CARSON, Calif. – LA Galaxy Insider Adam Serrano’s Three Points to the Galaxy’s 5-0 victory over Real Salt Lake. With the victory over Salt Lake, the Galaxy qualified for the Western Conference Finals for the fifth time in six seasons.
LANDON DONOVAN DELIVERS
Landon Donovan had gone painfully silent during LA’s recent four game winless run, but with the season—and his career—on the line, he finally came alive and sent the Galaxy through to the Western Conference Finals.
It took LA just 10 minutes to pull ahead as A.J. DeLaGarza found Donovan lurking on the far post to give LA an early lead. Up by a thin margin, Donovan and the Galaxy did not slow down as he played distributor when he found Robbie Keane to give LA a two-goal lead that sent the offense into overdrive. Donovan continued to heap pressure on right back Tony Beltran as the second half began, and in the 54th minute, found the back of the net for a second time. But the 32-year-old saved his finest goal for last, however, as a Keane chip found Donovan charging up field, with the Galaxy star needing only to tap the ball past a helpless Nick Rimando.
With his hat-trick, Donovan became the only LA player to ever notch three goals in a playoff match. Donovan’s assist also gave him his 13th career playoff assist which puts him to within one of Mauricio Cienfuegos’ record of 14 assists. Donovan also brought his career playoff goal total to 25 goals in 38 games.
GALAXY MIDFIELD DOMINANT
The big stars got all the glory for the LA Galaxy on Sunday night, but it was their midfield play that made it possible for their attack to come alive in such an explosive manner.
After struggling to control the center of the park in the first leg, the Galaxy flipped the script on Sunday as they overwhelmed RSL’s vaunted midfield from the opening whistle. By inserting the more attacking Stefan Ishizaki to complement Juninho and Marcelo Sarvas, the Galaxy’s movement prevented Salt Lake from establishing a midfield rhythm. But LA’s success wasn’t dependent on their ability to control the game as they also frequently caught Salt Lake on the counter.
Salt Lake attempted to recapture a bit of their first-half advantage late by inserting first-leg star Luis Gil but by then, it was too little too late as the Galaxy rolled to one of the most convincing victories in MLS playoff history.
LA SENDS A MESSAGE HEADING INTO THE CONFERENCE FINALS
Message to whoever plays the LA Galaxy in the Western Conference Finals: the Galaxy’s offense is rolling once again.
After a four-game winless streak that saw LA score only three goals, the Galaxy attack roared back to life with a stunning performance that featured goals from three of the team’s top four goal scorers. The stat sheet reflected the Galaxy’s dominance, but no stat showed that more than chances as LA rifled off 19 attempts on goal in their win compared to just three a week earlier.
But now the Galaxy must try to duplicate this performance after the international break against the winner of the FC Dallas/Seattle Sounders FC series. Although the near two-week layoff should hurt LA’s momentum, there’s no doubt that their stellar showing should cause some concern in whoever opposes them.
Adam Serrano is the LA Galaxy Insider. Read his blog at LAGalaxy.com/insider and contact him at LAGalaxyInsider@Gmail.com
