Evans was magnificent after being moved to left back / Photo: Nick Danielson (Prost Amerika)
The pre-match news that Osvaldo Alonso could not start put seemingly immense pressure on Andy Rose, the most obviously defensive player in Seattle’s four man midfield. However it was the visitors’ anarchic defending that became the overriding theme in this game, one that will define Galaxy’s season.
Donovan Ricketts, looking as nervous as an atheist at a Reoublican primary debate, spilled a harmless cross onto Clint Dempsey’s feet for Seattle’s opener inside five minutes. He allowed the ball to run into his six yard box while Steven Gerrard slept for the second but it was the chaos in front of him that accounted for the third, after numerous invitations to clear were spurned.
Sounders took their gifts with relish but only some resolute defending on their part held the Galaxy at bay, although Gerrard’s almost invisible contribution will be quoted with equal relish in bar discussion by those unsure about the positive influence of elderly Europeans arriving in the league for one last pay off. What must a watching Marcelo Sarvas have been thinking?
Primary among the Sounders’ players was Captain Marvel Brad Evans who found himself in the unusual position of left back just after the half hour when Leo Gonzalez left injured, and Zach Scott came on.
Andreas Ivanschitz was Seattle’s next best player for his consistent involvement defensively and offensively while Nelson Valdez also had a stellar showing. There were good marks all round with only Obafemi Martins producing less than may have been hoped for.
Sounders v LA playoff ratings
Stefan Frei 6: His fingertips saved a potential Keane equaliser at 2-1 but, sadly for him, seconds later a Valdez deflection overcame his skills to finally make it 2-2. He was left pretty unprotected at both the first half goals. Few other saves to make that weren’t regulation as his side dominated the game.
Leo Gonzalez 5.5 (off in 33′): The veteran left back made a great block on a Lletget shot on 19′ but left 14 minutes later.
Chad Marshall 7 : Gave fans a heart stopping moment in 12 seconds but recovered his composure to do as well as anyone containing Robbie Keane in the first half. He lost Brad Evans as his centre half pairing when Leo Gonzalez went off and he looked solid throughout, being totally unfazed by the change of partner.
Brad Evans 9: A solid early defensive header deserved better than the ball coming straight back in for the equaliser although it was the skipper himself that the goalscorer nipped in front of. Made a superbly timed interception on 18′. He went to left back after Gonzalez left. There he had an immense outing not only defending like a regular left back but finding time to attack from that berth, causing the Galaxy issues from a most unexpected source.
Whatever Sigi Schmid asks him to do, he does well. While others may win Player of the Year honours, there is already no doubt who will be Sounders FC’s Player of the Decade and it’s not even 2016.
Tyrone Mears 7.5: Strong early tackle to stop Rogers breaking. Zardes gave him trouble all night but Mears’ experience was broadly able to counter Zardes’ pace. He didn’t get forward as much as has been recently but that may have been due to staying back as Evans played winger.
Andy Rose 7 : The first half gave him few opportunities on the ball but he did well to keep his position when LA had it. Protected his back four better than the opponent and in the end, that was a telling factor. He’ll have more ball in future games but he was certainly as effective as could have been hoped without it.
Erik Friberg 8: His superb interception denied a waiting Gerrard in 39′ but the Swede, like Rose, was more needed defensively than creatively in the first half. An inspirational piece of opportunism provided Sounders’ 3rd goal as Galaxy made ‘mistake after mistake after mistake’ per the tv commentator but Friberg still had to produce deadly accuracy and typically Swedish sang froid to net. The goal nets him an extra point.
Andreas Ivanschitz 8.5 (off n 87′): The Austrian has a busy first half turning up everywhere. He injured himself fouling Zardes but fortunately recovered and returned to the pitch. His set pieces were as good as Sounders have had since Freddie Ljungberg left. He drew a yellow from Husidic within seconds of the latter entering. Once he has had time to properly adjust to this league, this team and that pitch, he may yet become a very good signing indeed.
Nelson Valdez 7.5 (off in 74′): The Paraguayan suffered an early elbow from Leonardo but exacted the perfect revenge 11 minutes later when Ricketts failed to come and collect an innocuous free kick, and Gerrard failed to track him. Valdez remained alert. He was willing to chase and harry when LA had possession. Schmid made a shrewd decision to replace him with Barrett on the grounds that it was probably what the Galaxy least wanted.
Nelson Valdez scored Sounders’ second
Clint Dempsey 7.5: He produced a very sharp finish in 4′ to punish a horrific Ricketts mistake which set the tone for the Galaxy’s catastrophic evening. Dempsey was lazily in an offside position in the build up to Ivanschitz’s disallowed goal which would have made it 3-2. More attention to the position of the defenders would have taken care of that. The ball hit his back. There is really no need for him to be standing offside with his back to play when the ball is played forward.
His powerful header was denied by Ricketts just after half time. He then appeared at the other end to tackle and stop a cross – a good start to the second half for him. He disappeared a little towards the end but played out the 90 allowing Schmid to use his subs strategically elsewhere.
Obafemi Martins 6: Martins looked likely to draw a foul every time he ran at defenders but that wasn’t often enough. Omar Gonzalez’s barge on him which rightly earned a yellow card was ugly but he was starved of first half possession while facing goal. Fired over in 48′ when he had created opportunity and the left post had inviting space within it. This was not the Nigerian’s best game of the season but Sounders didn’t need it.
Substitutes
Zach Scott 7: (on in 35′): He came on when Gonzalez left injured in the first half. Played solidly and the side did not suffer for his replacement if Evans at centre half. He cleared efficiently on the hour when the ball was coming over his shoulder with his back to goal, a very easy thing to get horribly wrong.
Chad Barrett 6 (on in 74′): His biggest influence was a clearance in his own box seconds before full time.
Cristian Roldan N/A (on in 87′): Brought on to run down the clock
Sounders v LA Galaxy – Photo Recap
Report: Erik Friberg’s goal downs LA Galaxy in knockout match
