CARSON, Calif. -- Looking nothing like the team that achieved a top four finish in the Leagues Cup qualification round just days ago, the LA Galaxy crash-landed back to Earth with a lethargic, uninspired display that led to a 4-0 home loss to the Seattle Sounders on Sunday, August 10, 2025.
The reigning MLS Cup champs could do little right against the visitors, with the Galaxy that beat two Liga MX teams, and tied, then took the Concacaf Champions Cup Champion Cruz Azul to penalties, seemingly taking the night off.
Fulltime. pic.twitter.com/FF8wyvQMUB
— LA Galaxy (@LAGalaxy) August 11, 2025
LA was never really in this game, and their coach said as much.
“There has been a few games over the course of the season where I felt we were just outplayed across the board. This was one of them,” LA Galaxy Head Coach Greg Vanney admitted in a post match press conference.
The fifth-year coach was at a loss for what led to the lopsided defeat.
“I don't know if it's four games in a short period of time, one day less rest. We can talk about all that stuff, but we never hit the necessary speed on the night in many regards. Therefore, I felt like we got pretty dominated in a lot of areas of the field and in the game through the course of the night.”
As if to emphasize just how calamitous the Galaxy’s evening was, Seattle took the lead via an own goal. Left Back Julian Aude attempted to make a defensive clearance, but his momentum made him slide the ball into his own net for Seattle’s first goal. The Sounders took advantage of the gift, and never looked back.
Danny Musovski scored Seattle’s second and third goals on rebounds either side of halftime, the first from his own shot, to end with a brace. 18-year-old Snyder Brunnell rounded off the scoring for the Sounders on his debut with his goal in the 85th minute for a night he’ll never forget.
Jordan Teller - The Sporting Tribune
Seattle Sounders forward Osaze De Rosario (95) and Los Angeles Galaxy defender Maya Yoshida (4) jump for the ball during the Sounders 4-0 win over LA on Sunday, August 10, 2025, in Carson, Calif.
But before Aude’s bad fortune or their shoddy defending, LA had problems early.
“Today, no one had the standard level of the game, and -- none of us, to be honest,” Captain Maya Yoshida said of his team’s performance.
The Galaxy were second to most contested balls, a step too slow in duels, slow rotating for each other, and whenever they did break Seattle’s press, which gave them fits, they were too slow in taking advantage of their numerical superiority to create clear-cut opportunities.
On more than one occasion, a Galaxy attack ground to a halt because the man on the ball tried to dribble past their opponent rather than play a teammate into space.
It is little wonder, then, that they struggled to create, taking just three shots on goal, with no big chances created.
Seattle, by contrast, created six big chances, more than the Galaxy had shots on target.
It's a brace for Musovski and it's 3-0 to @SoundersFC. 👀 pic.twitter.com/Ylw9N2XXj4
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) August 11, 2025
It was a far cry from the team that scored 10 goal over three games against Mexican opposition last week.
Yoshida praised Seattle for being a much tougher opponent.
"To be fair, Seattle is different. They're a much better team, to be honest."
According to Yoshida, the difference between the Galaxy’s Leagues Cup opponents and Seattle was evident in the first few minutes.
“Different teams, opponent,” Yoshida explained. “First two, three minutes I put ball behind, immediately we can dominate the line. But Seattle is one of the most solid teams in the MLS. No one cheat; 11 players, even the subs, they fight 50/50. They cover and help each other. This is, I think, very mature, one of the most mature squads in the MLS.”
For a team that may be on a collision course with Seattle in the Leagues Cup, the gulf in class should be worrying. Especially with the Galaxy’s emphasis on winning the tournament, which could be one of their only chances at silverware this year.
“The Leagues Cup is the big thing. It's the trophy we get and maybe a Champions League spot,” Vanney said of the competition.
But before the Galaxy get back to the comfort of the Leagues Cup, they’ll travel to Florida, for an MLS regular season date with Leo Messi’s Inter Miami, on Saturday, August 16.