Photo Credit: Jill Peck
Seattle Sounders 5-Los Angeles Galaxy 0
In what looked like a classic trap game the Seattle Sounders continued their annual rise up the standings with a comprehensive performance a 5-0 throttling of the Los Angeles Galaxy.
The Galaxy arrived in Seattle minus 2 of their 3 DP’s and down 5 players overall and in the midst of a dip in form. The injuries and refusal of Zlatan Ibrahimovic to travel to Seattle to play on the turf at CenturyLink proved a bridge too far.
The Sounders on the other hand came into the game red hot. Entering Saturday’s match they were in the middle of an eight game unbeaten streak and winners of five in a row. The Sounders came in with a chance to break their all-time record of winning five consecutive matches in a row. The Sounders as healthy as they have been all season and players coming in to form look a good bet to continue their playoff streak.
The Sounders started on fire right at the whistle. Chad Marshall scoring on a header off a corner in the 4th minute. The one way traffic continued as Gustav Svensson stole a Ashley Cole clearance fed Harry Shipp who was all alone and coolly slots one past goalkeeper David Bingham for a 2-0 lead after 19 minutes. The Sounders up 2-0 take the foot off the gas and allowing the Galaxy to come into the game.
After getting what must have been a earful from coach Brian Schmetzer the Sounders came out of the half on a mission. Lodeiro continued to be the straw that stirs Seattle’s drink as he beats a defender at the top of the eighteen yard box slots. He slotted a pass that was intended for Raul Ruidiaz which was intercepted by former Sounder Servando Carrasco who put it into his own net to make it 3-0.
For the fourth goal Lodeiro was once again the focal point. He along with Harry Shipp combined in the eighteen yard box with the former College Cup champion finding Cristian Roldan to make it 4-0. The onslaught continued as Ruidiaz intercepted a pass and races in to the box to beat Bingham with a shot and scores his first home goal 5-0.
The last 20 minutes were the Sounders having fun pouring on the pressure coming close on a few more chances and Mark Gieger mercifully halting the game at the 90 minute mark with no stoppage time.
The win secured the Sounders sixth win in a row, a club record, and more importantly gave them a real chance to move up the table and possibly move into a bye position for the playoffs. As has happened for so many years with this core group of players Seattle have found their form in the second half of the season and have put themselves in position for a potential Cup run.
Seattle Sounders FC
