Galaxy vs. Sounders, recap: Seattle peppers goal, but fall again

Depleted lineups took a marquee match between LA Galaxy and Seattle Sounders FC down a few notches on the "Must See" meter. Lacking Robbie Keane and Clint Dempsey changed how the Western Conference rivals would play. Like many matches against LA this was defined by extraordinary keeper play (Jaime Penedo) and one blown defensive assignment.

When Andy Rose failed to mark the running Alan Gordon that was enough to earn LA their first goal in over 270 minutes. It was on a set-piece with a knock-across header from Omar Gonzalez that Gordon finished.

Seattle regularly threatened. Lamar Neagle had five shots on goal in six shots. That was more shots on target than LA took in the match. Penedo stopped all of Neagle's shots as well as Obafemi Martins' two, Andy Rose's one and Chad Marshall's one.

The Sounders were regularly in spaces with opportunities to score, but could not solve the Penedo puzzle.

In the 85th minute Aaron Kovar was alone on goal and like so many other Sounders found Penedo.

This sucks. A recap shouldn't feature more words about the opposing keeper than any other player. It is frustrating, and is not just a sign of his quality, but that Seattle could not complete the sequences they started. Penedo's 10 saves were a Sounders' opponent record.

The offense wasn't dire and the defense didn't suck. Losing still does.