The Seattle Sounders defeated the LA Galaxy 2-0 at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif., on Wednesday in the Leagues Cup Semifinals behind goals on either side of halftime from Pedro de la Vega and Osaze De Rosario.
The Sounders had a gilt-edge opportunity inside five minutes when Jesús Ferreira slipped in De Rosario in behind toward goal, but De Rosario’s close effort was denied by goalkeeper Novak Mićović.
Seattle found its early goal in the seventh minute when De Rosario took a shot from the 18-yard box that a diving Mićović parried away to his right. Paul Rothrock kept Mićović from getting back to the ball and Ferreira’s attempt was blocked. Finally, de la Vega cleaned up the subsequent loose ball by smashing it into the back of the net.
Mauricio Cuevas forced Sounders goalkeeper Andrew Thomas into a big left-handed save in the 20th minute after he beat a couple defenders off the dribble on the right side of the box before cutting inside and looking to pick out the far corner.
Thomas made another beautiful save in the 28th minute when he dove to his right and denied an effort from distance from Diego Fagundez.
Mićović made a great save of his own in the 40th minute when he dove to his left to keep out an Obed Vargas shot from the top of the box that snuck through traffic.
De Rosario was in on a breakaway in the 51st minute when de la Vega slipped him in behind, but De Rosario was denied yet again by Mićović, who got down quickly to quell the danger.
De Rosario finally found his goal in the 57th minute when he received a ball on a throw-in with his back to goal. He flicked the ball over his head toward goal and then muscled through several Galaxy defenders before poking home a shot to the far post.
Gabriel Pec had a free kick opportunity from just outside the box in the 68th minute, but it never really troubled Thomas.
The Sounders were reduced to 10 men in the 83rd minute when Nouhou was sent off for a challenge on Pec after Video Review. Nouhou will miss the Leagues Cup Final.
Vargas made a beautiful solo run in the 87th minute on a counterattack, skating past Galaxy defenders before firing a left-footed shot that forced Mićović into a kick save.
The Sounders will host Lionel Messi and Inter Miami on Sunday at Lumen Field in the Leagues Cup Final (5:00 p.m. PT; Watch on MLS Season Pass | TICKETS). The Galaxy will host Orlando City SC in the Third Place match earlier on Sunday.
THREE TAKEAWAYS
Sounders book Concacaf Champions Cup spot
Seattle booked its ticket to the 2026 Concacaf Champions Cup by advancing to the Leagues Cup Final. The two cup finalists and the winner of the Third Place match qualify for the CCC, with the Leagues Cup Final winner earning a spot directly in the Round of 16.
De Rosario earns his goal
With Danny Musovski suspended, De Rosario earned the start at the No. 9 and rewarded Head Coach Brian Schmetzer with a goal after twice being denied by Mićović. The goal was De Rosario’s fourth since signing a First Team contract earlier this year.
Another Thomas clean sheet
Thomas earned his third clean sheet in five Leagues Cup matches. It was his second straight shutout after blanking Club Puebla in the Quarterfinals and making two huge penalty kick saves in the shootout to send Seattle through.
