Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez scored the opener in the 78th minute, but Raul Ruidiaz scored a dramatic leveler at the death, forcing the LA Galaxy to settle for a 1-1 draw with the Seattle Sounders that eliminates LA from contention for the 2020 Audi MLS Cup Playoffs.
Seattle missed a chance to vault into the No. 1 spot in the Western Conference, but the road point keeps them in contention for that top spot with 1.71 points per game from 21 matches with one game left to go.
Both sides had close looks at an opener in the first half, but none that wound up materializing.
The Sounders thought they had an early penalty kick shout when homegrown midfielder Ethan Dobbelaere, making his first MLS start, teed up a shot that Seattle argued went off the outstretched hand of Galaxy defender Daniel Steres. But referee Silviu Petrescu wouldn't oblige the Sounders' players pleas for a handball.
The Galaxy hit the woodwork twice in the first half, first in the 15th minute when a headed effort from Steres was headed off the line by Seattle right back Alex Roldan and bounced off the crossbar before being cleared away by Dobbelaere.
Hernandez would find the Galaxy's opener in the 78th minute, breaking through Seattle's backline after some nifty combination play with Efrain Alvarez and finding himself with a 1v1 with Sounders goalkeeper Stefan Frei. The Mexico international slotted home the finish for his second goal of the season.
It looked like the Galaxy were going to get the win that would've kept their slim playoff hopes alive, but Ruidiaz snatched a point just before the final whistle, taking a feed from Jordan Morris and sliding home the leveler past LA goalkeeper David Bingham.
Goals
Three Things
- THE BIG PICTURE: It's a brutal way for the Galaxy see their postseason hopes come to an end, however faint they may have been. The goal from Chicharito was a breakthrough moment for the Mexico international in a difficult season, and looked for all the world like it would be the tally that gave his team a lifeline heading into Decision Day presented by AT&T. Instead, it's a microcosm of a disappointing season for the Galaxy. Seattle, meanwhile, may have Ruidiaz to thank if they can snatch back that No. 1 seed.
- MOMENT OF THE MATCH: It was easily Chicharito's goal until Ruidiaz flipped the result with this late finish.
- MAN OF THE MATCH: Ruidiaz. The Peruvian is just so lethal, and the Sounders will hope he's getting set to go on one of his patented tears at the most important time of year.
Next Up
- LA: Sunday, Nov. 8 at Vancouver Whitecaps (6:30 pm ET | MLS LIVE on ESPN+ in US; TSN1 in Canada)
- SEA: Sunday, Nov. 8 vs. San Jose Earthquakes (6:30 pm ET | MLS LIVE on ESPN+ in US; MLS LIVE on DAZN in Canada)
