Three Reasons Why the LA Galaxy Lost vs. Sounders on Wednesday | OneFootball

Things did not go in favor of the Los Angeles Galaxy during their second encounter with the Seattle Sounders in August. Momentum appeared to be in favor of the defending MLS Cup champions, too.

They not only won a critical quarterfinals match against Pachuca, 2-1, but the LA Galaxy also won 3-0 against MLS Western Conference playoff hopefuls, the Colorado Rapids.

With two big wins in the span of four days, everything looked in line for head coach Greg Vanney to beat the Sounders like his team did in the 2024 MLS Western Conference Finals. All four of these mentioned matches were played at home in Carson, California.

Yet, Dignity Health Sports Park became the venue where Seattle got the better of Los Angeles twice in the same month.

LA Galaxy v Seattle Sounders - Leagues Cup Semifinal | Ronald Martinez/GettyImages

How did the LA Galaxy drop this Leagues Cup quarterfinals match?

1. The Los Angeles Galaxy couldn't score, again.

Both losses at home against the Sounders have been via shutout. Matheus Nascimento, who has scored three times in this year's Leagues Cup tournament, sat out on Wednesday night due to a lingering groin injury.

Gabriel Pec and Joseph Paintsil could not find the back of the net. Marco Reus was basically neutralized by Seattle's defense. In the last two meetings between the LA Galaxy and the Seattle Sounders, the six-time MLS Cup winners have been outscored 6-0.

2. Novak Micovic struggled at the worst times possible.

While this one is not solely on the LA Galaxy's starting goalkeeper, Micovic allowed two goals on Wednesday night. He had allowed four total in his team's four Leagues Cup Games combined.

Even without their leading scorer, Danny Musovski, the Sounders managed to get goals from Pedro de la Vega and Osaze De Rosario. Seattle was able to find the back of the net in each half, ultimately giving them the 2-0 victory over the LA Galaxy.

3. LA Galaxy fail to capitalize on the player advantage.

Wednesday night was not the first time that the LA Galaxy failed to take advantage of their opponent being issued a red card to someone.

Though it did not cost them the win, the Los Angeles Galaxy had a 3-0 lead against Santos Laguna in the third and final game of Phase One. Choco Lozano of Santos received the ejection from the match just before stoppage time started in the first half.

LA Galaxy v Seattle Sounders - Leagues Cup Semifinal | Liza Rosales/ISI Photos/GettyImages

Santos scored one to cut the deficit down to two. However, the LA Galaxy scored a fourth goal in the game, and the second from Nascimento. Playing with a man down, Santos held the Galaxy to only one goal in the second half, as opposed to their three goals in the first half.

The Sounders' Nouhou Tolo received a red card of his own. This one game in the 83rd minute of play. Still, the LA Galaxy could not recover from being down 2-0.