CARSON, Calif. – No play has summed up the LA Galaxy’s 2017 season to date quite like Joao Pedro’s blast in the 21st minute of the team’s scoreless draw with the Philadelphia Union on Saturday.
Los Angeles controlled the tempo from start to finish and seemed poised to pull ahead when Pedro ripped a shot from 25-yards that beat Philadelphia goalkeeper Andre Blake only to careen off both posts before bouncing out of the goal.
“Unlucky,” LA Galaxy head coach Curt Onalfo said afterward when asked about Pedro’s attempt.
Pedro’s shot may have been the most symbolic, but it was one of several chances that the Galaxy were unable to capitalize on against the Union. The Galaxy rattled off 13 shots compared to Philadelphia’s eight while also bossing the midfield with 63 percent of total possession.
The statistical success came after Onalfo opted to move Jermaine Jones into the No. 10 role while slotting Baggio Husidic as midfield cover beside Pedro. With the duo shielding the defense, Jones found room to roam and nearly connected on multiple opportunities to give the Galaxy the lead.
Although the go-ahead goal never came, Onalfo was pleased with his team’s ability to manage the pulse of the game and keep their second clean sheet of the season.
“We had just been bleeding goals,” Onalfo said. “When you win the middle of the field, and you’re able to press more efficiently – which if you saw our team I thought we pressed well tonight – you have a better chance to be better going forward, and it just gives you better chances to win games.
“It was just something that we felt like we had to do and I thought it worked in the sense that we didn’t concede anything and we created enough chances where something’s got to go in, and we lacked some quality.”
Midfielder Baggio Husidic agreed.
“I thought we were the dominant team and we created chances,” Husidic said. “We were just a little short of winning.”
The shutout obtained, the Galaxy will now head into the week ahead eager to break a two-game scoreless streak when they host the Chicago Fire on Saturday. As for what they can do to break that duck, sometimes the simplest solution is the best one.
“Just score and put it in the back of the net,” Husidic said bluntly. “Our creative guys have been doing the right things, and we’ve just been unfortunate.”
Adam Serrano is the LA Galaxy Insider. Read his blog at www.LAGalaxy.com/Insider and contact him at LAGalaxyInsider@Gmail.com.
