CARSON, CALIF. – Riding first-half goals from Jordan Morris and Léo Chú, Seattle Sounders FC (4-1-1, 13 points) took down the LA Galaxy (0-2-3, 3 points) by a final score of 2-1 on Saturday afternoon at Dignity Health Sports Park in Southern California. En route to the victory, Sounders FC Head Coach Brian Schmetzer recorded his 100th regular-season victory for Seattle, becoming the third-fastest to achieve that mark in MLS history. Meanwhile, Morris’ eighth goal of 2023 leads the MLS Golden Boot Race, as he becomes just the third Homegrown Player in MLS history to reach 50 regular-season goals.
Seattle’s first goal came in the 21st minute, with Chú combining with Morris for the Mercer Island native’s 50th career regular-season goal. Nicolás Lodeiro played the ball down the left flank for Chú, who sent in a cross to Morris for the finish from point-blank range. It marked the fifth consecutive goal for Morris, all of which have been assisted by Chú. It also marked Morris’ eighth goal of the season and Chú’s fifth assist, both leading MLS.
Chú doubled the visitors’ lead in the 35th minute with his first goal of the season. The Brazilian found himself in space just outside the area and fired a low shot past the diving hand of Galaxy goalkeeper Jonathan Klinsmann. It marked the second goal in MLS play (third in all competitions) for Chú since joining the club in 2021.
LA Galaxy pulled one back in the 63rd minute, as Jalen Neal converted a close-range shot after Stefan Frei stopped an initial attempt. Frei made seven saves on Saturday to secure the win, including a shot on target from distance at the death by Jonathan Pérez.
Following the trip this weekend to Los Angeles, Seattle returns home to take on Supporters’ Shield-leading St. Louis CITY SC on Saturday, April 8 (7:30 p.m. PT / Apple TV – Watch Free, iHeartMedia, El Rey 1360 AM).
MATCH NOTES
- With 13 points through six matches, Sounders FC currently sits in second place in the Western Conference (4-1-1). St. Louis CITY SC leads the conference and the Supporters’ Shield race with 15 points (5-1-0). The Rave Green and St. Louis face off next weekend at Lumen Field on Saturday, April 8 at 7:30 p.m. PT.
- Following today’s result, Seattle maintains a 10-match unbeaten run in the series against the Galaxy (6-0-4). Sounders FC’s last loss to the Galaxy came on September 23, 2018.
- Sounders FC is the first team to go unbeaten in 10 straight MLS matches against the LA Galaxy.
- Sounders FC has played LA Galaxy more than any other opponent in MLS play, facing-off 43 times in regular-season and postseason action, with Seattle holding a slight 16-14-13 edge.
- Scoring in the 21st minute of play, Seattle forward Jordan Morris continued his recent hot streak, converting a Léo Chú cross for his MLS-leading eighth goal of the year.
- Morris ties San Jose forward Jeremy Ebobisse with the most goals scored at Dignity Health Sports Park by an active player that never played for the LA Galaxy (six goals). Morris has scored eight times overall against the Galaxy, his most strikes against a single opponent in MLS.
- Morris’ opening goal was his fifth strike in two games, with assists coming from teammate Léo Chú on each strike. Last weekend Chú previously set the club record for most assists in one match with four against Sporting Kanas City in a 4-1 win.
- Chú currently leads Major League Soccer with five assists so far this season.
- Chú’s first-half goal was his first tally of 2023 and the Brazilian’s third in all competitions since joining the Rave Green in 2021.
- Other than Morris, only four players in MLS history have scored eight goals through six games: Edson Buddle in 2010 (nine goals), Clint Dempsey in 2014 (eight goals), Landon Donovan in 2008 (eight goals) and Raúl Díaz Arce in 1997 (eight goals).
- Morris now has 50 career regular-season strikes and 60 goals in Rave Green across all competitions, good for third in club history behind teammates Raúl Ruidíaz (73 goals) and Fredy Montero (76 goals).
- Morris is just the third Homegrown Player in MLS history to reach the 50-goal mark, joining fellow Homegrowns Gyasi Zardes and Diego Fagúndez.
- Sounders FC Head Coach Brian Schmetzer made just one change to the starting group that defeated Sporting KC 4-1 on March 25, with fullback Alex Roldan replacing the injured Kelyn Rowe, who picked up a hamstring strain in training earlier this week.
- Schmetzer earned his 100th career MLS regular-season win this afternoon, joining just 13 other coaches in league history to hit that mark. In just 212 games coached, he is the third-fastest all-time to reach the century mark, trailing only Bruce Arena (189) and Bob Bradley (199).
- Under Schmetzer, Sounders FC has lost just once in 17 matchups with the Galaxy (9-1-7).
- With 322 career starts across all competitions, today Sounders FC goalkeeper Stefan Frei tied Osvaldo Alonso’s club record in the MLS era. Frei is currently 17 matches shy of Alonso’s record of 339 appearances across all-competitions for Sounders FC in the MLS era.
- Despite allowing a second-half goal, Seattle has allowed just three tallies through six matches this season, tied for the second-best defensive record in MLS.
MATCH SUMMARY
Seattle Sounders FC 2 – LA Galaxy 1
Saturday, April 1, 2023
Venue: Dignity Health Sports Park
Referee: Allen Chapman
Assistants: Logan Brown, Cory Richardson
Fourth Official: Mark Allatin
VAR: Sorin Stoica
Attendance: 22,008
Weather: 65 degrees and clear
SCORING SUMMARY
SEA – Jordan Morris (Léo Chú, Nico Lodeiro) 21’
SEA – Léo Chú (Nico Lodeiro) 35’
LAG – Jalen Neal 63’
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY
LAG – Mark Delgado (caution) 58’
SEA – Jackson Ragen (caution) 61’
SEA – João Paulo (caution) 73’
SEA – Nico Lodeiro (caution) 85’
LINEUPS & STATS
Seattle Sounders FC – Stefan Frei; Cristian Roldan, Yeimar, Jackson Ragen, Alex Roldan; João Paulo, Josh Atencio (Obed Vargas 69’), Albert Rusnák (Nouhou 69’), Nico Lodeiro, Léo Chú (Raul Ruidíaz 60’); Jordan Morris (Xavier Arreaga 90’)
Substitutes not used: Stefan Cleveland, Ethan Dobbelaere, Danny Leyva, Fredy Montero, Héber
Total shots: 9
Shots on goal: 3
Fouls: 14
Offside: 1
Corner-kicks: 2
Saves: 7
LA Galaxy – Jonathan Klinsmann; Lucas Calegari (Daniel Aguirre 90’+2’), Marin Caceres (Chris Mavinga 84’), Jalen Neal, Raheem Edwards (Jonathan Perez 84’); Gaston Brugman, Riqui Puig, Mark Delgado, Tyler Boyd (Douglas Costa 78’), Memo Rodriguez (Preston Judd 46’); Dejan Joveljic
Substitutes not used: Efrain Alvarez, Uri Rosell, Kelvin Leerdam, Aaron Cervantes, Jonathan Perez
Total shots: 26
Shots on goal: 7
Fouls: 8
Offside: 2
Corner-kicks: 13
Saves: 1
- SOUNDERS FC -
