The Seattle Sounders defeated the LA Galaxy 2-1 on Saturday night at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif.
The Galaxy’s Sacha Kljestan opened the scoring with a penalty kick in the 21st minute after Chicharito was taken down in the 18-yard box. Seattle erased the deficit 20 minutes later when Yeimar scored his first goal of the season on a header from a João Paulo corner.
The teams went into halftime level, but Raúl Ruidíaz scored on a rebound in the 49th minute to give the Sounders the lead. Yeimar’s back heel found Cristian Roldan, whose close-range shot was saved by Jonathan Bond before Ruidíaz cleaned up.
The Sounders defeated the Galaxy for the second straight match following a 3-0 win at Lumen Field in May.
Three points is a great start to a three-match week for Seattle, which hosts Real Salt Lake on Wednesday (7 p.m. PT; JOEtv, Prime Video, 950 KJR AM, El Rey 1360 AM | TICKETS) and then the Vancouver Whitecaps next Saturday (6 p.m. PT; JOEtv, Prime Video, 950 KJR AM, El Rey 1360 AM | TICKETS).
THREE TAKEAWAYS
RUIDÍAZ ON THE MARK
Ruidíaz returned from FIFA World Cup Qualifying with Peru and bagged his seventh goal of the season to move him into a tie for first in MLS with the Galaxy’s Chicharito. Originally projected to be a part of Peru’s Copa América roster, Ruidíaz was left off and thus is back with Seattle and back to his scoring ways.
AB DEBUT
With Xavier Arreaga away with Ecuador for Copa América and Nouhou a late scratch because of a left adductor strain, 21-year-old French defender AB Cissoko made his MLS debut as a part of Head Coach Brian Schmetzer’s three center back formation. He fared incredibly well and helped the Sounders to their ninth consecutive match without allowing a goal from open play.
LAST REMAINING UNBEATEN
After Nashville SC lost to the New York Red Bulls on Friday, the Sounders are the last remaining unbeaten team in MLS. Through nine weeks, Seattle is first in the Supporters’ Shield standings.
