High-scoring Galaxy aim to continue playoff push in Seattle

Field Level Media|published: Tue 3rd October, 21:10 2023

Sep 30, 2023; Carson, California, USA; LA Galaxy forward Michael Barrios (12) chases down the ball during the second half at Dignity Health Sports Park. credits: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports

The LA Galaxy haven't had trouble finding the net recently.

Then again, neither have their opponents.

Entering Wednesday night's match against the host Seattle Sounders, the Galaxy have played three consecutive matches in which each side has scored three or more goals.

The Galaxy defeated Minnesota United 4-3 on Sept. 20, then played to 3-3 draws with Austin and Portland.

"We are finding a lot of ways to concede goals," Galaxy coach Greg Vanney said. "It's difficult to win games when you have to score four (goals) to win. ... That's been a challenge for us. But, I mean, the amount of goals we're scoring is certainly a positive. But, the amount of goals we're conceding is just way too many."

Eriq Zavaleta scored twice for the Galaxy — and conceded an own goal — in the 3-3 draw with the Timbers on Saturday. Douglas Costa added a goal and two assists.

The Galaxy (8-11-11, 35 points) are in 13th place in the 14-team Western Conference but are just six points behind Dallas for the ninth and final playoff berth with a match in hand.

"We understand that you can't win games if you have to score three goals every time," Zavaleta said, "and we also understand that draws aren't going to get us where we want to be at this point."

The Sounders (12-9-10, 46 points) can clinch a playoff berth with a victory on Wednesday. They are unbeaten in their past six league matches (2-0-4), including a 1-0-2 record on their just-completed, three-match trip to Dallas, Colorado and Nashville.

Goalkeeper Stefan Frei posted his 12th shutout of the season in Saturday's scoreless draw at Nashville, matching Houston's Steve Clark for the league lead in clean sheets.

"This was a really good playoff test and we handled ourselves exceptionally well," Frei said of the draw. "We didn't get the win, but sometimes you have to be content with being able to go to a tough place, play good defensively, carve out decent chances and sometimes they don't go in, that's OK. We have something to be proud of."

Seattle is unbeaten in 10 straight regular-season meetings against the Galaxy (6-0-4), including a 2-1 victory on April 1 in Carson, Calif., as Jordan Morris and Leo Chu scored first-half goals.

—Field Level Media

Latest