MLS Regular Season
Score: Sounders FC 1 vs. LA Galaxy 1
Goal-scorers: Robbie Keane (36’), Chad Barrett (90+3’)
Site: CenturyLink Field
Man of the Match: With his father in attendance for the very first time, Osvaldo Alonso went toe-to-toe with LA Designated Player Steven Gerrard and helped Seattle control the run of play for the majority of the match. Seattle held 63 percent of possession on Sunday and had numerous quality chances to score, largely due to Alonso’s presence in the midfield.
Telling Stat: Substitute forward Chad Barrett equalized for the Sounders in the 93rd minute off a corner kick from fellow second-half sub Marco Pappa, salvaging the draw. Brad Evans flicked Pappa’s ball across the goalmouth with a header before Barrett tapped it in for his fifth goal of the season. No other player this year has scored for the Sounders that late into an MLS regular season match. Barrett was actually a late addition to the gameday roster after midfielder Nelson Valdez was scratched during warmups due a to calf injury.
LA forward Robbie Keane scored his ninth career goal against Seattle in the 36th minute on Sunday, tying San Jose’s Chris Wondolowski for the most by any opposing player in Sounders history.
What You Missed: 56,097 fans were in attendance for the third full-stadium match of the season at CenturyLink Field. The Sounders are now 1-1-1 in front of a crowd of 45,000 or more fans this season, bringing their record to 14-2-3 all-time in front of the full-stadium crowd. The club is just 51,884 fans short of their own MLS single-season attendance record with one match remaining, an Oct. 25 clash with Real Salt Lake.
So What: Due to Sporting Kansas City’s win over Portland on Saturday, the Sounders drop to fifth place in the Western Conference standings with two regular-season matches remaining. The draw pushes Seattle three points ahead of both San Jose and Portland, while the Galaxy clinched a playoff berth with the result. The Sounders have a bye next weekend before returning to action Oct. 18 at Houston.
