Photo courtesy of the LA Galaxy.
Jonathan Klinsmann, center, got the start at keeper and came through for the LA Galaxy.
It was Kevin Cabral and Jonathan Klinsmann to the rescue for the Los Angeles Galaxy on Saturday afternoon.
It’s been an adjustment season for both players. Cabral, the Galaxy’s high-profile off-season acquisition, had spent the first four months of the season getting acclimated to MLS, while Klinsmann had spent most of the season behind Jonathan Bond, who had ascended to the position.
On Saturday, on the road against Minnesota United, both were key for the Galaxy. Cabral’s first half goal and some key saves for Klinsmann in his first start of the season, propelled the Galaxy to a 1-0 win over Minnesota at Allianz Field.
“Every win is important and every win is super valuable. This is another one,” Galaxy head coach Greg Vanney said. “This is a difficult place to play. We’re missing a few guys that we’d love to have and be a part of our group at the moment, but guys stepped up and filled the roles.”
With the win, the Galaxy snapped Minnesota’s five-match unbeaten streak, though they were prevented from being in first place in the Western Conference by Sporting Kansas City, who defeated FC Dallas 2-0 to maintain their grip on the top spot in the West. It was also an emotional win for the Galaxy, as they were without midfielder Sebastian Lletget, who was mourning the death of his sister.
The Galaxy relied on some pinpoint passing to get themselves a goal in the 43rd minute. Cabral received a ball from Efrain Alvarez, Cabral took a touch before playing a ball forward to Dejan Jovelijic, Cabral made a run inside the Minnesota backline, Jovelijic played a ball back to Cabral, which sprung him for a run at goal. Cabral dribbled inside the penalty area and fired the shot past keeper Tyler Miller far post.
Then it was Klinsmann’s turn to put his stamp on the match. Klinsmann gave a hint of things to come in the third minute, as he made an alert save on a ball was deflected right at goal, but Klinsmann dove and got his left hand on the ball to parry it away from the goal. Klinsmann came through again for the Galaxy in the 58th minute, as he redirected a header by Jan Gregus off a Emanuel Reynoso corner off the near post. Klinsmann then denied Juan Agudelo in the 78th minute, as Agudelo attempted a left-foot volley from about 30 yards out, but Klinsmann parried the ball with his right hand over the crossbar.
Klinsmann came up big one more time in stoppage time with Minnesota trying desperately to preserve it streak. Minnesota had a free kick just outside the Galaxy penalty area, Reynoso stepped up and curled a left-footed free kick over the Galaxy wall, but Klinsmann leaped to get his right hand on the shot and parry the free kick over the crossbar. Klinsmann’s last role of hero a minute later was perhaps his toughest, as Chase Gasper took a shot well outside the penalty area, and in a potential nightmare for any keeper, the ball took a deflection, and Klinsmann, who had went one way, quickly had to change direction, but Klinsmann had enough time to recover, and dive to his left and got his left hand on the shot, sending the ball over the end line.
“It means everything,” Klinsmann said of his performance between the pipes. “I’ve been waiting 18 games for a game. I knew it wasn’t going to be easy. Bondy has been doing great. We’ve been pushing each other every training session. He’s made me a better goalkeeper and I’ve made him, hopefully, a better goalkeeper. For me, it was just waiting for this chance and just taking it. I’m happy to help the team win.”
It will be a busy week for the Galaxy, as they return home for two matches inside a five-day span, starting on Tuesday night when they face the Colorado Rapids.
