COMMERCE CITY, Colo. – LA Galaxy Insider Adam Serrano provides his Three Points to the Galaxy’s 3-1 victory over the Colorado Rapids.
ROAD STREAK STOPPED WITH ANOTHER COLORADO COMEBACK
It only took 346 days and 22 MLS games, but the LA Galaxy finally ended their winless streak away from StubHub Center with a 3-1 win over the Colorado Rapids on Sunday.
After spending much of the week emphasizing a defensive approach, the Galaxy quickly were forced to scrap that plan when Colorado went ahead early on Marcelo Sarvas’ tally in the 11th minute. Down a goal, the Galaxy threw numbers forward in the first half in search of an equalizer. As the half wore on, the Galaxy finally began to find their footing, setting the stage for a second-half comeback.
First, it was Sebastian Lletget who put the Galaxy on the board with an equalizer in the 56th minute, and then 13 minutes later, the Galaxy got their winner when Alan Gordon cleaned up the rebound off a Steven Gerrard shot saved by Clint Irwin. LA added a third in the dying moments when Robbie Keane and Gerrard combined on a breakaway before the Englishman fed Keane for the icing on the cake.
DONOVAN RICKETTS STRONG IN HIS LA GALAXY RETURN
The Iron Lion made his return to the LA Galaxy net on Saturday, and showed every bit of his class in the 3-1 Galaxy victory.
His early hiccup on Marcelo Sarvas’ 11th minute goal aside, Ricketts was confident in the Galaxy goal as he commanded his box, keeping the Rapids from adding to their lead. Ricketts was called upon to make just one stop which came in the 78th minute when he batted away a Juan Ramirez shot from beyond the penalty area.
His impact was also felt going forward as his pinpoint distribution helped the Galaxy repeatedly start attacks in the Colorado final third.
THE STREAK IS OVER… NOW WHAT?
In 2014, a comeback victory at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park sent the LA Galaxy on a run to the title, and now a year later, LA will hope that history will repeat itself.
For the first time in more than a month, the Galaxy were able to trot out a first-choice lineup with USMNT internationals Omar Gonzalez, Gyasi Zardes and Alan Gordon back in the lineup. The rise in quality mixed with the veteran leadership of Keane and Gerrard was clear as LA completed their second half comeback. Now with Giovani dos Santos joining the team next week, a strong Galaxy squad will only improve moving forward.
Will Saturday’s match be remembered as the start of something special for the Galaxy? Only time will tell.
Adam Serrano is the LA Galaxy Insider. Read his blog at LAGalaxy.com/Insider and contact him at LAGalaxyInsider@Gmail.com.
