LA Galaxy 4, Seattle Sounders 2: U.S. Open Cup dreams dashed by late Galaxy surge

The Seattle Sounders fell 4-2 to the LA Galaxy in their Lamar Hunt US Open Cup quarterfinal matchup on Wednesday, bringing their quest for the franchise’s fifth USOC trophy to a close for 2016.

Despite fielding a reserve-heavy lineup in anticipation of their MLS match in Kansas City on Sunday, the Sounders grabbed the early lead courtesy of a goal from midfielder Michael Farfan and also had a second-half advantage off a tally from Herculez Gomez. But they would relinquish the leads each time, eventually allowing a second-half brace to LA’s Sebastian Lletget that sealed the result at StubHub Center’s Track and Field Stadium in Carson, Calif.

Alan Gordon and Giovani dos Santos tallied the other goals for the Galaxy, who advanced to the USOC semifinals against FC Dallas with the victory.

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Seattle were afforded the lead in improbable fashion after Galaxy defender Leonardo had his attempt at a clearance picked off by Farfan, putting the Sounders midfielder in a one-on-one breakaway with Galaxy goalkeeper Clement Diop. Farfan coolly slotted the attempt into the LA net, giving the visitors the 1-0 advantage in just the 4^th minute.

The Galaxy found an equalizer in the 17^th minute, however, after a pass into the Sounders penalty box found the foot of Gordon, who cashed his shot past Seattle ‘keeper Tyler Miller to knot the contest at 1-1.

The score stayed that that way until the 59^th minute, when Gomez made a run to the far post to meet a long pass into the LA box from Dylan Remick. The veteran forward managed to finish the feed from a difficult angle, putting the Sounders up 2-1.

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But LA equalized again in the 78^th, after dos Santos stole a pass from Zach Scott and found himself with a one-on-one opportunity of his own against Miller. Dos Santos wouldn’t miss, putting his shot past Miller and knotting the contest once again.

The hosts then found their game-winner in the 85^th minute after Galaxy midfielder Baggio Husidic fired a cross into the Seattle area that Lletget finished to make it 3-2. Lletget added some insurance just minutes later, finishing the dagger to seal the 4-2 final.

With their USOC dreams dashed for this season, the Sounders stay on the road as they try to regroup in MLS play on Sunday against Sporting Kansas City at Children’s Mercy Park.