SB Nation Seattle - Seattle Sounders vs. Los Angeles Galaxy: Johnson And Montero Fire Sounders To 2-0 Winhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48997/seattle-fave.png2012-05-02T23:35:03-07:00http://seattle.sbnation.com/rss/stream/27598542012-05-02T23:35:03-07:002012-05-02T23:35:03-07:00Sounders Dominant In 2-0 Victory Over LA Galaxy
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<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.sounderatheart.com/">Seattle Sounders</a> started off a crowded May in the best possible fashion, dominating the Los Angeles Galaxy in every phase of the game and cruising to a 2-0 win. With Bruce Arena opting to play a weak and inexperienced lineup, the Sounders task was made far easier and they did not disappoint; Seattle had their way with the visitors, and the scoreline likely flatters the Galaxy. Though some will question Arena's tactical and personnel decisions, those are things that are out of the Sounders control; it's pretty difficult to beat guys that decided to stay in Los Angeles when the game is being played in Seattle.</p>
<p>Seattle threatened consistently in the first half, but it wasn't until the 40th minute that they would get on the board. Eddie Johnson-who continues to improve and had his best game as a Sounder yet again-headed a <span>Mauro Rosales</span> cross past keeper Bill Gaudette. It wasn't the flashiest goal, but it counts all the same and it gave Sounders fans yet another glimpse at the positional awareness that makes Johnson such a threat. Though the teams went to the break 1-0 it could have quite easily been more lopsided in Seattle's favor if not for a stunning one-footed save by Gaudette on what should have been a sitter for <span>Fredy Montero</span>.</p>
<p><span>Bryan Meredith</span> replaced <span>Michael Gspurning</span> at halftime due to a hip injury, but with the Sounders dominance carrying over into the second 45 minutes the young keeper would have very little to do. The real fireworks were provided by Montero in the 48th minute with the striker ending his six-game goalless drought with an absolutely stunning goal, a rocket into the far top corner from 35 yards out. Seattle would come close on a few more occasions, but 2-0 would be the way it would end, giving the Sounders a 5-1-1 record, a pace of 2.29 points per game. The defense has not allowed a goal during the run of play since the season opened against Toronto, and the total of three goals against is equal with <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.thebluetestament.com/">Sporting Kansas City</a> for the best mark in the league.</p>
<p>The Sounders franchise-best start continues to roll along, and what's going to be a very tough couple of months have gotten off to a very promising start. It's still very early of course, but Seattle has done nothing to discredit the idea that they are one of the league's best. With a very poor Philadelphia Union side coming to town on Saturday, the most important thing now is to ensure that the momentum is not derailed.</p>
https://seattle.sbnation.com/seattle-sounders/2012/5/2/2995820/seattle-sounders-la-galaxy-match-reviewAaron Campeau2012-05-02T22:46:58-07:002012-05-02T22:46:58-07:00VIDEO: Fredy Montero Scores A Goal That Ought To Come With A Parental Advisory
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<p>That Fredy Montero has had some difficulty getting his name on the scoresheet this season is no secret; the Sounders' striker has looked absolutely snakebitten at times, with numerous chances missing by a hair's breadth and keepers pulling stunning saves out of nowhere. It happened yet again tonight in the first half, with Montero putting an absolute sitter right into the outstretched foot of Galaxy keeper Bill Gaudette. Frankly, it was beginning to appear as though Fredy might never score again.</p>
<p>Until he did this.</p>
<p><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/tgGMBTgoA2E" frameborder="0" height="315" width="560"></iframe> <br id="1336023223345"></p>
<p>Not a bad way to get yourself out of a rut, is it?</p>
https://seattle.sbnation.com/seattle-sounders/2012/5/2/2995771/fredy-montero-goal-galaxy-videoAaron Campeau2012-05-02T13:05:52-07:002012-05-02T13:05:52-07:00Seattle Sounders vs. Los Angeles Galaxy: Seattle Looking To Put An End To LA’s Recent Dominance
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<img alt="SEATTLE - MARCH 15: Landon Donovan #10 of the Los Angeles Galaxy battles Jeff Parke #31 of the Seattle Sounders FC at Qwest Field on March 15, 2011 in Seattle, Washington. The Galaxy defeated the Sounders 1-0. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/Rz7UjXVZ7HmS1APfWlG0Nl39OQo=/0x52:600x452/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/photo_images/2185232/GYI0063953195.jpg" />
<figcaption>SEATTLE - MARCH 15: Landon Donovan #10 of the Los Angeles Galaxy battles Jeff Parke #31 of the Seattle Sounders FC at Qwest Field on March 15, 2011 in Seattle, Washington. The Galaxy defeated the Sounders 1-0. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images) | Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Sporting an all-time MLS regular season record of 1-4-2 and winless against the Galaxy in league play since 2009, the Sounders will be desperate to turn their fortunes around in this big early-season Western Conference clash</p> <p><span id="internal-source-marker_0.4504941802006215">To say that the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.sounderatheart.com/">Seattle Sounders</a> have had some difficulty with the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.lagconfidential.com/">LA Galaxy</a> would be a just a bit of an understatement. Seattle has never beaten the Galaxy at home in MLS play, and their one win at the Home Depot Center came in 2009. Seattle's only other competitive wins against the Galaxy have come in the US Open Cup, and though those victories should not be discounted, the all-competitions record against LA is still quite ugly at 3-6-2. Despite the Sounders' many successes since their inception as an MLS team, the sense still remains that the Galaxy reside in a tier just above. For that to change in any meaningful way, the Sounders will need to start beating them with some regularity; with the Galaxy off to a shaky start and looking vulnerable, tonight's game is as good a chance as any.<br><br>LA will be without three of the players so key to their pre-season status as best in the league; center back <span>Omar Gonzalez</span> suffered a torn ACL in January while on loan to Bundesliga club FC Nuremburg, while <span>David Beckham</span> and <span>Robbie Keane</span> did not travel to Seattle (most likely due to their distaste for playing on artificial turf). The Gonzalez injury is clearly the bigger story, as LA has been unable to show anything approaching mediocrity in defense, let alone the outright domination that was their hallmark last season; through 34 games in 2011, the Galaxy allowed 28 goals. In 7 games so far this season, that number is 11. In addition to Gonzalez, the loss of Leonardo has forced LA to field 4th and 5th choice defenders on numerous occasions so far this season, and the one identifiable weakness the Galaxy had coming into the year was the quality of their depth. <br><br>But while defense is the far bigger issue for LA in the long-term, how the attack functions without Beckham and Keane will be a concern for Bruce Arena tonight. The Galaxy still sport a fair bit of firepower with <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/players/110934/landon-donovan">Landon Donovan</a>, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/players/111203/edson-buddle">Edson Buddle</a> and Juninho all fit and expected to play, but LA have been forced to rely almost solely on their ability to score goals this season thanks to their defensive struggles. Without two of their biggest attacking threats, an explosive attack looks on paper to be merely a very good one. Coupled with their issues at the back (likely exacerbated by the loss of goalkeeper <span>Josh Saunders</span>, who has enrolled in a substance abuse program) this is a far less impressive Galaxy team than the one that's caused Seattle so many problems these past few years.<br><br>That's not to say this will be a cakewalk for the Sounders; they're dealing with injury troubles of their own, with winger <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/players/110948/alvaro-fernandez">Alvaro Fernandez</a> doubtful for this evening and <span>Mauro Rosales</span> battling a knock picked up in Seattle's win over the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.hottimeinoldtown.com/">Chicago Fire</a> on Saturday. With a very crowded schedule looming in May, <span>Sigi Schmid</span> will also be forced to make some very tough decisions about who plays which games and for how long; no matter what, this won't be a truly full-strength Sounders team on the pitch tonight either. Still, that's been the case all season, but if not for a "questionable" penalty awarded to San Jose the Sounders would be unbeaten. Where LA has opted to invest in the top end of their roster (and given their success these past few years it's difficult to question that approach) Seattle has emphasized depth. That decision may well pay big dividends over the next three weeks, and there isn't any understating how important a win in this game-from both a practical and emotional standpoint-would be for Seattle. <br></span></p>
https://seattle.sbnation.com/seattle-sounders/2012/5/2/2993182/seattle-sounders-vs-la-galaxy-previewAaron Campeau