Does Los Angeles’s lopsided 5-0 win over Actual Salt Lake inform us something in regards to the Galaxy’s prospects to win the 2014 MLS title? American Soccer Now’s Brian Sciaretta believes it does
BY
Brian Sciaretta
Posted
November 11, 2014
9:17 AM
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THE LOS ANGELES GALAXY has loved an amazing quantity of success over time—principally as a result of its high-priced expertise often performs nicely in vital video games. It was true through the David Beckham period and it is positively true in 2014.
After a scoreless draw within the opening leg in opposition to Actual Salt Lake—throughout which L.A. solely escaped on stage phrases due to terrific goalkeeping from Jamie Penedo—Sunday’s dominating efficiency was an entire 180-degree turnaround. The Galaxy took management of the sport early and didn’t let up.
Landon Donovan opened the scoring within the tenth minute when he headed dwelling an A.J. Delagarza cross after which Robbie Keane doubled the benefit within the twentieth minute when he slid dwelling a low-driving Donovan cross.
The Galaxy piled on through the second half as Donovan added two extra objectives for a hat trick and Keane assisted on all three second half objectives to present the house staff a 5-0 win. On its finest days, Los Angeles is way and away the most effective within the league. If the Galaxy can preserve this stage, Don Garber could as nicely hand over MLS Cup proper now.
Donovan’s efficiency one for the ages
Landon Donovan turned in almost flawless efficiency on Sunday. Main League Soccer’s all-time main scorer dominated the sport and regarded like he was within the prime of his profession. The chants of “one more year” have been inevitable, and totally justified. At 32, Donovan didn’t appear like a participant able to retire. His off-the-ball motion was excellent and he regarded dynamic when the sport was extensive open.
For followers, it’s a good factor to see Donovan leaving on the prime of his sport however additionally it is a disgrace to him retiring when he has a lot extra to present. This isn’t a nostalgic retirement tour—a real impression participant is strolling away from the league and the sport.
Rising pains for Actual Salt Lake
Actual Salt Lake fell flat within the second leg and there have been some questions that first-year coach Jeff Cassar wants to deal with. Luis Gil was among the best gamers on the sector within the first leg however his benching within the second leg was baffling.
Additionally, why was the staff so poor away from dwelling on the finish of the season? Actual Salt Lake didn’t win any of its closing seven highway video games and received simply one in all its closing 12 exterior of the high-altitude confines of Rio Tinto. Such a discrepancy between dwelling and away data reveals flaws in confidence and preparation and a few of that should fall on Cassar. For a staff that was inside a shootout purpose of profitable MLS Cup in 2013, its poor efficiency away from dwelling confirmed that it isn’t near that stage only one yr later.
Galaxy firing on all cylinders
Los Angeles didn’t win the Supporters’ Protect however its purpose differential of +32—in contrast with the +15 differential of Seattle, D.C. United, and Salt Lake—is the clearest signal that Bruce Area’s staff is the most effective in MLS. Seattle received the Supporters’ Protect with a late surge and higher total consistency, but when L.A. is enjoying its finest soccer it’s the finest staff within the league.
The 5-0 rout means that the Galaxy is hitting its stride at simply the best time and that doesn’t bode nicely for Seattle, New York, or New England.
Brian Sciaretta is an American Soccer Now columnist and an ASN 100 panelist. Comply with him on Twitter.
