Emmanuel Boateng was the man of the match for the Los Angeles Galaxy on Saturday night.
By Ivan Yeo
The Los Angeles Galaxy ended Real Salt Lake’s unbeaten start to the season on Saturday night at the StubHub Center.
The Galaxy’s stars delivered their usual performances, but the Galaxy got an unlikely spark on Saturday night. Making his first career MLS start, Emmanuel Boateng delivered a superb performance at the left midfield spot, as he recorded his first MLS goal and his first two MLS assists in the Galaxy’s 5-2 romp over Real Salt Lake.
“He’s been professional all week and his reaction to the manager giving him the call was tremendous,” Galaxy midfielder Steven Gerrard said of Boateng’s performance. “He’s got energy, he’s got pace, and he’s got quality in the wide areas as you see from his assist. And he got off the mark today with a cheeky little finish. Certainly up for man of the match, the little fella’.”
Boateng’s first MLS assist was a simple play, but it marked a turning point in the match. It occurred in the 26th minute with the match tied at one, as Boateng took a ball from Ashley Cole, crossed into the penalty area and Mike Magee slotted the shot past RSL keeper Nick Rimando to give LA the lead.
“I saw the defender standing in between two of us and saw Mike Magee and just tried to pick out Mikey,” Boateng said.
The Galaxy in general and Boateng in particular were just getting started. Boateng got on the score sheet in the 41st minute, as he first played a ball to Giovani Dos Santos, who then sent it forward to Zardes, who was inside the penalty area. Boateng immediately sprung for the penalty area after his initial pass, and when Dos Santos’ pass touched off of Zardes’ right foot, Boateng charged for the ball and shot a ball past Rimando, beating him to the near post to widen the Galaxy lead. LA finished off its first half frenzy in the 45th minute, and Boateng was in the middle of it again, as he chased down a ball sent forward into the box, got to it, was brought down by Tony Beltran, no call was made, but Boateng kept the play alive by feeding a ball to Dos Santos, who then scored a goal reminiscent of his goal in the 2011 Gold Cup final, as he chipped a ball with his left foot and the shot sailed over Rimando into the far post net.
“Obviously, he helped us in the attack but defensively he played very well. Just a good performance,” Galaxy head coach Bruce Arena said of Boateng’s performance.
Boateng has certainly traveled the globe throughout his soccer career, youth and professional. Born in Ghana, he and his family emigrated to the United States when Boateng was 15 and settled in Santa Barbara. Boateng played his high school soccer at Cate High School in nearby Carpinteria as well as several club circuits in Santa Barbara. Boateng spent one year playing at UC Santa Barbara before going on trial at Swedish club Heisingborgs IF. Boateng impressed enough that he was signed to a three-and-half year contract in 2013. Boateng made 37 appearances for the club and scored four goals.
The Galaxy obtained Boateng this past January, and with injuries hitting the Galaxy early in the season, Boateng has become someone that Bruce Arena has relied on, as Boateng has come off the bench in three previous matches. Saturday night however, playing against a Real Slat Lake that had not lost a match to start the year, boating put his potential on full display for all the Galaxy fans to see.
“I think I’m learning a lot,” Boateng said. “We’ve got some great veterans on the team who are helping me out every game and in practice and everything. So I’m just learning from them and the coaches too and improving every day. So that’s definitely that’s been a big impact so far. Everyone’s been helping me out.”
There is obviously a long way to go in the MLS season, but it’s become apparent that the Galaxy might have once again found another player that could help them navigate the at times treacherous waters of the MLS grind. Boateng said he’s looking forward to improving himself as a player as the season goes along.
“I still don’t think I’ve gotten to the place I want to be yet,” Boateng said. “I’m learning every day from the coaches and the veterans on the team so there’s still more that I need to learn as a player.”
