Galaxy lose in Leagues Cup, still eye a prize

The Galaxy, stumbling through the worst season in the franchise's long history, have looked to the Leagues Cup, a tournament with little pedigree and no real history, to salvage the year.

- By KEvIN BAXTER

JAYNE KAMIN-ONCEA Associated Press
THE SOUNDERS' Pedro de la Vega (10) celebrates his goal as L.A.'s Mauricio Cuevas hits the ground.

And for much of the monthlong competition that worked, with the Galaxy cruising into the tournament semifinals unbeaten. But reality and the Seattle Sounders caught up with them Wednesday, when goals from Pedro de la Vega and Osaze De Rosario gave Seattle a 2-0 victory and a spot in Sunday’s Leagues Cup final against Lionel Messi and Inter Miami.

The Galaxy, meanwhile, will have to refocus quickly since they play host to Orlando City, a 3-1 loser in the other semifinal, in Sunday’s third-place game where a berth in next season’s CONCACAF Champions Cup will go to the winner.

“It would have been a great legacy for this group, who's had a very difficult season, to be able to say they won a trophy,” Galaxy coach Greg Vanney said. “[Sunday’s] game is certainly our last opportunity to take something out of this season and that’s the Champions League spot. With the Galaxy, we want to be playing in the tournaments like Champions League.

“So this is our opportunity in what has been a very difficult season, to take something away from it.”