Sleepless In Seattle: Los Angeles Galaxy Advance To MLS Cup Final (VIDEO)

Nov 30, 2014; Seattle, WA, USA; Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder Juninho (19, at left) celebrates with the trophy after beating the Seattle Sounders FC for the Western Conference Championship at CenturyLink Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

It just had to be, right? It had to be destiny for Sigi Schmid’s Seattle Sounders to show the world that they are the team that would secure a historic treble for the 40,000-plus supporters in attendance at CenturyLink Field, right? It had to be a historic win for Clint Dempsey, for Obafemi Martins, for Lamar Neagle, heck, for DeAndre Yedlin of all homegrown stars, right? Right?

Wrong.

Despite the Sounders defeating Bruce Arena’s Los Angeles Galaxy 2-1, the away goals rule came into effect, and while the Sounders benefited from it in the previous round with Oscar Pareja’s FC Dallas, this time the script got flipped. And the most unlikeliest of goalscorers, Juninho, saved the Galaxy and sent them to the showcase event of American soccer, an event that the Galaxy have hosted even without playing in the event itself, an event simply called…MLS Cup.

It’s heartbreak, heartache, heart in a blender and how they surrendered, Seattle did. No surrender, really. Their fighting spirit and bravado will make them a force in the CONCACAF Champions League, that’s for sure. But Landon Donovan is determined to end his playing career as a champion, and now, he gets one final shot at glory on Dec. 7 in the friendly confines of the world-famous StubHub Center, that cathedral of American soccer located on the campus of California State University Dominguez Hills in beautiful Carson, California.

What a night. What a game. What an MLS Cup Playoffs we’ve had. It’s time for six things we learned, followed by player ratings, for Sunday’s match between the Los Angeles Galaxy and Seattle Sounders.

1. Brad Evans: The Harder I Work…The Luckier I Get

Seattle were off to a flyer in the first half. A complete mess on the right side led to this goal in the 26th minute. Obafemi Martins, a candidate for league MVP honors, drew the defenders and the cross left Brad Evans wide open to open up the scoring and send the Sounders faithful into mass delirium.

2. Clint Dempsey. Need we say more?

You can never be bored when Clint Dempsey takes advantage of a good shot. He has so much power and pace in his volleys, it’s like a red hot bullet going faster than a cheetah in broad daylight. In the 32nd minute, what should have been a routine save by Jaime Penedo turned into a howler and one that could have been the difference. Well to be honest, it was a rough night for Penedo; he also got cautioned for time-wasting, but otherwise he did manage to stop the bleeding in the second half.

3. Juninho, the hero for LA

Juninho has had a long scoring drought, and was due to finally get on the scoresheet. In the first leg, his partner in the midfield, Marcelo Sarvas, delivered the goods for the Galaxy. Now it was Juninho who finished off a great sequence initiated by Omar Gonzalez and-who else?-Landon Donovan. 54 minutes in, LA’s No. 19 brought silence to the Sounders faithful.

4. Osvaldo Alonso not at 100%

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Sigi Schmid was forced to go for a leap of faith by starting Osvaldo Alonso, but he was hung out to dry at times. His fitness was not up to speed, and it did cost the Sounders at times. Micheal Azira came in for Alonso 74 minutes in and that didn’t pan out as expected, either.

5. Pappa on the bench was costly

I would like to go ahead and give my take. I have to wonder why Marco Pappa was starting on the bench and not on the pitch. It was clear that his energy and nose for the ball was effective in their season finale at CenturyLink Field, but the fact that Pappa only got 11 minutes and stoppage was a mystifying decision and one that cost Seattle a chance for a two-goal cushion. Lamar Neagle did have his share of chances but he was contained for long stretches, so I doubt this was the right choice.

6. An even match calls for even stats

Both teams dominated in some categories over the other. Seattle won the possession battle and were superior in their passing, while LA had more shots and more clearance and played a smart, defensive game when it was clear that they could not figure out Stefan Frei after 54 minutes.

Team Statistics

Seattle Sounders on left, Los Angeles Galaxy on right

If the old rule was in place, this match is going to extra time. But, I have to applaud Don Garber’s decision to align themselves with the rest of the world and use the away goals rule. This league, Major League Soccer, should not be above any other league when it comes to determining who advances in a two-legged series.

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You know that old saying, “When in Rome, do like a Roman?” Well, that’s what MLS is doing, and though it benefits LA here, I personally commend Commissioner Garber for MLS moving one step forward toward respectability in the footballing world. And we’ll see you next Sunday at MLS Cup 2014.

Seatle Sounders Player Ratings

Stefan Frei 7, Chad Marshall 7, DeAndre Yedlin 6, Leonardo Gonzalez 6, Zach Scott 7, Brad Evans 8, Gonzalo Pineda 6, Lamar Neagle 6, Osvaldo Alonso 5, Clint Dempsey 8, Obafemi Martins 7, Micheal Azira 4, Andy Rose 4, Marco Pappa 3

Los Angeles Galaxy Player Ratings

Jaime Penedo 5.5, Dan Gargan 7, Leonardo 7, Omar Gonzalez 9, Robbie Rogers 8, Juninho 10, Landon Donovan 9, Marcelo Sarvas 7, Stefan Ishizaki 6, Gyasi Zardes 6, Robbie Keane 6, Alan Gordon 4, Baggio Husidic NR