CARSON, Calif. –Real Salt Lake’s speedy diminutive striker Joao Plata gave the LA Galaxy fits during their Western Conference Semifinal first leg, but once the second leg rolls around on Sunday, LA are confident that they can shut down the Ecuadorian.
Plata was the main conduit in the Salt Lake attack during Saturday’s first leg at Rio Tinto Stadium as he repeatedly stretched the Galaxy back four while notching a pair of shots on frame. The Ecuadorian, who notched 13 goals and six assists during the regular season, also had a pair of goals negated by offside calls including one which was shown to be onside according to television replays.
After tussling with Plata over the course of 90 minutes, Galaxy center back Omar Gonzalez says that he’s ready for a challenge on Sunday.
“Plata’s a special player. He’s small and he’s always in my blind side. He’s quick. We just have to be aware of where he’s at. Don’t let him start sprinting freely. Give him a little bump but not too much because the slightest touch can tip him over," said Gonzalez. “Last game the referee (Silviu Petrescu) told me, ‘You’re just so much bigger than him. What do you want me to do?’ When I hear the ref tell me that it’s kind of difficult to do my job.”
But how does Gonzalez plan to account for Plata -- and the officials -- in a match where one goal by Salt Lake could see the Galaxy's season end prematurely?
"I'm just going to do my job," he said. "I can't worry about the referee and our whole team is over being worried about the referees. We're going to worry about approaching the game with the right mindset. We know that it'll be a challenge against Real Salt Lake for 90 minutes plus and we have to be ready for them."
