On Sunday, the Seattle Sounders will host the LA Galaxy at CenturyLink Field (3:30 p.m. PT; FS1, YouTube TV, 950 KJR AM, El Rey 1360 AM). Here are five reasons to attend the match, with tickets still available on SeatGeek, the Official Ticketing Partner of Sounders FC.
Revenge Game
On paper, earning a 2-2 draw on the road against the LA Galaxy while playing your third match in eight days is a great result. But according to the players and staff, the nature of the result, in which Seattle played a man up for 84 minutes, left the team feeling like they’d left points on the table.
With the 2019 Cascadia Cup and three points from Providence Park under their belt, the Sounders will enter the return fixture against the Galaxy brimming with confidence. Several players put in stellar performances in Portland, with Gustav Svensson and Xavier Arreaga producing particularly strong shifts. Eager to replicate the form that exacted revenge in Portland, the Sounders will aim to come flying out of the gates against the Galaxy.
Western Conference Standings
Three points on Sunday would provide more than just catharsis after the disappointing draw down in LA. A win on Sunday would move the Sounders four points clear of LA in the Western Conference standings. A quick glance at the league table shows Real Salt Lake, the Galaxy, Minnesota United, San Jose Earthquakes, the Timbers and the Sounders are all realistic contenders to host a home match in the playoffs. With so many teams vying for limited spots, each intra-conference matchup carries added importance.
One of Our Own
Seattle Sounders Homegrown attacker Jordan Morris is in arguably the form of his career. The Mercer Island native has racked up three goals and four assists from his last seven starts. Beyond the stat sheet, Morris was central to both goals against the LA Galaxy, as well as the opener in Seattle’s 2-1 win at Portland in Week 25. More importantly, he’s started to tailor his game to playing out on the wing, showcasing a willingness to take defenders on 1-v-1 and combine with the attacking midfielders. Look for another big performance from Morris on Sunday.
Make CenturyLink a Fortress
Prior to the Sounders 2-1 home loss to the Timbers on July 21, Seattle had not lost a match at CenturyLink Field since September 19, 2018. But since that disappointing defeat to their bitter rival, the Rave Green have fallen 3-2 to Sporting Kansas City and conceded a late equalizer in a 3-3 draw against the New England Revolution. If they can return to the form that made CenturyLink Field an indomitable fortress, they’ll get three points against the Galaxy.
Right Place, Right Time
Seattle’s 2-1 win in Portland in Week 25 was extremely cathartic, as demonstrated by the intense, passionate celebrations from the players on the pitch. Beyond the tactics and brilliant individual performances, the team played with intensity and dictated tempo on both sides of the ball. They should have plenty of confidence heading into Galaxy match in Week 26.
LA, on the other hand, saw their 3-1 lead against LAFC slide into a 3-3 draw. Moreover, the Galaxy have struggled away from Dignity Health Sports Park in 2019, going 0-3-1 in their last four road outings.
If the Sounders can sustain the momentum from their dramatic win at Portland, they’ll be in prime position to prolong the Galaxy’s road woes.
