Andreas Ivanschitz in celebration mode
SEATTLE — Seattle Sounders FC defeated LA Galaxy 3-2 on Erik Friberg’s game winner in the 73rd minute. The victory was the Sounders’ first ever post-season win over Los Angeles.
Clint Dempsey and Nelson Valdez were the other goal scorers for Seattle. Sebastian Lletget and Gyasi Zardes notched the Galaxy tallies.
Seattle had failed to win a post-season contest against the Galaxy in their previous playoff encounters (2010 Western Conference Semifinals, 2012 and 2014 Western Conference Championships). The Sounders entered the knockout match riding an eight-match unbeaten streak (4-0-4), while LA recorded one win in their last seven games (1-4-2).
Sounders FC midfielders Marco Pappa and Osvaldo Alonso, who played in the regular season finale on Sunday, were out due to hamstring and adductor strains, respectively.
The Sounders took the early lead on Dempsey’s strike in the fifth minute. Friberg’s cross toward the LA net led to confusion between defender Omar Gonzalez and goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts. Gonzalez missed heading the ball to safety and it required Ricketts to punch the ball forward directly to Dempsey. The Seattle forward had a wide open net for the opening score of the match.
LA responded with the tying goal a minute later. Giovani dos Santos sent the ball toward the six-yard box. Zardes made the slightest touch to his left. Lletget shot the ball to the right post. Seattle keeper Stefan Frei got his fingertips on the ball but it wasn’t enough to prevent the goal.
Seattle took the lead for the second time in the half in the 12th minute. Andreas Ivanschitz’s free kick allowed Valdez to get behind LA’s Steven Gerrard. Valdez had Ricketts one-on-one and the space to give the Sounders a 2-1 edge.
LA scored the fourth goal of the half in the 22nd minute. A minute earlier, Robbie Keane’s shot hit the crossbar and the ball sailed into the crowd for a Galaxy corner. The visitors controlled the tempo and possession after the corner kick. They were rewarded for their efforts by Zardes’ bullet shot from the left side of the box that beat Frei inside the near post to draw the match even.
Friberg’s first goal of the year in the 73rd minute sent the 39,537 fans at CenturyLink Field into delirium. Two poor clearances by LA defenders A.J. DeLaGarza and Leonardo landed in front of Friberg on the edge of the 18-yard box. The Swedish midfielder thundered a volley into the right side of the goal for a 3-2 Seattle advantage.
Frei thwarted Zardes’ attempt to equalize the match for the third time in the 82nd minute. The Galaxy forward’s shot appeared headed into the far side of the goal. Frei extended his body and left hand to safely divert the ball.
Pending the outcome of Thursday’s Portland and Sporting KC clash, Seattle hosts either FC Dallas or Vancouver on Sunday, Nov. 1 in the first of two home-and-home Western Conference semifinal matches.
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