CARSON, Calif. - Alan Gordon scored midway through the first half and the Los Angeles Galaxy held off the Seattle Sounders 1-0 on Sunday to snap a two-game scoreless stretch.

In the 23rd minute, Omar Gonzalez headed a free kick toward the far post and an unmarked Gordon headed it home in his 200th MLS appearance. It was the first goal in three games for Los Angeles (2-2-2) after being held scoreless in back-to-back matches for the first time since 2012.

"It was all Omar really. He got up, he made a good play," Gordon said. "I was just trying to get in the mix and it hit my head. Just being at the right place at the right time."

Seattle largely outplayed Los Angeles in the first half, but Jaime Penedo came up with six saves. He finished with a MLS career-high 10 saves, one short of tying the club record. It was the most saves for an opposing goalkeeper in Seattle's history.

"He was huge," Gordon said of Penedo. "That's what we need from him. If he can make saves like that, we're going to win a lot more games."

Seattle (2-2-1) is winless in its last 10 games at Los Angeles — with its last win coming in 2009.

Penedo knocked Lamar Neagle's header over the crossbar in the ninth minute and dove to save Chad Marshall's header on the ensuing corner kick. His best save came in the 21st minute on another Neagle header from close range. He had a routine save of Neagle's shot from distance in the 35th.

The Penedo, Neagle battle continued in the second half.

Neagle ran down a deep ball in the 53rd minute and cut it back in front of goal but Andy Rose redirected it right at the keeper. Neagle had another through ball come to him in the 56th but his shot to the near post was saved.

Both teams were missing key players.

Gordon started his first game since June 2013 in place of Robbie Keane, the reigning MLS MVP, who was out with a groin injury. U.S. national team captain Clint Dempsey sat out for the Sounders with a hamstring injury.

Dempsey also will miss the national team's exhibition game against Mexico on Wednesday night in San Antonio. The 22-man roster was announced during halftime. Seattle's Brad Evans and the Galaxy's Gyasi Zardes and Gonzalez were among 13 MLS players to be named to the team.