SEATTLE – The Seattle Sounders got an early goal from Chad Marshall and never looked back, eventually cruising to a resounding 5-0 romp over the visiting LA Galaxy at CenturyLink Field on Saturday afternoon.
Harry Shipp, Cristian Roldan and Raúl RuidÃaz all also netted for Seattle, with the other tally coming from an own goal that deflected off the Galaxy’s Servando Carrasco.
Marshall found the opener just after kickoff, once again getting on the end of a pinpoint feed from Nicolás Lodeiro and nodding home the finish past Galaxy goalkeeper David Bingham, staking Seattle to the dream start.
Seattle then struck just 15 minutes later after Gustav Svensson picked off an errant pass and put Shipp through in a one-on-one against Bingham. Shipp made no mistake with the finish, slotting it into the net to give the Sounders the 2-0 edge they would eventually take into halftime.
The Sounders poured it on after the break, with Carrasco’s own goal and finishes from Roldan and RuidÃaz rounding out the 5-0 scoreline.
THREE TAKEAWAYS
AIR MARSHALL SOARS
That’s now two straight games with a goal for Marshall, whose prowess on set pieces has made him a matchup nightmare in the box throughout his illustrious MLS career. The 33-year-old three-time MLS Defender of the Year slotted home another vintage finish for Seattle’s opener, with the headed tally setting the tone for what was a one-sided affair from the get-go.
Chad Marshall celebrates after scoring the opening goal / Jane Gershovich
FINE NUMBER NINE
The result was an emphatic extension of Seattle’s recent scorching-hot streak, which now has them unbeaten in nine straight matches, which has included a run of a club-record six straight victories. Seattle are also above .500 for the first time all year with its record now at 10-9-5 with 35 points through 23 matches.
TIMBERS TIME
As Seattle look to push that unbeaten run to double-digits, the Sounders will have revenge on their mind as they head to Providence Park to take on the Portland Timbers next Sunday, August 26. The last time the sides met in Oregon, Portland squeaked out a 1-0 victory thanks to a late winner from Sebastian Blanco. A lot has changed since that defeat, however, with the Sounders now playing their best soccer of the season heading into the matchup. Expect another, high-intensity, high-drama derby, like it always is when these sides take the field against each other.
SCORING SUMMARY
SEA - Chad Marshall (Nicolás Lodeiro) 3'
SEA - Harry Shipp (Gustav Svensson) 18'
SEA - Servando Carrasco (OG) 50'
SEA - Cristian Roldan (Harry Shipp, Nicolás Lodeiro) 59'
SEA - Raúl RuidÃaz 67'
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY
NONE