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Sounders draw Galaxy, seize control of Supporters' Shield race

Seattle Sounders FC seized the upper hand in the race for the Supporters' Shield on Sunday, rallying from a two-goal deficit to earn a 2-2 draw with the Los Angeles Galaxy at the StubHub Center.

Seattle entered the match needing three points or a pair of draws over their final two games to clinch MLS's best record and received second-half goals from Clint Dempsey and Lamar Neagle over a span of three minutes to take a point away from home and move to 61 points with one game remaining.

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On a night dedicated to Landon Donovan, who was playing in his final home match for the Galaxy, Bruce Arena's team grabbed the early initiative with goals from Marcelo Sarvas and Baggio Husidic.

But the Galaxy failed to hold the lead and will need to take all three points in Seattle in the season finale next Saturday if they want to raise the Shield.

The hosts took the lead on the stroke of halftime thanks to some defensive miscommunication by Seattle as Brad Evans mis-hit his headed clearance and it fell to Husidic, who laced it into the bottom right corner.

It was 2-0 for the Galaxy five minutes into the second half when the second ball following a Galaxy corner kick fell to Husidic, who laid it off to Sarvas to blast into the roof of the net.

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Seattle pulled one back in the 69th minute when DeAndre Yedlin got forward down the right flank and whipped a cross into the box that was touched toward the back post by Obafemi Martins for Dempsey, and the U.S. captain blasted it home for his 15th goal of the season.

Three minutes later Seattle hit on the break for the equalizer as Martins collected the ball in the middle of the park and spotted the late run of Neagle on the right side of the pitch. Neagle took a quick touch and ripped it home.

Things got even worse for Los Angeles two minutes from time when defender Omar Gonzalez was shown a second yellow card and sent off for a late tackle on Gonzalo Pineda. Gonzalez will miss the season finale next week, putting the Galaxy at a considerable disadvantage.

The fourth official's board showed three minutes of added time and the Sounders were content to let the clock wind, and take their upper hand back to CenturyLink Field next week.

[SportsNetwork.com]

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