Soccer
Seattle Sounders Take a Shot at LA Galaxy’s Chicharito After 1st Victory of the Season
Tim Crean started writing about sports in 2016 and joined Sports7 in 2021. He excels with his versatile coverage of the NFL and soccer landscape, as well as his expertise breaking down sports media, which stems from his many years downloading podcasts before they were even cool and countless hours spent listening to Mike & The Mad Dog and The Dan Patrick Show, among other programs. As a longtime self-professed sports junkie who even played DII lacrosse at LeMoyne College in Syracuse, New York, Tim loves reading about all the latest sports news every day and considers it a dream to write about sports professionally. He's a lifelong Buffalo Bills fan from Western New York who mistakenly thought, back in the early '90s, that his team would be in the Super Bowl every year. He started following European soccer — with a Manchester City focus — in the early 2000s after spending far too much time playing FIFA. When he's not enjoying a round of golf or coaching youth soccer and flag football, Tim likes reading the work of Bill Simmons, Tony Kornheiser, Chuck Klosterman, and Tom Wolfe.
All posts by Tim CreanUpdated12 Mar 2022
The Seattle Sounders and LA Galaxy are two of the most successful teams in Major League Soccer history. The franchises have seven MLS Cups between them. In 2022, the pair should battle it out around the top of the Western Conference.
Ahead of their first ’22 meeting, the LA Galaxy’s Twitter account put the Sounders on notice that the team is back after a disappointing ‘21 season when the squad missed the playoffs.
After a hard-fought home win, the Sounders fired back, taking a shot at their West Coast rival and its star player, Chicharito.
The Seattle Sounders won an entertaining match over the LA Galaxy
Decked out in their Jimi Hendrix-inspired Purple Haze kits, the Seattle Sounders came into Matchday 3 with an 0-2-0 record. On the opposite side was the LA Galaxy, who upset the reigning MLS champion NYCFC in their first match and took another three points on Matchday 2 vs. Charlotte FC.
Despite being the ones to travel 1,100 miles north, the LA Galaxy started fast and dominated the ball throughout the game. Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez put the Galaxy ahead in the sixth minute and, for the rest of the 90, LA had 64% possession. The visitors also dominated in the final third, shooting 14 times to Seattle’s eight shots.
However, Seattle hung tough at home, was more efficient, and capitalized on their chances.
Although the difference in shots was large, LA had just four shots on target to Seattle three. Jordan Morris kicked one over the line while lying on his back to match Chicharito’s goal in the 17th minute, and Fredy Montero drew and converted a penalty right before the half.
Former Bayern Munich star Douglas Costa evened the score again just after the half with his first MLS goal, before CB Xavier Arreaga headed home the eventual game-winner with 18 minutes to go.
Last week’s hero for LA, 19-year-old Efrain Alvarez, nearly tied the match again late but hit the post, giving the Seattle Sounders the three points.
The Seattle Sounders Twitter account took a shot at LA Galaxy star Chicharito
Two days before the LA Galaxy took on the Seattle Sounders for the first time in 2022, the California-based team posted “#GalaxyRevengeTour” on its Twitter account.
During the 2021 season, the Sounders got the better of the Galaxy twice (3-0 and 2-1), and the teams drew 1-1 once. That’s how it’s gone lately for the Galaxy against their neighbors in the Northwest. The last time LA beat Seattle was in September 2018.
Coming into Saturday’s match, it’s no surprise LA was confident and riding high with six points to Seattle’s zero, but poking a franchise they haven’t bested in three-plus seasons may not have been the best idea.
Following the Sounders’ win, the team’s Twitter account couldn’t help but fire back at the losing team. The account quote tweeted the Revenge Tour post with a picture of Chichartio with the words “TOUR POSTPONED” stamped on it.
It was a savage burn, but a well-earned one after yet another Seattle victory over LA.
What’s next for these Western Conference rivals?
Taking the three weeks on Matchday 3 is great, but there’s a long season ahead, and both these teams figure to play a major role in the MLS Western Conference playoff picture.
Next up on the schedule for the Seattle Sounders is a St. Patrick’s Day CONCACAF Champion’s League match vs. Mexico’s León before heading south to take on Austin FC. Co-Owner Matthew McConaughey’s club outscored FC Cincinnati and Inter Miami 10-1 in its first two matches but face a tough test Saturday night vs. the Portland Timbers.
As for the LA Galaxy, they’ll take on Orlando City SC, at home. The North Florida team has four points in the first two weeks of the season. The side beat Montreal CF on Matchday 1 and drew with the Chicago Fire after a horrible VAR call to take away a Junior Urso goal in their second game.
The LA Galaxy will have another chance to complete their “Revenge Tour” against the Seattle Sounders when this week’s winners travel to the City of Angels on Friday, August 19, 2022.
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