The result wasn't what the LA Galaxy would have liked, but there was still reason for Servando Carrasco to smile on Tuesday.
Not only did he turn the big 3-0 earlier this week, but he also came on after halftime during the LA Galaxy's 2-2 draw against the Colorado Rapids and proved to be an integral part in the squad's efforts. Though he would have liked a win to top off his birthday festivities, his moves on the pitch didn't go unnoticed.
Slotting into Jonathan dos Santos' position isn't easy for anyone, but Carrasco worked hard to move into tight spots and create chances for his teammates, tactics that dos Santos is known for. Teammate Ashley Cole added that having Jonathan leave the game at halftime was a huge blow to the team, but said that the team has enough depth to deal with situations like that, which was evident when Carrasco stepped up.
"Jona is a huge piece of how we play," Carrasco said. "I just wanted to come in and do the same thing."
After the 2-2 draw, he said that the result came down to the team's commitment and seeing every last second out with maximum effort. Playing an integral part in the midfield, he worked to provide opportunities for the offense and looked to offer plenty of options for his teammates like Sebastian Lletget, who scored the team's second goal of the night.
"We've got to find a way to finish the game off. That's the only thing that's missing," he said. "Now, it's up to defensive players to make some plays."
Admiring Lletget's drive to score and his hunger for the ball, Carrasco said that with the attack in order, it was time for the team's defensive line to step up. With the Galaxy's record of losing leads and conceding goals, something that players and Coach Sigi Schmid alike have noticed, Carrasco wants the defense to match what's happening on the other part of the field.
"It's not good defensively," Schmid said after the game, reiterating Carrasco's observations. "We can talk tactics and we can continue to work on that, but that's not tactics, that’s effort. We need more."
With an away match in Seattle just days away, Carrasco hopes that the Galaxy can come together and find the energy and effort to rally against a team that's gained some traction in the past few weeks. A win at CenturyLink Field would certainly be the icing on the cake for Carrasco after a week of hard work, especially if the Galaxy can break the Sounders' eight-game undefeated streak. Birthday or not, Carrasco is focused on getting the result that he knows the Galaxy can earn.
"We approach every game with the same mentality, and that's to try and get those three points," he said. "Today, we were very close, but, again, we came up short. Now, it's time to focus on Saturday."
