The LA Galaxy's rivalry with the Seattle Sounders dates to 2000, when Cobi Jones' last-minute goal lifted the MLS powerhouse to a 2-1 US Open Cup triumph over the A-League team from the Pacific Northwest. They met again three years later, with Carlos Ruiz's hat trick fueling a 5-1 LA win.
Of course, those Sounders aren't these Sounders, the ones who arrived in MLS in 2009 and quickly established themselves among the league's most consistent and successful clubs. These Sounders won the season series with LA that first year – a 1-1 tie away and a 2-0 win at home – and have built an enduring duel with the Galaxy, one of the best on-field rivalries in American soccer. The rivalry will continue Sunday in the first leg of the Western Conference Championship at StubHub Center (5 pm ET; ESPN, get tickets here).
They've met 21 times as MLS clubs, with the Galaxy holding a 9-7-5 series edge, including wins in three of four playoff encounters and losses in Open Cup quarterfinals in 2010 and 2011.
Here are the five most memorable Galaxy-Sounders face-offs:
1. Galaxy 3, Sounders 0 (Nov. 11, 2012)
LA and Seattle had never met in so important a clash, but their home-and-home showdown in the Western Conference Championship for a spot in the 2012 MLS Cup final was over, more of less, before the first leg was done. Robbie Keane netted two goals, the second just moments after Mike Magee doubled the lead midway through the second half, and the Galaxy were unfortunate not to add two more a few minutes later.
The Sounders responded in their home leg a week later, with Eddie Johnson tallying early – he might have had a hat trick in the first dozen minutes – and Zach Scott cutting LA's advantage to a goal soon after the break, but Keane's 68th-minute penalty kick halted Seattle's momentum, and the Galaxy claimed a 4-2 aggregate win en route to their second straight league championship.
2. Sounders 2, Galaxy 0 (Oct. 25, 2014)
The Galaxy had gotten the better of their rivals in every meaningful MLS encounter until the end of this season. Coming into the match, LA had finally caught up with the Sounders in the fight for the Supporters' Shield heading into a season-ending, home-and-home battle. LA surrendered a two-goal lead at home and headed north needing a victory to claim the prize.
They were dominant over the first 80 minutes, despite playing without Keane and Omar Gonzalez, but created little in the way of chances. Then Marco Pappa stepped up, scored two late goals – the second deep in stoppage – and Seattle had the Shield, their first league hardware. And it was well deserved: The Sounders were the first club with 20 victories since the shootout era.
3. Sounders 0, Galaxy 1 (Oct. 31, 2010)
Edson Buddle silenced a Qwest Field crowd of 35,521 with a wonder goal shortly before halftime of the first postseason meeting between the sides. Gonzalez's ball forward hardly looked dangerous, but the Galaxy striker settled it in front of Patrick Ianni, turned, and volleyed brilliantly from 35 yards, beating goalkeeper Kasey Keller to the far post.
It lives on as the most stunning strike in the series, and LA followed with a 2-1 win at home a week later – with Buddle and Gonzalez scoring from David Beckham set pieces – to reach the Western Conference final. Kevin Hartman's otherworldly performance there ended the Galaxy's season and sent FC Dallas to the MLS Cup final.
4. Sounders 0, Galaxy 4 (May 8, 2010)
Seattle had been the better team in both of their meetings with the Galaxy during their inaugural season, settling for a 1-1 draw at home in May and pulling out a 2-0 victory in Carson three months later. The first meeting the following year was something of a shock to the Sounders' sensibilities.
The Galaxy so dominated the clash, with Landon Donovan setting up three goals – Jovan Kirovski's 25-yard blast in the 22nd minute and strikes from Gonzalez and Todd Dunivant early in the second half – before scoring a 67th-minute final, that the Sounders gave refunds to season-ticket holders, by way of credit toward 2011 season-pass purchases.
5. Sounders 4, Galaxy 0 (Aug. 5, 2012)
The Sounders had beaten the Galaxy just twice in nine league meetings, the second just three months earlier, but they hadn't had a signature triumph in the series until this one. In front of 60,908 giddy fans at CenturyLink Field, with both sides riding five-game unbeaten streaks, they put a real beat-down on LA, turning a tight game into a romp after the break as Fredy Montero, Alex Caskey and Andy Rose hit the net.
The Galaxy had almost as many shots as Seattle (14-13), far more corner kicks (8-1) and nearly 57 percent possession, but they were outclassed all day. Johnson's glancing header from a Mauro Rosales cross provided a sixth-minute advantage, and Montero struck just seven minutes into the second half, knocking home a rebound of a Caskey shot. The Sounders were flying the rest of the way – Caskey caught LA goalkeeper Josh Saunders off his line from 35 yards in the 61st minute and Rose netted his first MLS goal in the 88th – toward their most vital victory over LA before last month's Shield-winner.
