CARSON, Calif. – Chris Pontius is rounding into form for the LA Galaxy.
Pontius scored the second goal in the team’s 2-2 draw with D.C. United on Wednesday, bringing his scoring streak to five consecutive matches with at least a goal or an assist. For an offense that has been dependent on the scoring touch of Zlatan Ibrahimović and Ola Kamara, Pontius’ flourish is a boost for Los Angeles.
“[Chris] Pontius has been good,” head coach Sigi Schmid said. “We’ve asked him to play wide right in sort of a cockeyed 3-5-2. So, he’s had to run the line, do a lot of running. He’s been good for us; he’s combined well with [Zlatan] Ibrahimović, He’s connected a few goals with him as well, so I’ve been happy with him.”
Pontius’ tally against his former club was a thing of beauty as he expertly placed a right-footed blast into the far corner after a lovely bit of distribution by Jorgen Skjelvik. Despite the goal, however, the Galaxy conceded twice in the second half to see three points turn into just one for a second straight match.
“In the first half I thought I did pretty well and, on my goal, Jorgen [Skjelvik] plays me a good ball and I just caught it on the sweet spot,” he said of his goals. “I wish we could continue carrying that first half on to the second half, just because I thought magic came pretty well in the first half minus a few things, obviously their goal.”
Although the veteran striker is finding his form, he admits that he’d rather be winning.
“Both the last [two] games feel like losses. Especially this one at home. It’s frustrating, it’s not something we can let have hang over because we have a game on Saturday. We have to have that short-term memory with this one.”