Seattle stops Chicharito’s scoring

Sounders stay perfect, hand L.A. first loss as Hernandez is stymied after his hot start.

SEATTLE — Brad Smith scored one goal and assisted on another, Raul Ruidiaz scored twice, and the Seattle Sounders stymied Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez and the Galaxy in a 3-0 win on Sunday night.

Seattle remained unbeaten, getting a pair of goals three minutes apart in the first half and keeping Hernandez from continuing his scoring barrage.

It was Seattle’s star scorer who gave the Sounders the early advantage in the 20th minute, when Ruidiaz volleyed a cross from Smith past Galaxy goalkeeper Jonathan Bond.

Three minutes later, Smith completed a terrific buildup by the Sounders, following his initial shot that was saved by Bond, for his second straight game with a goal. Smith had Seattle’s only goal in its 1-1 draw with LAFC last week.

Ruidiaz added a second goal late in second-half stoppage time, giving him four on the season.

“We all know what we kind of need to do in every position. For me personally it’s good that I can go forward and join the attack,” Smith said. “I can definitely

get forward more and help the team.”

While Seattle gave itself numerous scoring chances at the Galaxy goal, its defense also managed to make Hernandez mostly invisible.

“They’re a very good team who has been together for a while and exposed a lot of things for us, and for me, that we need to continue to improve,” first-year Galaxy coach Greg Vanney said.

Hernandez had five goals in the first two games for the Galaxy, scoring a pair in their opening 3-2 victory over Miami and following with a hat trick in last week’s 3-2 victory over the New York Red Bulls. Hernandez was just the second player in MLS history to have five goals in the first two games.

Seattle was determined not to let Hernandez have the same influence. He had just one shot and never found himself open in a scoring position. The Galaxy had just two shots on goal in the match.