HOUSTON – The LA Galaxy demolished the Houston Dynamo 4-1 on Friday night at BBVA Compass Stadium in what the team hopes is the start of a “new era” of performances away from StubHub Center.
For the past two seasons, the Galaxy have struggled mightily away from friendly confines of SoCal with a 5-15-11 record. This year, the Galaxy are 1-1-1 away from StubHub Center with four points from their first three games on the road. In fact, Los Angeles are a controversial 95th minute goal against the Colorado Rapids away from adding another point to their hot start away from home.
“I feel like it’s the start of a new era,” Forward Gyasi Zardes said. “We’re working together, if somebody makes a mistake we’re backing each other up, and we’re aggressive from the start, you could tell by minute one, although we suffered a goal, after that we’re pressing every single time and working for each other and when you have that type of energy and chemistry between teammates only positive things can happen.”
Although the score line was heavily in favor of the Galaxy, Los Angeles did not rely on the possession-dominated tactics that serve them so well at home. Rather, Arena’s squad used their speed on the counterattack, and the pinpoint accuracy of Steven Gerrard’s long balls to exploit a leaky Dynamo defense.
When the Galaxy found attackers in front of goal, they punished Houston to the tune of a four-goal explosion. The margin of victory might have been even larger had the Galaxy been sharper in front of net, but Los Angeles’ win broke a winless streak in Houston that dated back to 2010 and was the Galaxy’s highest-scoring performance on the road since their epic 4-3 comeback against the Colorado Rapids in 2014.
“That was one area that this team needed to improve, we won in Dallas away [last year], so we proved that we can do it, but it just wasn’t consistent,” Gerrard said. “This year we want to prove to everyone that we’re not only a strong team but out of StubHub Center we’re capable of showing character and fight and desire on the road, I think you’ve seen that in abundance tonight.”
“Yeah, what was it, August since we last won away from home?” Baggio Husidic asked. “Yeah, it feels good, it’s always good to perform like this on the road, and I think we surprised Houston a bit with our pressure and Houston had to start adjusting to us and we just looked to play the same way we play at home with a high press.”
The Galaxy will get an opportunity to build on their recent run of form away from home on May 1 when they take on Sporting Kansas City at Children’s Mercy Park. Despite the strong showings so far, Arena is no mood to get carried away just yet, but the ever-pragmatic boss had to admit that the pieces are there to succeed at home and away.
“You know how it is in this league; every game is a tough game. We’ve had six games so far, three at home and three on the road,” Arena said. “It’s never easy, but I’m pleased that we’ve kept our heads above water. We haven’t disappeared and we have a chance to have a good season.”
Adam Serrano is the LA Galaxy Insider. Read his blog atwww.LAGalacy.com/Insiderand contact him atLAGalaxyInsider@Gmail.com.
