Jordan Morris, Fredy Montero and Xavier Arreaga all found the scoresheet as the Seattle Sounders picked up their first win of the 2022 MLS season, topping the LA Galaxy 3-2 in an entertaining Western Conference matchup at Lumen Field on Saturday.
The match was back-and-forth throughout, as the Galaxy took an early lead via Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez and got a second-half equalizer from Douglas Costa. In the end, a 72nd-minute header from Arreaga wound up delivering the Rave Green all three points.
The Galaxy found an early opener through Chicharito, who slipped behind the defense and was able to convert a close-range finish off an assist from Rayan Raveloson.
But the Sounders would strike back, getting two goals before the halftime whistle to take the lead. The first came in the 17th minute off a João Paulo corner kick that was deflected in the box, sparking a mad scramble in front of goal. Morris capitalized, muscling home the equalizer from close range.
Seattle then got the go-ahead tally right on the stroke of halftime. Montero was the catalyst, drawing a penalty kick whistle from referee Allen Chapman for a foul called on LA’s Julián Araujo in his own area. The club legend then stepped to the spot and made no mistake with a clinical finish past Galaxy goalkeeper Jonathan Bond.
After LA leveled through a free-kick golazo from offseason signee Douglas Costa, Arreaga struck for the winner on 72 minutes. The Ecuadorian rose up to meet a pinpoint cross from right back Alex Roldan after a João Paulo free kick, giving the Sounders a 3-2 lead that would stand as the final scoreline.
The Sounder will travel to Liga MX side Club León on Thursday for Leg Two of the Concacaf Champions League Quarterfinals (5:30 p.m. PT; FS1, TUDN, iHeart Radio, El Rey 1360AM)
THREE TAKEAWAYS
A rivalry renewed?
These Sounders-Galaxy matches were considered some of the most intense Western Conference clashes during the early part of the last decade, with countless high-octane regular-season battles and playoff clashes. That dynamic has cooled in recent years, but this match had the feel of one of those classic match-ups, with non-stop, competitive action throughout.
Fabulous Fredy
The re-signing of club legend Fredy Montero before last season continues to pay dividends for Seattle. After providing seven goals and six assists in 1,471 minutes last year, the club’s all-time leading goal-scorer has been back at it so far in 2022, scoring two goals in Seattle’s Concacaf Champions League match against Club León on Tuesday before putting in a stellar individual effort to win and convert a huge penalty kick on Saturday.
The return of the bear
Forward Will Bruin has been sidelined so far this season with a calf injury and made his season debut on Saturday, coming on as a second-half substitute and closing out the match. The veteran striker was a work-horse as usual during his time on the pitch, helping kill the game off late. As the squad continues to juggle CCL and the MLS season, Bruin being back in the fold can only provide a boost.
