A string of difficult results seemed to hang over the LA Galaxy ahead of Friday’s match against LAFC.
That meant nothing once the match began. The Galaxy came out full-throttle, took an early lead and dominated the first 45 minutes. While LAFC leveled terms early in the second half, the Galaxy’s elevated level of intensity translated to a point gained in the clubs’ 1-1 draw at StubHub Center on Friday.
“Our intensity was really good,” Galaxy coach Sigi Schmid said. “The first half was really good for us. It’s unfortunate to give away the penalty… Sometimes we were a little too unselfish. In terms of the effort and the quality and the desire they showed after last week’s game I’m really pleased.”
The Galaxy had lost 5-0 to Seattle after a consecutive 2-2 home draws against Minnesota and Colorado were rough but were not harbingers of doom for the club. Instead, it seemed the team used that as motivation to turn things around.
“There was a big difference in all of us,” Sebastian Lletget said. “The commitment, working for each other and just not being afraid to play. Especially in this occasion, we can’t be afraid. We have to have the courage.”
The Galaxy’s defense had been leaking goals of late, allowing 16 goals in the last six games. But the club showed toughness and determination. LAFC was unable to score in the run of play, scoring only when the club was awarded a penalty kick which Carlos Vela put away in the 51st minute. Otherwise, the Galaxy held firm.
LAFC was unable to find as much space in the midfield, and when their attackers tried to get past the Galaxy backline, they were met with some physicality. Rolf Feltscher played 90 minutes for the first time since April 21 and helped bring some toughness to the backline. Feltscher along with fellow defenders Jorgen Skelvik and Dave Romney all picked up yellow cards.
“We needed to do that. Some guys stood up. At times we’ve just been too soft, and we haven’t used our strength,” Schmid said. “It doesn’t mean playing dirty or making fouls or anything.”
The Galaxy took solace from having outplayed the visitors.
“We came out and just really manhandled them the first half. (The intensity) was high,” Galaxy goalkeeper David Bingham said. “It’s just not the defense. It’s everyone on the field. It looked like men against boys in the first half.”
The attack was on point. Zlatan Ibrahimović scored in the 15th minute when he poked a ball just past the goal line. The Swede could have had more, but LAFC Tyler Miller made a few clutch saves to keep the Galaxy from scoring more.
“I was active. I was hungry. I wanted it a lot,” Ibrahimović said. “The goal I scored, I had a couple of chances the first half and just tried to put it in. I was just waiting for that final ball to bury the goalkeeper, but it didn’t come.”
While players and coaches were a bit disappointed in leaving the stadium with just one point, the team did learn a lesson and showed hints of bigger things to come.
“There was a lesson learned in a positive way. We just need to show it more. We have it in us,” Lletget said. “Sometimes in training, it’s like ‘Guys, we need to show this out there.’ Moving forward this is definitely something we need to show.”
