CARSON, Calif. – Clint Dempsey and Lamar Neagle scored in the second half, rallying the Seattle Sounders to a 2-2 tie with the LA Galaxy on Sunday night.
Baggio Husidic and Marcelo Sarvas scored for the Galaxy, but the Sounders’ comeback means the Supporters’ Shield will be awarded after Saturday’s season finale between the clubs in Seattle.
The clubs are even atop the MLS standings with 61 points. The Sounders (19-10-4) hold the tiebreaker, and can claim their first MLS regular-season title with a win or tie.
Husidic scored in first-half injury time and Sarvas added a goal early in the second half, but Dempsey and Neagle connected three minutes apart.
The Galaxy (17-6-10) spent the evening honouring Landon Donovan, the MLS career scoring leader and five-time champion who will retire after the season.
The 32-year-old Southern California native has spent the past 10 seasons with the Galaxy. Donovan had his testimonial match with the U.S. national team in Connecticut earlier this month, but this match was a chance for the sellout crowd of 27,244 to pay tribute before the Galaxy’s playoff grind.
The Galaxy honoured Donovan with a full evening of festivities, including prominent signs and banners all around StubHub Center. Donovan stood with his parents and other family watching a pregame video tribute while Five for Fighting singer John Ondrasik serenaded him at a piano on the field. Donovan’s favourite musical act, Boyz II Men, then sang the national anthem, moving Donovan to tears.
Donovan thrilled the crowd early when his looping header glanced just off the crossbar in the 10th minute. Moments later, the crowd held up thousands of No. 10 placards and chanted Donovan’s name throughout the 11th minute of play.
Husidic scored right after injury time began when Sounders captain Brad Evans headed a ball in the box straight to him. Sarvas doubled the lead in the 51st minute when Seattle couldn’t clear following a corner kick.
But Dempsey finally scored off setups from Martins and DeAndre Yedlin, and Neagle swiftly evened it with an impressive strike.
Omar Gonzalez was sent off with a red card in the 88th minute after a rough tackle, which means the Galaxy’s top defender will miss the match in Seattle.
