CARSON, Calif. – The LA Galaxy admitted they need to improve after a “dismal” first half performance in their 3-0 loss at StubHub Center to Seattle Sounders FC.
“It’s the worst game of the LA Galaxy. The first half was very bad, and Seattle played good,” said midfielder Romain Alessandrini. “In the second half we tried to give everything to score a goal and come back, but it was a bad afternoon for the LA Galaxy, but we need to give more next week.”
A 15-minute first-half offensive explosion by the Sounders overwhelmed the Galaxy, resigning the home side to their worst defeat of the 2017 season. The Galaxy were outplayed all over the park as the reigning MLS Cup champions owned most statistical categories from possession (57% to 43%) to duels won (55 to 40).
“Dismal, terrible first half. Better second half but not good enough,” said Galaxy head coach Curt Onalfo.
The Galaxy boss’ assessment of the team’s failed first-half performance was echoed by the club captain.
“I think everybody is disappointed. I think there is nothing much to say about it; I think we let down ourselves. I think we only played 45 minutes today,” Jelle Van Damme said. “I think the first half was way too sloppy. Everybody was too sloppy. We didn’t win our one-on-ones, we didn’t win our second balls. I don’t really have an explanation for it, because I felt we were ready for it.”
The Galaxy certainly were “sloppy” in the opening half, completing just 79 percent of their passes, compared to Seattle’s 89.5 percent.
The home side also came up short at the back, where they couldn’t cope with the Sounder’s front three, particularly along the left-side of the pitch.
“They just overloaded,” Onalfo said afterward. “[Nicolas] Lodeiro has a free role, and their left back gets forward really well. With Morris’ speed on that side of the field, it was a very difficult thing to deal with. We just didn’t do a good job with defending that part of the field.”
After falling at home for the third time this season, Alessandrini believes that it’s time for him and the rest of his teammates to show a little more desire if they’re to climb their way back up the table.
“We have to give more. We have to give more energy, be more aggressive. In the first half, we made a lot of mistakes,” the French winger said. “I don’t understand because I think everybody is focused on winning, and we have to play together, we have to be compact. It’s a bad start for us, but the season is very long, so we have to speak, we have to work hard, and I hope, we have to win the next two games at home.”
Adam Serrano is the LA Galaxy Insider. Read his blog at www.LAGalaxy.com/Insider and contact him at LAGalaxyInsider@Gmail.com.
