In the most important MLS match of the season, LA Galaxy will take on Seattle Sounders at CenturyLink Field for the Supporters’ Shield. Should Seattle win or draw, they will take the Shield and clinch at least a domestic double while an LA victory will clinch it for them. Both sides enter this one on 61 points, while the Sounders would clinch the Shield with a draw on the wins tiebreaker.

This is the third time these two sides will play this season, LA winning the first and a draw the second time. The second match was just last Sunday, and the situation was nearly the same at StubHub Center. A Seattle victory would see them clinch, a draw would leave it all to play for, and an LA win would send them to Seattle needing only a draw.

There were subplots aplenty in this game, namely the battle between LA striker Robbie Keane and Sounders striker Obafemi Martins for MLS MVP. It was Martins who won the first battle, setting up both of Seattle's goals and clawing them back from 2-0 down. Meanwhile for LA, it was Landon Donovan's final MLS home game. 

The game itself was cagey and hard fought; we can only hope that Saturday's match will be a more exciting and attractive affair. The Galaxy went 2-0 up on goals from Baggio Husidic and Marcelo Sarvas, and looked for all the world as if they would pick up the three points. That was up until the 69th minute, when Clint Dempsey struck a vital goal. Just three minutes later, Lamar Neagle equalized for Seattle. 

LA suffered a vital blow in the 88th minute when star and United States international defender Omar Gonzalez was sent off a second yellow card. The defender is now suspended for this one, and it will be a patchwork LA defense starting on Saturday. 

This match is perfectly poised for an unforgettable encounter. Your humble correspondent will not even venture a guess as to the scoreline; this one is simply too close to call. All this writer can say is: keep following VAVEL USA for comprehensive coverage of this most important of matches.

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About the author
Liam McMahon
American sports journalist based out of Milwaukee, Wisconsin who has been affiliated with VAVEL for more than a year. Co-editor of the soccer section at VAVEL USA and international football writer at VAVEL UK.