CARSON, Calif. – Another game. Another MLS debut.
Sunday it was Bradley Diallo’s turn in the LA Galaxy’s 1-0 loss to the Portland Timbers in front of a StubHub Center crowd of 20,982.
That’s the way it’s been this season for first-year head coach Curt Onalfo, who has had to constantly reshuffle his lineup and test his club’s depth because of injuries and suspensions.
“You’re always going to deal with adversity through the course of the season,” he said. “We will be better for this.”
Diallo, a native of Marseille, France and long-time LA Galaxy II stalwart, had only arrived back in Southern California last Sunday after needing to travel back to his home country to secure a visa. The lanky defnder made his MLS debut in a solid outing necessitated by the departure of center back/team captain Jelle Van Damme in the 54th minute after he received his second yellow card from referee Baldomero Toledo.
Onalfo generally was pleased with Diallo’s play.
“I thought he did well,” he said. “He’s had work visa issues that are difficult and take you away from the team for a long period of time. He just got back last week and he had four or five days of training.
“You could see maybe he lacked a little bit of sharpness on a couple of passes, but his defending was excellent and he’ll only get better.”
Diallo said he never felt that nervous.
“Not really,” he said. “You just focus when you get on the field.”
The 26-year-old may be a newcomer to MLS, but fellow center back Dan Steres knew him well, having partnered with him for three seasons on the Galaxy’s USL affiliate side. Steres said Diallo has plenty to offer.
“He’s a great defender,” Steres said. “I’ve know him for three years now, and we’ve built up a pretty good relationship. I know how he works and he knows how I work.
“He’s steady and is ready to step in at any moment. He’s played in big games before and he knows what he does well. He has some really good physical traits. I know what I get out of him when he’s next to me and I can work off that.”
Diallo said he’s been fighting jet lag after flying in last weekend from his hometown in France. He also admitted he is not in optimum game shape – “I’m a little tired,” he said -- but he was thrilled to get Sunday’s spur-of-the-moment opportunity.
He just wished the game had a better ending so he could really savor it.
“It was pretty exciting,” he said, “although I wish the team had done well. Unfortunately we didn’t get points, so that’s a little sad.
“I didn’t get to enjoy it as much.”
