FULL TIME: Not only did the Seattle Sounders lose 3-0, but they lost starting left back to injury. Brad Smith’s injury will be a long term issue for the Sounders, as will the numerous errors defensively. Smith, Nouhou and Roman Torres made critical errors granting the Galaxy’s potent offense the opportunity to score easy goals.

The result leaves Seattle with the 6th seed.

UPDATE 52’: After a failed clearance attempt by Roman Torres, Emmanuel Boateng toe-punched the ball past Stefan Frei.

Shortly after that Leerdam was pulled as Victor Rodriguez entered the match. Seattle shifted to a 3-4-1-2 with a backline of Kim, Svensson, Torres as the CBs and Nouhou/Roldan as the wingbacks.

UPDATE HALF: Ola Kamara finished off a beautiful sequence by the Galaxy as the pinged the ball through Seattle’s backline. Two of those passes were right on the edge of an offside call, but play continued, even if the Sounders paused after the first one. Romain Alessandrini and Zlatan picked up assists on the goal that put LA up 2-0.

Brad Smith left in the 17’ with an injury to his right hamstring. Nouhou entered. Rolf Feltscher earned a yellow card at 31’ and was twice told he was not allowed to foul like that anymore. It’s possible Kinnear subs the foul-prone right back off the pitch.

UPDATE 9’: Brad Smith started the scoring sequence with a poor giveaway. An eventual backheel by Zlatan Ibrahimivic sprung Ola Kamara who Smith tripped over and tackled to the ground in the area. Jose Carlos Rivera pointed to the spot with no question.

Zlatan put the kick from the spot away simply and easily giving the Galaxy a 1-0 lead.

There was a time when the LA Galaxy were the best in the league. They dominated as few have in MLS. That time is four coaches ago now. Instead of bossing the league, LA is flailing about wondering how to resurface into relevance. Now coached by Dominic Kinnear (their second former Sounder as a head coach in a row), the Galaxy don’t have an identity beyond Zlatan.

Seattle Sounders do have an identity — strong defense, grit, willpower and taking the first half of the season to figure things out. Though they are no longer in a win streak, they only have a single loss since June 30. They haven’t lost by two goals or more since June 2. The dark times are over, now they are full of light and hope.

Absences: Injury, international duty and suspension

Seattle: Felix Chenkam, Jordan Morris, Harry Shipp and Henry Wingo are out. Chad Marshall, Lamar Neagle and Raul Ruidiaz are questionable. Tony Alfaro and Calle Brown played with S2 on Saturday night.

Galaxy: List no players as injured.

Michael Ciani, Jorgen Skjelvik, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, and Jordy Delem will be suspended for accumulation with their next yellow card. Chris Pontius, Rolf Feltscher, David Romney, Osvaldo Alonso, Nicolas Lodeiro, Cristian Roldan, Jordan McCrary, and Nouhou are two yellows from accumulation.

Jose Carlos Rivero is the center referee. His video assistant is Edvin Jurisevic.

nos audietis in somniis | nos audietis in alto

you will hear us in your sleep | you will hear us from the deep

this is our Sound

Keys to the Game:

• Shadow Zlatan
• Take an early lead
• Patiently possess

How I'm watching

Outfit: Church is in Session

Scarf: You Will Hear Us

Where: Home

North America will hear us

• $1

Available in multiple styles, cuts and colors.

• $1 at Web Community Tees

How to Watch

Match date/time: Sept 23 at 4 PM PT

Venue: StubHub Center, Carson, California — a suburb of LA

Online Streaming: YouTube TV (Seattle & Spokane markets), Fox Sports Go

National TV: FS1 (Strong, Holden, Witham)

Local Radio: 950 KJR-AM Seattle (Johnson, Keller)

Local Spanish Radio: El Rey 1360 AM (Rodriguez, Maqueda, Tapia)

International TV

Asia: BeIN Sports (ASIA) | Australia: BeIN Sports (AUS) | China: Chinas Sports Media | Europe: Eurosport | India: DSports / ATR Media | Middle East & North Africa: Abu Dhabi Sports | Singapore: Starhub | Sub-Saharan Africa: FOX Africa | Taiwan: Sportscast | United Kingdom: Sky Sports | Vietnam: SCTV

Lineups

4-4-2!

Sounders

Galaxy

Innovative 4-1-5, unless you think Lletget can defend

Highlights will be posted as the match progresses.

This is Seattle Sounders at LA Galaxy; watch with us