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MLS Seattle Sounders FC

Game Notes - Western Conference Semifinal Leg 1 - Sounders FC Vs. Los Angeles

October 30, 2010 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Seattle Sounders FC News Release


The curtain rises on a memorable marquee postseason matchup as the Seattle Sounders FC meets the star-studded Los Angeles Galaxy in a Western Conference Semifinal series of the 2010 MLS Cup Playoffs. The two-leg, aggregate goal series gets underway on Sunday at 5 p.m. PT on the Xbox Pitch at Qwest Field.

The Galaxy will host the second leg on November 7 at 6 p.m. PT at the Home Depot Center. Both matches will be televised live on ESPN2, ESPN Deportes and ESPN3.com.

It is a pairing which pits the winner of the Supporters' Shield for the best MLS record against the winner of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. Los Angeles bolted from the blocks, going 10-0-2 in its first 12 games, and finished with 59 points (18-7-5). The Galaxy features Landon Donovan, David Beckham and scoring leader Edson Buddle.

Seattle rebounded from a poor start and was the hottest team (10-2-3) in MLS over the second half, surpassing its inaugural season totals for victories at 14-10-6 and 48 points.

Seattle has sold out 31 consecutive MLS regular season and playoff matches.

The Rave Green's surge began immediately after falling to L.A. for a second time, 3-1 at the HDC on July 4. Three days later, Sounders FC ousted the Galaxy from Open Cup quarterfinals, 2-nil, commencing a nine-game unbeaten run in all competitions.

Seattle won a club record five league games in a row (six games unbeaten) before falling at Houston, 2-1, in the regular season finale last week. L.A. came from behind to defeat FC Dallas, 2-1 at home, to clinch the Supporters' Shield and top seed in the West.

The team that scores the most goals in the series advances to the single elimination Western Conference Championship. If the score is tied after 180 minutes, a 30-minute extra time period will be played, followed by kicks from the penalty spot, if necessary.

Defending MLS Cup champion Real Salt Lake meets FC Dallas in the other Western Conference Semifinal. The team with the higher seed between the two Conference finalists will host the Conference Championship game on November 11, 13 or 14.

Los Angeles leads the MLS regular season series 2-1-1, including a 4-0 win in Seattle on May 8. The Galaxy was 9-3-3 on the road. The runner-up for MLS Cup 2009, the club seeks its third title.

Sounders FC qualified for the playoffs for the second year in a row and is the first team in 27 years to win back-to-back Open Cup championships. However, it was unable to score a goal in last year's West semifinal series with Houston, drawing the first leg 0-0 and losing the second, 1-0, in extra time.

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