CARSON, Calif. – Ema Boateng did not mince words following the LA Galaxy’s 6-2 defeat to Real Salt Lake on Tuesday night.
“It’s the bottom,” he said. “It’s embarrassing.”
The defeat to RSL was the worst home loss that the Galaxy has suffered in club history and tied the highest total of goals conceded at home ever. Los Angeles’ loss saw the team’s home record dip to a disappointing 1-5-3 at StubHub Center in 2017
Despite heading into halftime down by just a goal, Curt Onalfo’s squad came apart in the second half as Salt Lake scored a whopping five unanswered goals to seal the dominant victory.
Too often during the second half, the Galaxy’s effort was lacking defensively as Mike Petke’s team repeatedly found space behind the backline as they handed Los Angeles their worst loss on Independence Day since 2008.
Following the match, Onalfo and his captain Ashley Cole were left searching for answers.
“It’s unacceptable, it’s disappointing, not just for the sold-out crowd that showed up tonight,” Onalfo told reporters. “I’m very disappointed.”
Added Cole, “Everyone has to look in the mirror and ask themselves how did they perform today because certainly, I don’t think anyone performed,” Cole said. “You can’t just keep going for every game being known as the team that works hard and deserves more. Sometimes you have to be quality and have quality and the ball, but we didn’t have that. No one wanted the ball, no one wanted to play, and this is what happened.”
After the loss to Salt Lake, the Galaxy will take two days off as they look to regroup before they return to action next Monday against the San Jose Earthquakes in the U.S. Open Cup quarterfinals. With six days until their next match, Boateng is adamant that something much change for the Galaxy and fast.
“We have to change something. Our mentality. All the excuses are that guys are hurt, and people are suspended. But you’re a professional player,” Boateng said. “You have to show, and you have to do the job that you have to do. It’s as simple as that. Today, especially in the second half, it wasn’t there.
“We really need to look deep inside ourselves and come back from this.”
Adam Serrano is the LA Galaxy Insider. Read his blog at www.LAGalaxy.com/Insider and contact him at LAGalaxyInsider@Gmail.com.
