CARSON, Calif. – LA Galaxy Insider Adam Serrano’s Three Points to LA’s 1-0 defeat with the Colorado Rapids
VICENTE SANCHEZ AND EDSON BUDDLE MAKE THE GALAXY PAY
Last time it was Dillon Powers who hurt the LA Galaxy and this time it was former LA man Edson Buddle that beat his ex-club.
Despite the Galaxy controlling much of the possession throughout the match, Vicente Sanchez was repeatedly able to find space behind LA’s back four and nearly found the back of the net himself with a shot in the 42nd minute that forced one of Brian Rowe’s three saves on the night. However, Rowe was unable to stop the sequence in the 75th when Sanchez stripped defender Todd Dunivant and then played a pass to Buddle, who fired a shot from 22-yards out that sailed into the top corner of the net.
Although Buddle may have got on the scoresheet, Colorado was anchored by the play of goalkeeper Clint Irwin, who made six saves on the night in a dominant performance that gave him his 10th shutout of the season for the Rapids—tying a club record.
GALAXY YOUNG GUNS UNABLE TO BREAK THROUGH COMPACT DEFENSE
Missing four key players due to international duty, the LA Galaxy’s young attack was unable to crack a solid Rapids defense that held on for a 1-0 victory.
Despite being held scoreless, LA forward Jack McBean nearly put LA up in the second minute only to see his close range shot saved by Clint Irwin. However, after that chance, the Galaxy attacked struggled to get in gear as a compact Colorado defense routinely found ways to stifle the Galaxy, even blocking five of their attempts at goal. On the night, LA’s finest player was midfield workhorse Marcelo Sarvas, who forced his way into dangerous spaces in the attack and registered three shots on frame, each seriously testing Irwin.
There’s no escaping the importance of LA’s four international absences as LA’s last goal not scored by Donovan, Keane or Gonzalez was on July 20th when Villarreal and Zardes scored in the Galaxy’s 2-1 victory over Vancouver Whitecaps FC. In that span, the DP trio has scored all 11 goals that the team has scored in league play.
HOME UNBEATEN RUN SNAPPED
The LA Galaxy have marched up the standings in recent weeks, but with their loss to Colorado, they saw their nine game home unbeaten run snapped.
LA’s last home loss came on May 5 when they fell 1-0 to the Houston Dynamo in a rematch of the 2011 and 2012 MLS Cup Final. During that span, the Galaxy went an impressive 6-0-1 at home, only dropping points to Portland, and steadily pushed themselves into the chase for the MLS Supporters’ Shield. The Galaxy still have four regular season matches remaining on the docket at StubHub Center where they are 9-2-2 this season.
However, before LA can think about getting back to winning ways at home, they’ll have to travel across country and find a way to beat a tricky D.C. United team at RFK Stadium next week.
Adam Serrano is the LA Galaxy Insider. Read his blog at LAGalaxy.com/Insider and contact him at LAGalaxyInsider@Gmail.com
