MLS Talking Points: Once-mighty Galaxy sinks to new low

For years, with Robbie Keane and Landon Donovan roaming the wide expanse of StubHub Center, the Galaxy was almost invincible at home.

It won three MLS Cups (2011, 2012 and 2014) in Carson and never lost more than two regular-season games at home in its last four seasons. It lost for the third time in four games at home on Sunday, falling by a 3-0 score to the Sounders that flattered MLS's once-dominant team.

LA Galaxy at home:
YEAR: W-L-T
2017: 1-3-0
2016: 8-1-8
2015: 12-2-3
2014: 12-1-4
2013: 11-2-4

The Sounders all but ran the Galaxy off the field during what Galaxy coach Curt Onalfo termed a “dismal, terrible first half."

The Sounders were up thanks to a Clint Dempsey goal and own goal by Ashley Cole in the 38th minute when Onalfo pulled winger Ema Boateng to make room for Baggio Husidic and give the Galaxy another player in midfield, but that couldn't stop the Sounders. Jordan Morris made to 3-0 in the 44th minute.

“Unfortunately," Onalfo said of the Boateng sub, "he took the sacrifice, but we were just getting overrun and overloaded in the midfield. We were defending the entire half, so we had to make a change where we added another midfielder. It actually immediately worked, we began to gain momentum then we got scored on off the counter. If we didn’t give that goal away, I think everything would have changed.”

Captain Jelle Van Damme couldn't explain the first half.

“I think everybody is disappointed," he said. "I think there is nothing much to say about it, I think we let down ourselves. I think we only played 45 minutes today. I think the first half was way too sloppy, everybody was too sloppy. We didn’t win our one-on-ones, we didn’t win our second balls."

Seattle's Osvaldo Alonso and Cristian Roldan dominated Jermaine Jones and Joao Pedro in midfield, but the Galaxy's problems weren't just defending. Even the Sounders were playing without three starters in the backline, the Galaxy couldn't score. It has only eight goals in seven games -- only one by Mexican star Giovani dos Santos and none by American Gyasi Zardes.

“It’s the worst game of the LA Galaxy," said Frenchman Romain Alessandrini, who has scored half of the Galaxy's goals. "The first half was very bad, and Seattle played good. In the second half, we tried to give everything to score a goal and come back, but it was a bad afternoon for the LA Galaxy but we need to give more next week.”

Alessandrini said the Galaxy has no excuse.

“I think we lacked aggression," he said. "That’s why we took three goals in the first half and we have no excuse. It was very bad.”