Steven Gerrard's title hopes over as Seattle Sounders beat LA Galaxy in MLS elimination game
Thursday 29 October 2015 13:07, UK
Major League Soccer will have a new champion after the Seattle Sounders eliminated the LA Galaxy 3-2 in their knockout-round clash.
Steven Gerrard's dream of a title in his first season in the United States came to an end at CenturyLink Field, where the defending champions were made to pay for some dreadful defending.
Seattle took the lead in the fifth minute when a ball from Erik Friberg was not dealt with by 'keeper Donovan Ricketts and Clint Dempsey pounced on the loose ball to fire home.
Their lead lasted only a minute as Sebastian Lletget beat Sounders 'keeper Stefan Frei with an angled shot, but Seattle were back in front again in the 12th minute when Nelson Valdez swooped in unmarked at the far post to convert a deep free kick and make it 2-1.
Galaxy levelled again on 22 minutes with a 20-yard effort from Gyasi Zardez into the top corner, although the shot did take a deflection off Valdez.
Chances came and went for both sides and Seattle's winner did not come until 17 minutes from time when Friberg made the most of a poor defensive header from AJ DeLaGarza to lash a shot into the top corner and send the packed crowd into wild celebration.
Live MLS
Last year's MLS Cup runners-up are also out, with the New England Revolution falling to a 2-1 defeat against DC United at RFK Stadium.
The Revolution claimed a 15th minute lead in spectacular fashion when Juan Agudelo produced a stunning bicycle kick from 10 yards to break the deadlock.
Chris Pontius equalised for United on the stroke of half-time when he headed home a free kick.
Chris Rolfe missed a penalty in the 76th minute when he hit the post but made amends by slotting home United's winner from close range in the 83rd minute.
The match ended in controversy when New England midfielder Jermaine Jones was sent off in stoppage time for protesting a handball in the box by DC defender Sean Franklin.
Referee Mark Geiger turned down the penalty appeal and an incensed Jones, who had earlier been booked, sprinted towards the official and was promptly shown another yellow card.
The United States international then flung his arms out and appeared to make contact with the referee's chest, even before the official could brandish a red card. Jones continued to remonstrate with the referee, grabbing his arm, before being restrained by a team-mate.
"I think everybody who came today could see it, it was 100 per cent a penalty," he said. "My passion then after maybe went a little bit high, but I think it's normal... For what happened after, I would say I'm sorry, maybe because I play with the national team it cannot happen, but it happened."
Live MLS
Watch the MLS playoffs on Sky Sports. Montreal Impact v Toronto FC is live on Sky Sports 2 HD from 11pm on Thursday, followed by Portland Timbers v Sporting Kansas City (2am on Friday).
