SEATTLE (AP) – Los Angeles midfielder Juninho beat Seattle goalkeeper Kasey Keller on a 25-yard shot inside the near post in the 58th minute, and the Galaxy opened the 2011 Major League Soccer season with a 1-0 win over the Sounders on a rainy Tuesday night.

Having watched Seattle control play for the better part of 45 minutes, the Galaxy struck with a quick counterattack off a careless turnover by Seattle midfielder Erik Friberg. His pass was intercepted by Todd Dunivant who carried into open space and laid off a pass for Juninho.

The Brazilian then swerved a long shot that Keller got his hands on but couldn’t push wide of the post.

Seattle had plenty of chances to draw even, the best coming in the 72nd minute when O’Brian White redirected Steve Zakuani’s cross, only to see it bounce wide of the far post.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)