LA Galaxy advance to MLS Cup for 3rd time in 4 years
Seattle, WA - The Los Angeles Galaxy advanced to MLS Cup for the third time in four years on Sunday despite losing 2-1 to Seattle Sounders FC at CenturyLink Field in the second leg of their Western Conference final encounter.
After losing 1-0 to the Galaxy in the first leg, Seattle got goals from Brad Evans and Clint Dempsey six minutes apart in the first half to take a 2-1 aggregate lead.
However, Juninho's goal in the 54th for Los Angeles was the difference as it allowed the Galaxy to advance on the away goals rule, setting up a meeting with the New England Revolution at StubHub Center on Dec. 7.
The Galaxy had yet to allow a goal in three postseason matches, but that changed in the 26th minute when Dempsey rounded goalkeeper Jaime Penedo and fired a shot from a tight angle toward the net. A Galaxy defender blocked the attempt, but Evans was on hand to knock home the rebound, putting the Sounders in front.
Penedo made a fine stop on Seattle's Lamar Neagle just a few minutes later, however he should have done better in the 32nd minute on a first-time shot from Dempsey.
DeAndre Yedlin's cross was deflected into the path of the United States international and his shot managed to slip underneath the goalkeeper, who will feel as though he should have made the save, making it 2-0 to the hosts.
Robbie Keane threatened with a curling effort in the 37th for the Galaxy, but Seattle goalkeeper Stefan Frei was up to the task and he tipped the ball past the post at full stretch.
Los Angeles began to create some better chances in the second half, and Juninho made the most of his look at goal from 20 yards as he pounced on a loose ball and lashed a first-time shot off the left post and into the net.
Frei produced a nice save on Stefan Ishizaki's header from six yards to keep his team level on aggregate, but the Galaxy did a good job of keeping things tight at the back and they survived a late chance from Dempsey, who drove a shot over the net from 12 yards in the 90th minute, ending Seattle's hopes of reaching its first MLS Cup.