SANDY, Utah— No team found the back of the net more during the 2014 MLS regular season than the LA Galaxy, but the team’s recent struggles in front of net threaten to deny LA a chance to win their fifth MLS Cup.
Since the end of their 10-game unbeaten run that saw the Galaxy tally 31 goals -- nearly half of their season total of 69 --the LA offense has fallen silent. In their last four games, the Galaxy have scored only four times including a scoreless effort in their Western Conference Semifinals first leg draw with Real Salt Lake on Saturday.
LA’s inability to find the back of the net in their final three regular season matches were cited as reasons that the team’s bid for the Supporters’ Shield fell short, but despite failing to find the back of the net at Rio Tinto Stadium, the Galaxy are confident of breaking out of their recent offensive malaise with their season on the line next week
"We're fine on offense. We know how to score goals. It wasn't crucial tonight that we score,” said Galaxy midfielder Landon Donovan. “We had some chances where we need to make a better pass or pull off a play that we didn't, but we have a lot of confidence that when we play at home, we'll create a lot of chances. It's creating the chances - which we'll do - and then hitting the net."
With the Galaxy unable to maintain the possession needed to place Salt Lake under sustained pressure and the blustery conditions limiting their service from wide positions, the LA attack became heavily reliant on counter attacks. But despite several dangerous thrusts forward, RSL goalkeeper Nick Rimando needed to make just a single save in Saturday's scoreless draw.
But heading back to StubHub Center where the Galaxy held a 12-1-4 record in the regular season, captain Robbie Keane says that LA's gameplan will look considerably different than at Rio Tinto Stadium.
“We’re fairly comfortable and confident that we can get them at our place," said Keane. "Most teams that come into [StubHub Center] find it hard to play there and hopefully with the tempo that we usually play and the offensive mind that we have when we do attack then we’ll be okay.”
