Sounders shut out Galaxy, charge into Leagues Cup final

Pedro de la Vega and Osaze De Rosario each scored his third goal of the Leagues Cup as the Seattle Sounders earned a 2-0 semifinal victory over the Los Angeles Galaxy on Wednesday in Carson, Calif.

Seattle will host the final on Sunday against Lionel Messi and Inter Miami, who won the tournament in 2023. The Sounders will be seeking their first major trophy since winning the 2022 CONCACAF Champions League.

Andrew Thomas made four stops to keep his third clean sheet of the tournament for Seattle, which also qualifies for the 2026 CONCACAF Champions Cup with the victory. The team that wins the final will receive a bye to that tournament's round of 16.

Sounders fullback Nouhou will be suspended after receiving a red card for his high, late challenge on Gabriel Pec in the 83rd minute.

The Galaxy will face Orlando City in a third-place match Sunday with another CONCACAF berth at stake.

Los Angeles is unlikely to qualify for the continental competition in another manner this season, as the Galaxy currently sit last in the Western Conference regular-season standings, 16 points beneath the playoff line with seven matches to play.

It took only seven minutes for de la Vega to put Seattle in front during a flurry of early goalmouth activity that resulted from a Sounders counterattack.

Galaxy goalkeeper Novak Micovic denied efforts from De Rosario and Jesus Ferreira in quick succession. However, de la Vega was first to the rebound of the latter save and hammered an emphatic finish through Micovic and a defender on the line.

De Rosario also missed wide on a promising header in the 42nd minute and was denied by Micovic on the break in the 51st minute before finally finding the net to give Seattle insurance in the 57th.

With his back to goal in the penalty area, De Rosario reached a bouncing ball and volleyed it over his shoulders toward the corner of the 6-yard box. Then he turned, pushed the ball forward and outmuscled Maya Yoshida and Zanka to win the ball back and drive a powerful effort past Micovic from close range.

--Field Level Media