Galaxy routed at home by Sounders

CARSON — After a successful week in Leagues Cup, advancing to the quarterfinals, the Galaxy’s return to MLS play didn’t go smoothly.

The Galaxy had found a decent run of form of late, winning five of their last seven, including winning two of their three group games of the Leagues Cup.

The Seattle Sounders, who were the only team to win their three group games in Leagues Cup, scored twice in the opening half on their way to a 4-0 win over the Galaxy (3-15-7) at Dignity Health Sports Park Sunday.

The Galaxy is last in MLS with 16 points. They’re currently 16 points behind the ninth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference.

This was the first meeting between the teams since the Galaxy’s 1-0 win in the Western Conference Finals last Nov. 30. That was also the last game that Riqui Puig played. The midfielder tore his ACL in the game, forcing him to miss the MLS Cup and all of the current season to date.

Puig is still on his road to recovery. He has returned to training and posted on Instagram Sunday, “Hold On, I’m Comin’.”

Last week, Galaxy coach Greg Vanney said that the club didn’t “have a specific date or timeline when we think he is going to be ready to play in a game.”

Time is running out on the season. Including the Leagues Cup quarterfinal (Aug. 20) and the Campeones Cup (Oct. 1) against Toluca, the Galaxy have just 11 games remaining.

During the current phase of his recovery, Puig has been a regular at all home games, sitting in a sideline seat.

Seattle opened the scoring in the 25th minute thanks to an own goal off of Galaxy defender Julian Aude. Danny Musovski made it 2-0 in the 37th minute.

Musovski put the game away in the 54th minute, making it 3-0. Snyder Brunell capped the scoring in the 85th minute.

The Galaxy never seriously threatened Seattle. The Galaxy had a slight edge in the possession battle, but managed only three shots on goal, while the Sounders had 22 total shots attempts and seven on goal.

The win snapped a three-game losing skid for Seattle in Carson, which includes a league game, U.S. Open and playoff game.

The teams will meet again Sept. 13 in Seattle. There’s also a chance they could meet in the semifinals of Leagues Cup. Seattle hosts Puebla in their quarterfinal.

The league schedule for the Galaxy continues Saturday on the road against Inter Miami, ahead of their Aug. 20 Leagues Cup quarterfinal against Pachuca.