The LA Galaxy defeated the Seattle Sounders 3-1 on Wednesday night at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif., in the Round of 32 of the U.S. Open Cup.
The Galaxy opened the scoring inside three minutes when Julián Aude unleashed a left-footed strike from distance that beat goalkeeper Stefan Cleveland.
Despite falling behind early, a heavily rotated Sounders squad created myriad chances. Fredy Montero nearly equalized in the 10th minute when his shot from close-range was deflected off the goal line by Lucas Calegari.
Dylan Teves almost found the back of the net in the 17th minute when Reed Baker-Whiting picked out Teves on a great cross, but his header was saved by Jonathan Bond.
Teves had another opportunity six minutes later when Montero played him in behind on a through ball from midfield, but Teves’ shot at the end of a 1-v-1 was saved and out for a corner.
LA doubled its lead in the 66th minute when substitute Memo Rodríguez scored on a one-time finish off a corner kick.
The Sounders halved the deficit just a minute and a half later when Tacoma Defiance midfielder Paul Rothrock scored on a header at the back post.
The Galaxy iced the match in the 84th minute when Rodríguez earned his brace with a shot from the left side of the box that snuck under Cleveland at the far post.
THREE TAKEAWAYS
Kids get the reins
Like he did in the Sounders’ Round of 64 win over San Diego Loyal SC, Head Coach Brian Schmetzer started a mixture of young kids and Tacoma Defiance players with veteran Fredy Montero the lone senior staple at top. João Paulo and Nicolás Lodeiro were the two First Team outfield players available off the bench, each of whom came on in the second half.
Rothrock scores again
Local product Rothrock scored in the second straight U.S. Open Cup match this season after bagging his first career First Team goal against San Diego. The former Notre Dame and Georgetown player is in his first season with Tacoma Defiance after joining from Toronto FC II.
Back to MLS play
The Sounders will return to MLS action this Saturday when they visit the Houston Dynamo (5:30 p.m. PT | Watch on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV) in their first meeting of the 2023 season.
