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LA Galaxy narrowly top Seattle Sounders

By Mike Gray
Jennifer Buchanan-USA TODAY Sports

The Galaxy defense stood firm as LA rode an early Keane strike to top the Sounders 1-0 Saturday afternoon at CenturyLink Field.

After a lively start, the Galaxy went ahead on a well-executed sequence. Left back Dave Romney one-timed the ball into space for Gyasi Zardes, the U.S. international used the outside of his right boot to find Robbie Keane racing in centrally, and Keane smashed a shot off the underside of the crossbar and in.

Both teams exchanges chances throughout the match. In the 26th minute, Giovani dos Santos located the more offensively adventurous AJ DeLaGarza on the right side of the box, but after cutting inside, his left-footed attempt was high.

The Sounders had a slew of half-chances, but the ever reliable Brian Rowe was always up to the task. At one point, a Giovani dos Santos turnover gave Dempsey an open look, but his curving blast went over the bar. Seattle were also unlucky when Osvaldo Alonso was fouled outside the box, but the referee chose to play the advantage.

Robbie Keane probably should have doubled LA's lead before the half when a poor Sounders turnover gave Keane an open look in goal, but Keane hesitated to shoot and was knocked off the ball.


Jordan Morris had the Sounders' best chance when he ran onto a perfect ball long ball and managed to beat Brian Rowe with his first touch, but Rowe recovered nicely and forced Morris to delay his shot, giving AJ DeLaGarza the time to race back and athletically clear Morris' shot off the line.

Seattle kept pressing, and Chad Marshall bounced a header to Zach Scott from close range, but his header was right at Rowe.

In the 76th minute, Rowe had to come up huge to tip a hanging Clint Dempsey header over the bar.

Clint Dempsey was unlucky late in the match when he collected a Morris header from close-range and skillfully used his thigh to separate the ball from himself and the Galaxy defense, but his quick shot clanged off the bottom of the post, and LA would hold on for the three points.

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