MATCH RECAP: Sounders FC falls 1-0 on the road to LA Galaxy

Sounders FC (0-3-2, 2 points) dropped a 1-0 road result to the LA Galaxy (3-0-3, 12 points) on Saturday evening at Dignity Health Sports Park. Gabriel Pec scored an early strike for the home side, as Seattle extended its winless streak to five games (0-3-2) to begin the 2024 season. The Rave Green return home next weekend for a matchup with CF Montréal on Saturday, April 6 on the Emerald Queen Casino Pitch at Lumen Field (7:30 p.m. PT / Apple TV, 950 KJR AM, El Rey 1360 AM). 

MATCH NOTES

•    Sounders FC has yet to win in its first five games to start the 2024 MLS campaign (0-3-2), matching the club record for longest winless streak to begin a season (2015).

•    The result snaps Seattle’s 11-match unbeaten streak (7-0-4) against the LA Galaxy in MLS regular season play, dating back to 2018. Sounders FC is now 14-11-13 against the Galaxy in regular season action.

•    Saturday’s match marked the 45th meeting between the two sides in MLS regular season and postseason play, the most of any Seattle opponent since joining the league in 2009.

•    Albert Rusnák made his first start of the 2024 season after dealing with an ankle injury. He had previously made two appearances as a substitute.

•    Cody Baker made his first start of the 2024 season, slotting in at right back. Baker recorded his first career assist last weekend as a substitute against San Jose. 

MATCH SUMMARY
 
Seattle Sounders FC 0 – LA Galaxy 1
Saturday, March 30, 2024

Venue: Dignity Health Sports Park
Referee: Ismail Elfath
Assistants: Cameron Blanchard, Jeremy Hanson
Fourth Official: Matthew Thompson
VAR: Michael Radchuk
Attendance: 22,736
Weather: 52 degrees and cloudy
 
SCORING SUMMARY

LAG – Gabriel Pec (Joseph Paintsil, Riqui Puig) 4’

MISCONDUCT SUMMARY
 
SEA – Alex Roldan (caution) 60’
SEA – Raúl Ruidíaz (caution) 68’
SEA – Nouhou (caution) 90’+3’

LINEUPS & STATS
 
Seattle Sounders FC – Stefan Frei; Cody Baker (Danny Musovski 60’), Yeimar, Jackson Ragen, Nouhou; Josh Atencio (Dylan Teves 85’), Cristian Roldan (Paul Rothrock 79’), Alex Roldan, Albert Rusnák, Jordan Morris; Raúl Ruidíaz (Danny Leyva 79’)

Substitutes not used: Andrew Thomas, Xavier Arreaga, Nathan, Jonathan Bell, Sota Kitahara

Total shots: 17
Shots on goal: 3
Fouls: 7
Offside: 0
Corner-Kicks: 6
Saves: 1

LA Galaxy – John McCarthy; Miki Yamane, Julian Aude, Maya Yoshida, Martin Caceres (Eriq Zavaleta 32’); Gaston Brugman (Edwin Cerrillo 67’), Mark Delgado, Riqui Puig; Gabriel Pec, Miguel Berry (Dejan Joveljic 66’), Joseph Paintsil (Diego Fagundez 84’)

Substitutes not used: Novak Micovic, John Nelson, Jonathan Perez, Mauricio Cuevas, Daniel Aguirre

Total shots: 9
Shots on goal: 2
Fouls: 11
Offside: 0
Corner-kicks: 4
Saves: 3