ORLANDO, Fla. – LA Galaxy Insider Adam Serrano provides his Three Things We Learned from the LA Galaxy’s 2-1 defeat to Orlando City SC.
GALAXY CONCEDE FIRST ONCE AGAIN
The LA Galaxy’s early game struggles continued Saturday in Orlando.
For the fifth time in six games, the Galaxy conceded the opening goal in a match. Will Johnson’s dramatic opener helped put Orlando ahead, forcing the Galaxy to chase the game for wide stretches and ultimately come up short. For a squad that only started the same lineup in consecutive games for the first time on Saturday, consistency will be key to remedying the Galaxy’s early game problem.
After the match, Galaxy midfielder Jermaine Jones identified the team’s slow start as a major reason for their struggles so far this season. As Curt Onalfo’s squad looks to progress in 2017, they’ll need to tighten up at the outset of games.
MIDFIELD PARTNERSHIP REMAINS A WORK IN PROGRESS
Six games into the season, the LA Galaxy’s central midfield pairing remains a work in progress.
The Galaxy’s partnership of João Pedro and Jermaine Jones seemed disjointed for wide starts of the first half which forced Dos Santos to drop deep to receive the ball. Pedro seemed to struggle as he was often unable to hold his position as Jermaine Jones pressed into the attack.
As the match wore on, the Galaxy started to find their groove as they clawed back and dominated the tempo for wide stretches of the second half. Despite the defeat, the Galaxy will need to build on the second half showing as they look ahead to the future.
ROMAIN ALESSANDRINI CONTINUES HIS HOT STREAK
Romain Alessandrini remains a bright spot for the LA Galaxy despite their disappointing 2-1 defeat to Orlando City SC on Saturday.
Alessandrini bagged his fourth goal in three games when he put the Galaxy on the board in the 83rd minute of their loss in central Florida. The Galaxy’s talented French midfielder has now scored half of the Galaxy’s eight goals this season.
Alessandrini’s success is a major boon for the Galaxy, but with a match against Seattle Sounders FC looming next week, Onalfo’s squad will need others to step up as well.
Adam Serrano is the LA Galaxy Insider. Read his blog at www.LAGalaxy.com/Insider and contact him at LAGalaxyInsider@Gmail.com.