SANDY, Utah – LA Galaxy Insider Adam Serrano’s Three Points from the Galaxy’s 3-0 defeat to Real Salt Lake.
REAL SALT LAKE RUNS RAMPANT ON GALAXY DEFENSE
It was a night to forget for the LA Galaxy defense as they fell 3-0 to a dominant Real Salt Lake.
A Real Salt Lake team that was fighting for their playoff lives put in one of their best performances of the year against a Galaxy defense that were punished for every mistake. The Galaxy were poor all night as Salt Lake needed just three minutes to pull ahead when Devon Sandoval pounced on an errant deflection. Salt Lake doubled their lead in the 28th minute when a clattering challenge by Juninho on Juan Manuel Martinez in the penalty area resulted in a penalty that was calmly converted by Javier Morales.
Real Salt Lake added a third in the second half when a quality passing sequence and solid hold-up play by Martinez allowed the Argentine to find Sandoval for his second. The score might have been even more flattering to the hosts had Joao Plata’s goal late in the second half not been called back for offside.
RIMANDO COMES UP BIG TO STOP GALAXY ATTACK
The match was a blowout but the LA Galaxy still had several quality chances in both halves denied by in-form Salt Lake goalkeeper Nick Rimando and the RSL defense.
Rimando was immense all evening, registering three saves to stop LA’s attack. The veteran ‘keeper’s most important stop of the evening was his first when he denied Steven Gerrard’s attempt from close range in the 23rd minute with the score still 1-0. Had Gerrard’s effort gotten past Rimando who knows how different the match may have been?
GALAXY OFFENSE MUST COME ALIVE DOWN THE STRETCH
The LA Galaxy powered through teams with ease in the summer but now as they head toward the stretch run, LA’s offense is sputtering.
For a third consecutive game, the Galaxy failed to find the back of the net. After their defeat, the Galaxy’s goalless streak was extended to 290 minutes since Sebastian Lletget’s goal in the 70th minute of LA’s 5-1 victory over New York City FC.
For the Galaxy to keep their Supporters’ Shield aspirations alive, they must return to form next week when they host Western Conference rivals FC Dallas in a match with major playoff implications. If the Galaxy can’t get into gear against Dallas, LA’s hopes of the Shield—and possibly a top-two seed in the Western Conference—might be finished.
Adam Serrano is the LA Galaxy Insider. Read his blog at LAGalaxy.com/Insider and contact him at LAGalaxyInsider@Gmail.com.
