SEATTLE -- Seattle topped the LA Galaxy 2-0 on Saturday afternoon at CenturyLink Field, riding two late goals from second-half substitute Marco Pappa to the trophy-clinching victory.
The game was a physical, high-intensity affair throughout the contest, with sides combining for 40 fouls and five yellow cards.
Neither side managed to crack the score sheet through the opening 45 minutes, with the first half being marked by physical play from both teams. The sides combined for three first-half yellow cards, with forward Clint Dempsey picking one up for Seattle, while Landon Donovan and Dan Gargan were each booked for LA.
The Galaxy, playing without injured captain Robbie Keane, still generated the most chances, notching eight attempts on goal in the first half. Seattle, on the other hand, struggled to accumulate meaningful looks, putting up no shots on LA ‘keeper Jaime Penedo and generally struggling to maintain possession. The Galaxy were playing without stalwart defender Omar Gonzalez due to suspension but didn't show signs of missing the US defender.
The foul fest continued into the second half and scoring chances were hard to come by in the tight contest. Seattle’s first shot opportunity didn’t come until the 76th minute on an attempt from Pappa.
LA had a great look at what could have been a big go-ahead goal in the 69th minute after forward Gyasi Zardes had a look from outside Seattle’s penalty box. But his long-distance attempt went just wide of Seattle goalkeeper Stefan Frei as the game remained scoreless.
The visitors looked like they had another opportunity to take the lead in the 79th minute after a free kick from Donovan took a deflection that went on target. But Frei managed to corral the ball on a diving save.
But the Sounders finally broke through in the 85th minute after Pappa found himself with an open look on Penedo up the left side off a feed from forward Obafemi Martins. The midfielder didn’t miss, connecting on his fifth goal of the season and sending the home crowd at CenturyLink field into a frenzy.
Pappa added the insurance goal in stoppage time after he managed to strip the ball away from Penedo at the top of the LA box. Pappa then chipped the ball into the net off the breakaway, giving Seattle a 2-0 lead and the Supporters’ Shield in one fell swoop.
The victory gave Seattle (20-10-4) the best record in MLS with 64 points while LA (17-6-10) will go into the MLS Cup Playoffs as the second seed in the West with 61 total points.
LA Galaxy 0, Seattle Sounders 2
Saturday, Oct. 25 – 11:30 a.m. PT
MLS Regular Season
CenturyLink Field, Seattle – Wash.
Scoring Summary:
SEA – Marco Pappa 85’ (Assisted by Obafemi Martins, Clint Dempsey)
SEA – Marco Pappa 90’+5’ (Unassisted)
Misconduct Summary:
SEA – Clint Dempsey (caution) 15’
LA – Dan Gargan (caution) 22’
LA – Landon Donovan (caution) 38’
SEA – Zach Scott (caution) 51’
LA – Marcelo Sarvas (caution) 71’
SEA – Gonzalo Pineda (caution) 71’
Lineups:
LA Galaxy: Jaime Penedo; Robbie Rogers, A.J. DeLaGarza, Leonardo, Dan Gargan (Jose Villarreal 88’); Baggio Husidic (Alan Gordon 82’), Marcelo Sarvas, Juninho, Stefan Ishizaki; Landon Donovan ©, Gyasi Zardes.
Substitutes Not Used: Brian Rowe, Tommy Meyer, Kenney Walker.
TOTAL SHOTS: 13; SHOTS ON GOAL: 3; FOULS: 21; OFFSIDE: 2; CORNER KICKS: 5; SAVES: 0.
Seattle Sounders: Stefan Frei; Chad Marshall, Leonardo Gonzalez, DeAndre Yedlin, Zach Scott; Brad Evans © (Marco Pappa 73’), Osvaldo Alonso, Gonzalo Pineda, Lamar Neagle; Obafemi Martins, Clint Dempsey (Djimi Traore 90’+5’).
Substitutes Not Used: Jalil Anibaba, Kenny Cooper, Marcus Hahnemann, Chad Barrett, Michael Azira.
TOTAL SHOTS: 4; SHOTS ON GOAL: 2; FOULS: 19; OFFSIDE: 0; CORNER KICKS: 6; SAVES: 4.
Referee: Mark Geiger
Referee’s Assistants: Sean Hurd and Ian Anderson
4th Official: Drew Fischer
Attendance: 57,673
