Seattle Sounders blank LA Galaxy to set up Inter Miami clash in Leagues Cup final

The Seattle Sounders booked their place in the Leagues Cup final with a commanding 2-0 win over the Los Angeles Galaxy in the second semifinal on Wednesday night in Carson, California. Goals from Pedro de la Vega and Osaze De Rosario, each netting his third of the tournament, secured the victory and set up a showdown against Lionel Messi and Inter Miami, who defeated Orlando City 3-1 earlier in the night, in Sunday’s final.


Seattle wasted no time as they struck as early as in the seventh minute through Pedro. The move began with a quick counterattack that saw Galaxy goalkeeper Novak Micovic produce back-to-back saves from De Rosario and Jesus Ferreira. Yet an agile Pedro reacted first to the rebound of Ferreira’s effort, smashing home a decisive finish through Micovic and a defender on the line.



The Galaxy attempted to rally but were repeatedly frustrated, with Micovic again denying De Rosario in the first half and early in the second. However, persistence paid off for the Canadian forward in the 57th minute. Collecting a bouncing ball with his back to goal, De Rosario cleverly flicked it toward space, muscled past Maya Yoshida and Zanka, and drove a low, powerful shot beyond Micovic from close range to double the Sounders’ advantage.

At the other end, goalkeeper Andrew Thomas was equal to every challenge, recording four saves to earn his third clean sheet of the competition. The only blemish for Seattle came late when fullback Nouhou was sent off in the 83rd minute for a high challenge on Gabriel Pec, ruling him out of the final.

The Galaxy’s defeat leaves them to contest a third-place playoff against Orlando City on Sunday, with the final CONCACAF Champions Cup berth at stake. Rooted at the bottom of the Western Conference, Los Angeles faces a daunting path back to international competition outside this tournament.