CARSON, Calif. -- Marcelo Sarvas was placed in an unfamiliar role last Saturday when he was stationed along the left flank against Vancouver Whitecaps FC, and due to LA’s injury situation, he may take up the role yet again against the Colorado Rapids on Saturday.
With Robbie Rogers unavailable last weekend due to a right hamstring injury, Sarvas was pushed out wide to cover along the flanks against the Whitecaps. Against Vancouver, he was efficient on the left, completing 30 of his 40 passes—one leading to a scoring opportunity—while forcing Whitecaps goalkeeper Brad Knighton to make a pair of timely saves.
“I think that I did a good job and had a good game against Vancouver,” Sarvas told reporters. “I think that in the situation that we’re in that everyone has to be able to help, so I’m ready to help as much as I can.”
Following training on Wednesday, Galaxy head coach Bruce Arena stated that the team was taking a “day-to-day” mentality with Rogers, who has not been present during the final 15 minutes for either of LA’s two training sessions this week. The Galaxy boss indicated that he and the training staff were going “wait and see” if Rogers—or forward Robbie Keane, who is dealing with a left hip flexor strain—can make the trip to face the Rapids.
If the lingering right hamstring injury causes Rogers to miss his second straight match, Arena admitted that he wouldn’t be averse to giving the midfield that excelled against Vancouver another go against Colorado.
“It was the plan last week and it’s an option that we have using those three. I think that they played well together,” said Arena. “That was a good performance and it would be a possibility going as we go into Colorado.”
Should Arena opt for the same squad, they’ll face test from an in-form Colorado Rapids side that is unbeaten in their last five games. If Sarvas is given the start on the left, he’ll go head-to-head with Colorado right back Marvell Wynne, whose speed is expected to test the Brazilian.
No matter the challenge, Sarvas is confident that he can perform against the Rapids.
“I think that it will be a hard game,” said Sarvas. “They will have the altitude over there and they always push hard. We’re going to play tough for sure. They know that it’s a six point game and we expect a hard game.”
Adam Serrano is the LA Galaxy Insider. Read his blog at LAGalaxy.com/Insider and contact him at LAGalaxyInsider@Gmail.com
