2014 Western Conference Championship, Leg Two
Score: Sounders FC 2 vs. LA Galaxy 1
Site: CenturyLink Field
Man of the Match: Clint Dempsey had his best performance of the 2014 MLS Cup Playoffs on Sunday, creating Sounders FC’s first goal and scoring the second. In the 26th minute, Brad Evans scored on a tap-in after Dempsey dribbled past LA keeper Jaime Penedo and directed a deflected shot towards the goal. Six minutes later, Dempsey’s shot from the top of the box got past Penedo and made it 2-0. Dempsey now has three goals in his six games against the Galaxy with Seattle.
Telling Stat: 2-1. That was the scoreline Seattle earned two years ago in the Second Leg of the Western Conference Championship against the Galaxy. Once again, that result was not enough to overcome the deficit Sounders FC faced after the First Leg in LA.
What You Missed: Attendance for Sunday’s match was 46,758, the largest crowd for an MLS Cup Playoffs match in Sounders FC history. The previous record was 44,575 for the Second Leg of the 2012 Conference Championship against LA.
So What: The two teams finished the series tied 2-2 on aggregate, but due to the away-goals rule, the Galaxy advance to the MLS Cup Final. Thus, the most successful season in Sounders FC history has come to an end. Before making a run to the Western Conference Championship, the Rave Green captured the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup and the Supporters’ Shield.
