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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Sounders, L.A. draw

Associated Press

SEATTLE – Clint Dempsey finally got on the board in his ninth game back in Major League Soccer, scoring in the 30th minute to give the Seattle Sounders the lead, and Robbie Keane’s half-volley goal late in the second half gave the Los Angeles Galaxy a 1-1 draw in the MLS regular-season finale on Sunday night.

Dempsey’s goal off a cross from Lamar Neagle gave Seattle a chance at finishing third in the MLS Western Conference standings, but Keane’s goal in the 78th minute changed the entire playoff picture. It gave the Galaxy third place in the final standings. L.A. will face Real Salt Lake in the two-leg conference semifinals. Seattle will now host Colorado in the play-in round on Wednesday, with the winner getting Western Conference regular-season champion Portland in the conference semifinals.

The disappointing draw for Seattle – in front of another massive crowd of 66,218 – capped a miserable final month that saw Seattle blow its chances at winning the Western Conference. The Sounders were winless in their final five games, including a four-game losing streak snapped by the draw.