Cristian Roldan scored in the final minute of second-half stoppage time as the Seattle Sounders clinched a berth in the MLS playoffs with a 2–1 victory against the visiting Los Angeles Galaxy on Wednesday night, Oct. 4.
Jordan Morris also scored for the Sounders (13–9–10, 49 points), who rebounded after missing the postseason last year for the first time since joining the league in 2009.
Seattle remains in second place in the West behind St. Louis City, who have 56 points.
Douglas Costa scored for the Galaxy (8–12–11, 35 points), who are six points back in the chase for the Western Conference’s ninth and final playoff spot.
Roldan scored the winner in the sixth minute of added time after a long throw-in from the right wing by his brother Alex. Joshua Atencio headed the ball, on and Roldan curled a volley from just outside the top of the 6-yard box into the lower left corner of the net.
The Galaxy tied the match 1–1 in the 54th minute.
A cross-field pass from near midfield found Julian Aude on the left wing, and he quickly sent the ball to Costa just outside the top of the 18-yard box. A nifty first touch helped Costa split four defenders, and he poked a left-footed shot past onrushing Seattle goalkeeper Stefan Frei from 10 yards out.
Seattle outshot L.A. 10–1 in the first half but led just 1-0 at the intermission.
Morris’ goal came in the ninth minute.
Following a Seattle corner kick, the ball fell to Nouhou Tolo just outside the top of the 18-yard box. His shot was blocked and appeared headed out of bounds on the right wing. Costa reached the ball just before it rolled over the sideline and used a back heel to keep it in play.
Seattle’s Joao Paulo won a one-on-one battle with Aude for the ball and sent a cross to Morris at the top of the 6-yard box. Morris’ powerful header sailed just over the reach of L.A. goalkeeper Jonathan Bond.
The Sounders nearly doubled their advantage in the 17th minute, but Leo Chu’s header off a cross from Albert Rusnak bounced just wide of the left post.
Bond made both his saves in the first half, stopping shots by Obed Vargas and Alex Roldan in the minutes before Morris’ goal as the Sounders made an early push.
L.A.’s lone shot attempt of the half came on a 25-yard free kick by Costa in the 37th minute that went straight into the wall of Seattle defenders.
Frei wasn’t credited with a save in the match.
