CARSON, Calif. – LA Galaxy Insider Adam Serrano offers his Three Things We Learned from the Galaxy’s 1-0 defeat to the Portland Timbers presented by SNHU.
BALDOMERO TOLEDO LEAVES THE GALAXY FUMING
Curt Onalfo and the LA Galaxy were incensed with referee Baldomero Toledo after the official issued two controversial yellow cards to team captain Jelle Van Damme in the first half of the Galaxy’s loss.
The Belgian received two cautions and a subsequent red card in a three-minute span in the first half for dissent following a challenge on Diego Chara and then later after an apparent tackle on David Guzman. According to broadcast replays shown after the decisions, Van Damme did not make contact with either player but was awarded a card each time.
Given that Dave Romney was controversially suspended earlier in the week for simulation, in my opinion, Onalfo was completely justified in feeling wronged by Toledo’s decision to send off Van Damme.
CLEMENT DIOP STATES HIS CASE
Clement Diop made his case for be the Galaxy's starting goalkeeper after an impressive performance in the loss to the Timbers.
The 23-year-old made four saves on the afternoon in his third-ever MLS start for the Galaxy. The French ‘keeper made a world-class stop in the 70th minute when he dove to deny Diego Valeri and then cleared the ball with a well-timed kick while still laying on the ground.
After his solid showing, whether or not Diop did enough to earn a start next week will sure to be a hot topic for discussion amongst Galaxy fans.
DOS SANTOS GOES DOWN INJURED
Giovani dos Santos' status for next week's match against Real Salt Lake and Mexico's vital World Cup qualifiers is in doubt after he endured an apparent right leg injury in the first half of the Galaxy’s 1-0 defeat to the Portland Timbers.
Dos Santos suffered the leg injury during the first half forcing Onalfo to remove his star Mexican striker at the half. After the match, the Galaxy head coach stated that dos Santos has either a “slight strain” or “tightness” in his right hamstring and will be further evaluated on Monday.
As the Galaxy and the Mexican national team look ahead to important matches over the next month, all eyes will be on dos Santos’ status this week.
Adam Serrano is the LA Galaxy Insider. Read his blog atLAGalaxy.com/InsiderandLAGalaxyInsider@Gmail.com
