Photo Recap: Galaxy edge wasteful Sounders 1-0

A Zach Scott slip left Seattle open at the back and LA made no mistake. Midfielder Gyasi Zardes crossed over a diving Chad Marshall to find an open Robbie Keane inside the box. The Galaxy forward redirected the ball into the net for his sixth goal of the year and a 1-0 LA Galaxy lead.

Clint Dempsey’s long-range strike sailed over the crossbar and into the crowd. The miss was a good indication of how Dempsey’s day went — the forward looked lively in his return from Copa America Centenario duty but didn’t have the finishing touch on Saturday. He’d have several more looks as the match wore on, but rarely was he able to find the target.

Keane’s goal a quarter-hour in was all that separated the sides. Seattle possessed the ball a full 60% of the period but couldn’t find a breakthrough.

Sounders FC forward Jordan Morris outmaneuvered Galaxy keeper Brian Rowe for the ball. LA defender A.J. DeLaGarza stood his ground in front of the net. Morris had a near-empty goal to aim at but DeLaGarza cleared his effort off the line.

There was an exception to Dempsey’s struggles, as he header from an Oalex Anderson cross required an extended right-handed save by Galaxy keep Brian Rowe that sent the ball over the crossbar. The goalkeeper had a fantastic afternoon, but his save with fifteen minutes remaining proved to be his most influential. Seattle failed to fashion another chance of equal merit the rest of the way.

Sounders pushed for an equalizer but LA held firm, taking all three road points despite being outshot 21-7. The win propels them up to 4th in the West while Seattle occupy the bottom spot.