LA Galaxy get first road win behind a Zlatan goal & assist
The LA Galaxy traveled north to Canada on a short week to take on their counterparts in the Western Conference, the Vancouver Whitecaps. Coach Guillermo Barros Schelloto sent his men out in the same formation as five days ago in their win against Portland. The only exception in today’s game was the absence of Uruguayan defender, Diego Polenta, who suffered a minor injury mid-week in practice. Replacing him was Dave Romney, who was the Angelino’s main center back last season.
Things started fast for the visiting team but in the opposite direction. After barely the first minute of play, Galaxy defender Jorgen Skjelvik brought down Vancouver forward Lass Bangoura inside the penalty box, leaving the referee Baldomero Toledo no choice but to call the foul. Fortunately for the Galaxy faithful, however, Whitecaps defender, Ali Adnan, embarrassingly ruined his shot at goal when he attempted to score a panenka style shot, only to have it easily caught by David Bingham.
After the missed penalty shot attempt, Vancouver pressed with more determination, eager to secure their first win of the season. Things would even out, however, with the team from LA regaining possession of the ball and creating chances. At the 27th minute, Mexican player Uriel Antuna almost scored the first goal of the game when, off of an Ibra pass, he was able to make his way inside and into the small box, only to be legally tripped up by Whitecaps goalie, Maxime Crepeau. Things would remain even at the half, with both teams scoreless but eager to win.
For the second half, neither team made any substitutions and came out with the same men as they started. The Galaxy had decent attempts at first, with Vancouver also responding but David Bingham blocked anything that came his way. The men from Los Angeles would catch their break at the 63rd minute of play, when after a few eye-catching dribbles, the Lion, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, was able to center in a ball to a wide-open, lonely, Daniel Steres who would easily head the ball into the back of the net. The team from Canada tried bouncing back, coming close twice even, with Lucas Venuto and Yordy Reyna just missing goal.
However, it would be the Galaxy who would score the next goal. At the 71st minute, after some fancy footwork by Venezuelan star, Rolf Feltscher, the international would send in a cross that would find Zlatan’s chest, who would then bring the ball down for a lightning type shot past Crepeau for the 2-0. The Whitecaps attempted to shorten distances afterward although it seemed at times that Zlatan and company were closer to their third goal than the home team was to their first goal. In the end, the Whitecaps weren’t able to overcome the score, and the LA Galaxy walked away with their first road win of the season.
This win temporarily puts the original LA team in second place, only behind the other Los Angeles team, LAFC. The Zlatan goal also brings his total tally to 4 in the season, second only to the crosstown rival’s player, Carlos Vela. The Galaxy comes back home next week to take on Eastern Conference rival, the Philadelphia Union. They’ll be looking to expand on their 3-game winning streak against a Marco Fabian and Co. who are in town looking to make it three games in a row for them. The Whitecaps for their part will head out to the Windy City in search of their first win as they take on an embattled Chicago Fire.
