L.A. Galaxy Secure Win In Stoppage Time

The L.A Galaxy were tough at home on Saturday night.  A game removed from a hard fought battle with the visiting Seattle Sounders, they defended the Stubhub Center pitch once again.  This time it was Sporting KC that came into town and the Galaxy provided their visit with some last second drama!

Galaxy Head Coach Bruce Arena: “Every game is a battle, anytime you win a game you gotta take it.”

L.A. struck first in the 9th minute, after Stefan Ishizaki got off a left footed shot.  Goalkeeper Luis Marin made the initial save but it fell right in Baggio Husidic’s wheel house and he buried it for his first of the season.

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Sporting KC tied the match in the 22nd minute after Krisztian Nemeth found himself inside the 18 yard box nearly offside and put it past Jaime Penedo for his second of the season.  From the 22nd minute and on it was nearly a dead even percentage on possession, opportunities and battles.  And for good reason as both teams came into the match up with similar numbers in wins, goals allowed and goals scored. 

Kansas City was playing without the big anchor in the middle of the defense, as Ike Opara’s season is over from a torn left achilles.  L.A. was nowhere near their ideal starting 11 for the match.  As Robbie Keane, Omar Gonzalez and Gyasi Zardes were all left out of Head Coach Bruce Arena’s starting lineup.  Keane still resting his groin strain, while Gonzalez and Zardes were on USMNT duty last Wednesday playing a full 90 minutes against Mexico.  

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Galaxy II’s 18 year-old Bradford Jamieson IV was injected into the starting line up for his first start of the season, as he paired with Alan Gordon up top in a 4-4-2 formation.  Jamieson displayed his speed in the 12th minute blazing past the Kansas City defense at midfield and nearly scored on the break away.  Gordon getting his second consecutive start for the Galaxy showed his physical strength on the ball, I’m actually shocked that they didn’t serve him the ball more throughout the tightly contested match. 

It was tough, it was gritty, there were four yellow cards given from center referee Alan Kelly including  a pair given in the 83rd minute.  L.A’s Juninho and Roger Espinoza got into a shoving match after a foul call, yet head referee decided to give Dominic Dwyer and Juninho the cautions. 

Zardes entered the match in the 69th minute and suddenly the Galaxy were full of life again.  The blonde mohawk combo of Zardes and Jamieson nearly connected after Gyasi sent a cross into the box where Bradford’s back heel attempt almost trickled in after a brilliant save by Marin.

The game had an additional four minutes for injury time and the Galaxy needed every single second.  It was one last attempt off of a set piece, on a corner kick from the far side of the field.  A service in from Juninho, a graze off of Gordon’s head, a touch from substitute Omar Gonzalez, a deflection off of a Sporting KC defender and into the net. 

It wasn’t the best win but it was a win and three very much needed points in a very competitive conference.  After the game head coach Bruce Arena spoke of his teams effort, “I thought we played well considering a little bit of a make shift line up for sure….every game is a battle, anytime you win a game you gotta take it.  We’re just pleased to have the ball bounce in our favor.”

And that favor was courtesy of Gonzalez who came onto the pitch as a key substitute in the 78th minute, providing the game winner.  Said Gonzalez, “I stuck my leg out and it ended up going in.  I just wanted to get it on frame.  It feels good to come in for 15 minutes and score a goal, can’t ask for more than that from a sub.” 

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Key play from goalkeeper Jaime Penedo who had 6 saves, the starting 11 and the substitutes grinded out another home victory.  After the last second drama, they now sit third in the Western Conference at 3-2-2. Bruce Arena and his boys head to New York where they face an unbeaten Red Bulls team that has yet to allow a visiting team to score.  Another challenge lies ahead for the Galaxy and challenges will extend far past their next contest.  But for now, they earn another solid victory and see if they can rise even higher to pull one out against the top team in the Eastern Conference.

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