By Debby von Winckelmann
LA’s Emmanuel Boateng played a starring role in the Galaxy’s 3-1 defeat of Real Salt Lake at the StubHub Center in Carson, Calif. on Wednesday night.
The Los Angeles Galaxy defeated Real Salt Lake 3-1 in its first match of the Audi 2016 MLS Cup Playoffs at the StubHub Center in Carson, Calif. on Wednesday night to advance to the MLS Western Conference semifinals.
And, while players such as Giovani dos Santos, Robbie Keane, Steven Gerrard, and Landon Donovan are likely to be the stars that come to mind when one talks about the LA Galaxy, it was lesser-known Emmanuel Boateng and Alan Gordon who were the stars of this match.
Boateng, 22, was making his playoff debut for LA and scored back-to-back goals, in the 26th and 34th minutes, breaking a 1-1 tie and giving the Galaxy the eventual win. Gordon opened the scoring with his goal in the 14th minute and had the assist on both of Boateng’s goals.
Galaxy head coach Bruce Arena said that he had been looking for Boateng to “break out a bit” and that spoke of his importance to the team’s chemistry.
“When there are other young players like Ema, committed to work and complimenting the other players, I think it really helps the team,” Arena said. “Today, he was a complimentary player. He took the game into his hands for a while in that first half and scored two great goals.”
Known more for his clutch game-winning goals as a super sub, Gordon, at 35, made his first-ever start in a playoff game, despite this being his 16th post season appearance. Gordon put the Galaxy on the scoreboard first, after Donovan crossed a ball into dos Santos, who headed it to Gordon who was running to the far post and poked the ball in the net.
Alan Gordon delivered the first punch for the Galaxy in LA’s 3-1 knockout win against Real Salt Lake at the StubHub Center in Carson, Calif. on Wednesday night.
The 1-0 lead was short-lived, however, as Boateng was called for taking down Javier Morales in the penalty area, resulting in a penalty shot. Joao Plata stepped up to take the shot and tied the game in the 21st minute.
Fueled by the questionable call against him, Boateng put the Galaxy up 2-1 just five minutes later, as he ran from the left side to collect a pass from Gordon, continued across the box, while weaving through three defenders before shooting the ball far post, past Real Salt Lake goalie Nick Rimando.
Eight minutes later, Boateng took another pass from Gordon, this time on the right side, and exploded past RSL defender Demar Phillips, then sent another ball far post and into the side netting.
“I think the penalty kick made me ticked off, so I had to go get it back for my teammates,” Boateng said.
After Boateng’s second goal, RSL’s only answer for him seemed to be to give him a hard foul whenever he started to breakaway with the ball.
Real Salt Lake head coach Jeff Cassar said his team’s one-on-one coverage was lacking.
“When they push four people high on you, you have to defend 1-v-1 at times and I don’t think our 1-v-1 was very good,” Cassar said. “Then to follow it up, I don’t think our shape behind it was very good, the cover. You know, when he’s able to beat Demar Phillips and get straight to goal, that’s unacceptable. You have to have cover and I just don’t think we did a good job. And you’re in the playoffs now, you have to have good games. You can’t have holes. Our 1-v-1 defending wasn’t good enough tonight.”
Gordon went down with an injury in the 52nd minute and was replaced by Keane, who missed the last two games due to a groin injury. Boateng left the game to a standing ovation in the 76th minute, with Mike Magee replacing him.
The LA Galaxy will host the Colorado Rapids on Sunday, Oct. 30 at StubHub Center in the Western Conference Semifinals. Game time is yet to be announced.
