each credited with assists on the goal.
The Galaxy Homegrown Player continued to be his team’s most dangerous player, as he went close in the 50th minute, only to see his shot cleared off the line by Servando Carrasco. That clearance would prove to be important as the Sounders equalized just more than 20 minutes later. A neat interplay between Sammy Ochoa and Michael Seamon allowed Seamon to play Steve Zakuani in behind the LA defense and the former No. 1 overall pick in the 2009 MLS SuperDraft slotted a right-footed shot past Brian Rowe, making the score 1-1.
The Galaxy would regain the lead just six minutes later when Stephens got behind the Sounders’ defense and rounded Ford before rolling a shot into the open net for his first goal of the season, making the score 2-1 in favor of the Galaxy.
However, that lead would last just six minutes before Zakuani equalized again with his second of the game. A Marc Burch corner kick found Ochoa, who headed the ball into the path of Zakuani, who beat Rowe at the far post, tying the score at 2-2.
After setting up each of Seattle’s first two goals, Ochoa would score the game-winner in the 90th minute, getting on the end of at Zach Scott knockdown and heading it past Rowe to give Seattle a 3-2 win.
The Galaxy return to Reserve League action on Tuesday, September 4 when they travel north to San Jose for their final road game of the season. That game is scheduled to kick off at 11 a.m.
LA Galaxy 2, Seattle Sounders FC 3
Sunday, August 19, 2012
Starfire Sports Stadium – Tukwila, Wash.
Scoring Summary:
LA - Jose Villarreal 3 (Pat Noonan 1, Michael Stephens 2) 35'
SEA - Steve Zakuani 1 (Michael Seamon 3, Sammy Ochoa 1) 72'
LA - Michael Stephens 1 (Unassisted) 78'
SEA - Steve Zakuani 2 (Sammy Ochoa 2, Marc Burch 1) 84'
SEA - Sammy Ochoa 3 (Zach Scott 2) 90'
Misconduct Summary:
LA - Andrew Boyens (Yellow Card) 25'
SEA - Patrick Ianni (Yellow Card) 56'
SEA - Zach Scott (Yellow Card) 59'
Lineups:
LA Galaxy: Brian Perk (Brian Rowe 46’), Oscar Sorto^, Brian Gaul (Dan Keat 70’), Andrew Boyens, Tommy Meyer, Kenney Walker (Sebastian Valasquez^ 90’), Bryan Jordan (Raul Mendiola^ 56’), Rafael Garcia, Michael Stephens, Pat Noonan© (Jack McBean 77’), Jose Villarreal.
Subs Not Used: None.
^ - Galaxy Academy Players
Seattle Sounders FC: Josh Ford, Zach Scott©, Patrick Ianni, Daniel Steres, Marc Burch, Michael Tetteh (Moises Orozco 81’), Servando Carrasco, Michael Seamon, Steve Zakuani (Kyle Bjornethun 92+), Mario Martinez (Dawyne Smith 67’), Sammy Ochoa.
Subs Not Used: Bryan Meredith, Jordan Morris, Dominic Dismuke.
Referee: Levi Rippy
Referee's Assistants: Jeremy Hanson; Baboucarr Jallow
4th Official: William Niccolls
