Seattle Sounders FC 3, LA Galaxy 0: Stunning first half earns Sounders win at LA

The Seattle Sounders exploded for three first-half goals in a 15-minute span, cruising to a 3-0 Western Conference road victory over the LA Galaxy at the StubHub Center on Sunday.

Forward Clint Dempsey started the party with a 29^th-minute header, the third goal of the season for the longtime U.S. national team stalwart. Galaxy defender Ashley Cole would provide the second tally with a 35^th-minute own goal, with forward Jordan Morrisadding the third to pace the visitors.

The victory was Seattle’s second consecutive commanding victory at StubHub following last season’s 4-2 romp over their longtime Western Conference nemesis. It was also the first road win of the 2017 season for the Sounders, who moved to 2-2-3 on the season.

• WATCH: Sounders put three past LA in amazing first-half performance.

Seattle was without the services of starting center backs Roman Torres (hamstring) and Chad Marshall (lower back) as well as right back Oniel Fisher (hamstring) on Sunday. Seattle’s back line of Jordy Delem, second-year man Tony Alfaro and offseason signee Gustav Svensson and regular left back Joevin Jones would keep the clean sheet, the second straight match that group has managed the feat following Seattle’s scoreless draw against Atlanta United at CenturyLink Field on March 31.

Dempsey opened the scoring just before the half-hour mark after midfielder Nicolas Lodeiro lobbed a pinpoint cross that found the 34-year-old striker directly in front of the LA goal. Dempsey headed home the point-blank finish past Galaxy goalkeeper Brian Rowe, staking the Sounders to the 1-0 lead.

Seattle would double the lead just six minutes later after a cross into the box from Jones deflected off the foot of Cole and into the net, putting the Sounders up 2-0. Morris topped off the first-half barrage just before halftime, finishing a feed from Dempsey on a counterattack, sending Seattle cruising into the break with the hefty 3-0 advantage.

• #LAvSEA stats, highlights & more!

LA would have a few notable opportunities at pulling one back in the second half, the first coming from Giovani dos Santos, who sliced an attempt on an open net wide in the 51^st minute. Jermaine Jones very nearly got the hosts on the scoresheet in the 77^th off a corner kick, but his header went just wide and the Sounders would preserve the shutout.

Seattle returns to action next Saturday, April 29, returning home to CenturyLink to take on the New England Revolution.