Sounders vs Galaxy recap: LA dominates second half

Without Clint Dempsey, Osvaldo Alonso, Obafemi Martins, Nelson Valdez, Andreas Ivanschitz and Marco Pappa the Seattle Sounders FC lead the LA Galaxy in Stubhub Center for 12 minutes. Just after scoring that first minute goal Chad Barrett pulled his hamstring. Already with a limited lineup Sigi Schmid was forced to put Lamar Neagle as the lone forward and hope.

Hope died at halftime. Already tied at 1-1 the Galaxy took the lead behind Robbie Keane in the 47th minute. In the 64th they scored their third. Seattle had threatened on occasion. They looked alright. The Sounders just didn't have the power behind them.

There was a noble effort. But noble efforts don't mean much after two months of horrific. It's now five straight losses and eight of the last nine. The reasons are obvious, and frustrating. The Front Office hit the panic button and is bringing in three or four major signings.

But they aren't here.

The lineup that is here isn't good enough in MLS play, particularly against the MLS Cup favorites. Somehow, through all this awful, the Sounders are still a playoff team. At some point, this will look like the team that dominated the first 40% of the year.

For now, we're stuck waiting, staring at the standings and wondering "when will this stop?"