CARSON, Calif. – Giovani dos Santos said last week that things would turn around soon for him and the LA Galaxy and on Saturday, he was vindicated.
After conceding two early goals to the Chicago Fire, Los Angeles rallied back in the second half with strikes by Daniel Steres and Dos Santos to secure a well-earned point in front of an emotional StubHub Center crowd. Dos Santos’ finish was just his second goal of the season and his first in the run of play since September of last year.
Dos Santos broke his seven-game scoring drought in the 65th minute when he redirected a Dave Romney header past Chicago Fire goalkeeper Matt Lampson for the equalizer. Following the match, Dos Santos was pleased to find the back of the net.
“After you score a goal to give your team a tie after losing two-nil, I think it was a great feeling,” dos Santos said. “I will keep working hard. I said after the last game that good things will come because I know the way that I’m working every single day. I hope that I can continue like that.”
Dos Santos’ all-around performance improved markedly in the second half after he was inserted into his preferred playmaker role, completing nearly 79 percent of his passes and making the crucial recovery in the 52nd minute that helped lead to the team’s opening goal.
After the match, the LA Galaxy realized significance of getting their star player back on the scoresheet.
“It’s important,” head coach Curt Onalfo said. I think you saw Ema being dangerous; you saw Romain being dangerous, Gio being dangerous, Gyasi being dangerous, and those are four very good attacking players. It was good for him to put the ball in the back of the net and I think he’s just going to continue to get better.”
“It’s very important for Gio to find the scoresheet. I’m still looking for it myself,” Zardes who nearly gave the Galaxy the winner late in the second half, added. “It’s always great [for a striker] to get a goal and help the team get the point.”
Dos Santos will seek to build on his showing next Sunday when the Galaxy head to Red Bull Arena to take on the New York Red Bulls.
Fresh off the important goal against Chicago, Dos Santos is confident that he can put together a seres of strong performances,
“As I said, I’ve been working really hard. We are working hard. The important thing for me is how we played in the second half,” he said. “Obviously, it’s a good feeling. But as I said, I always try to do my best on the pitch and the confidence obviously after today is going to be better. So I just hope to be playing the same way.”
Adam Serrano is the LA Galaxy Insider. Read his blog atwww.LAGalaxy.com/Insiderand contact him atLAGalaxyInsider@Gmail.com