Match Preview: LA Galaxy searching for first home win against a wounded Seattle Sounders
The LA Galaxy return to Dignity Health Sports Park to face a last-place Seattle Sounders team on Saturday night. The Galaxy has recorded two draws in their first two home games but no wins in front of their home crowd. Saturday night’s matchup provides a good opportunity to do so and keep one of their biggest rivals at the bottom of the standings.
The LA defeated Sporting Kansas City in a 3-2 comeback win on the road. The victory propelled the SoCal team into second place in the Western Conference. The Sounders, on the other hand, were on the wrong end of a 3-2 result as Jermey Ebbobise scored the winning goal in the 82nd minute for the San Jose Earthquakes. The loss placed the Cascadia side into last place in the West.
Injury Report
LA
Jalen Neal - Abdominal (Out)
SEA
Reed Baker-Whiting - Hamstring (Out)
Léo Chú - Knee (Out)
Pedro de la Vega - Hamstring (Out)
Braudilio Rodrigues - Hamstring (Out)
João Paulo - Hip (Questionable)
Obed Vargas - Head (Questionable)
The Storyline
As you can see on the injury report, this Seattle side is missing a good amount of key players so early into the season. It’s part of the reason why this team is in last place in the Western Confrence and struggling to find its footing this season. The Sounders are limping into this game and the Galaxy needs to finish off this team on the pitch.
LA hasn’t beaten the Sounders in MLS Play since 2018 and Head Coach Greg Vanney holds a record of 3W-2D-9L against Sounders coach Brian Schmetzer. The pair have faced off in three MLS Cup Finals with Vanney losing two of those matches.
You need to win at home to be considered an elite MLS team. The Galaxy have yet to do that. Three points could help the Galaxy leapfrog first-pace Minnesota United if the Loons suffer a loss or tie with Philadelphia.
Players to Watch
LA: Gabriel Pec, Winger
The Brazilian’s first start as an LA Galaxy player wasn’t spectacular but he’ll finally get to start in front of the home fans. Pec’s finding his groove with the Galaxy and the rest of his teammates in the starting XI.
What I’ll be keeping an eye on is his decision-making in the final third. I felt he was slow to make a decision when the ball was at his feet and there may have been some slight hesitation to play a pass or shoot.
How he supports Julian Aude on the left will be key to the Galaxy finding its defensive balance. Pec needs to get accustomed to his rotations with Aude and also familiar with his forward movement. The two players have to build this chemistry for solid cohesion on the left side of the pitch.
SEA: Jordan Morris, Forward
The 29-year-old American loves to score against the LA Galaxy. Morris has nine goals and two assists in 16 career games against LA. It’s the opponent he’s scored the most goals against in his career with the Seattle Sounders.
Morris can play as a winger or striker but has lately been deployed as a second striker next to Raul Ruidiaz. He’s going to get looking to get on the end of blocked shots and loose balls around the penalty area.
The Winning Edge: Puig Takeover
As I said last week, Riqui Puig needs to keep playing at a very high level. The Sounders will be without Joao Paulo and their other midfielders are very young players with little MLS experience. Puig needs to feast and show that he’s levels above the rest of the competition. This game is calling for an MVP-type performance in the trenches.
It’ll be interesting to see if Puig and Joveljić can connect again for another goal. The two have talked about improving their chemistry and the types of ways they can get the ball to each other. I’ve said multiple times that if the two players start to connect for goals, it will raise the ceiling of the attack even higher.
Everything is there for the Spaniard to control the midfield and make his mark against the Sounders. He needs to be the guy for LA on Saturday night.