Brad Evans and Clint Dempsey scored as Sounders FC won, 2-1, in the Second Leg of the 2014 MLS Western Conference Championship, but fell on aggregate to the LA Galaxy in front of a franchise postseason record crowd of 46,758. Juninho scored the decisive goal for the away side as LA advances to the 2014 MLS Cup Final.
The Galaxy will host the New England Revolution at the StubHub Center next Sunday, December 7 at 12:00 p.m. PST on ESPN.
Sounders FC went up 1-0 in the 26th minute on Evans' third-career MLS Cup Playoff goal. After Obafemi Martins went down on a collision in the area, Dempsey tracked down the loose ball around Galaxy goalkeeper Jaime Penedo on the right side of the 18-yard-box and sent a deflected shot across the frame to Evans, who blasted his attempt into the back of the open net.
Seattle added another tally six minutes later when DeAndre Yedlin sent a ball into the box that was cleared by the Galaxy defense right to the foot of Dempsey, who struck a low shot that skirted under Penedo. It was Dempsey's second-career postseason goal and 17th across all competitions in 2014.
The result marked the second straight win against LA in the home legs of postseason matches, but the Rave Green have yet to advance past their rival on aggregate.
Juninho gave LA its crucial road goal in the 54th minute when he blasted a shot from the top of Seattle's area that hit the inside of the post and went into the goal, tying the aggregate score 2-2 and giving the Galaxy the tiebreaking away goal.
Sounders FC finishes its historic 2014 season with a 25-11-7 record across all competitions, capturing the 2014 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup and the Supporters' Shield.
MATCH SUMMARY
Seattle Sounders FC 2 - LA Galaxy 1 (2-2 on aggregate, LA advances on away goals)
Sunday, November 30, 2014
Venue: Xbox Pitch at CenturyLink Field
Referee: Jair Marrufo
Assistants: Eric Boria, Corey Rockwell
Fourth Official: Hilario Grajeda
Attendance: 46,758
Weather: Clear and 32 degrees
SCORING SUMMARY
SEA - Brad Evans 26'
SEA - Clint Dempsey 32'
LA - Juninho (Omar Gonzalez, Landon Donovan) 54'
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY
LA - Marcelo Sarvas (caution) 35'
LA - Jaime Penedo (caution) 90+2'
LINEUPS & STATS
Seattle Sounders FC - Stefan Frei; DeAndre Yedlin, Chad Marshall, Zach Scott, Leo Gonzalez; Brad Evans, Osvaldo Alonso (Micheal Azira 74'), Gonzalo Pineda (Andy Rose 75'), Lamar Neagle (Marco Pappa 79'); Clint Dempsey, Obafemi Martins
Substitutes Not Used: Marcus Hahnemann, Djimi Traore, Kenny Cooper, Chad Barrett
Total Shots: 11 (Clint Dempsey, 6)
Shots on Goal: 3 (3 tied at 1)
Fouls: 5 (5 tied at 1)
Offside: 4 (Lamar Neagle, 2)
Corner Kicks: 6 (Gonzalo Pineda, 5)
Saves: 5 (Stefan Frei, 5)
LA Galaxy - Jaime Penedo; Dan Gargan, Omar Gonzalez, Leonardo, Robbie Rogers; Stefan Ishizaki (Alan Gordon 74'), Juninho (Baggio Husidic 86'), Marcelo Sarvas, Landon Donovan; Gyasi Zardes, Robbie Keane
Substitutes Not Used: Brian Rowe, Todd Dunivant, Tommy Meyer, Kenney Walker, Jose Villareal
Total Shots: 14 (Robbie Keane, 5)
Shots on Goal: 6 (2 tied at 2)
Fouls: 10 (Marcelo Sarvas, 3)
Offside: 0
Corner Kicks: 6 (2 tied at 3)
Saves: 1 (Jaime Penedo, 1)
