Three points following the LA Galaxy’s 2-2 draw with the Vancouver Whitecaps …
SAUNDERS COMES UP LARGE TO SAVE A POINT
With the Galaxy back four under pressure from the get go from the likes of Barry Robson and Gerson Koffie, Josh Saunders came to the rescue time and time again to help the Galaxy end their Pacific Northwest Roadtrip with four points.
Saunders made four saves on the night, several of them acrobatic stops to stop a ‘Caps attack that had the Galaxy under pressure from the get go. But Saunders’ presence was not merely measured in saves as the ‘keeper displayed calm under considerable pressure in the box, snuffing out several Whitecaps attempts.
Saunders finest moment came just moments away from full time when Robson lined up a free kick from distance that Saunders stopped with a diving one-handed effort to preserve the point.
VILLARREAL OPENS MLS ACCOUNT WITH WONDERGOAL
Jose Villarreal may have made his MLS debut last Saturday, but the 18-year-old midfielder made his presence known on Wednesday against the Whitecaps. Brought on for Hector Jimenez in the 72nd minute to add spark to a stagnant Galaxy attack, the Homegrown midfielder did just that as he quickly got involved in generating chances. But the youngster truly left his stamp on the game by delivering his first professional goal in the 86th minute.
After receiving a ball from Juninho in midfield, Villarreal slipped past Koffie before firing a rocket left footed shot into the top corner of the Whitecaps net to save a point for the Galaxy.
EARLY GOALS CONTINUE TO PLAGUE GALAXY
While the Galaxy departs BC Place with a point in hand, they will rue yet another early goal conceded that put them behind early.
In the 18th minute of play, a David Beckham giveaway led to a breakaway by Koffie, who caught David Junior Lopes going the other way before firing a blazing shot past a diving Josh Saunders.
The goal was the eighth time this season that the Galaxy have conceded a goal in the first 25 minutes of play. With the draw, the Galaxy are now 3-8-3 when conceding the first goal.
