Gyasi Zardes reacts to nearly missing out on a scoring chance
By Ivan Yeo
Sometimes, it’s not necessarily how you start, but more about how you finish.
The Los Angeles Galaxy know what it is like to go through such a thing. The Galaxy have started seasons slowly and have rebounded to finish strong, so starting off a bit slow out of the gate in its season opener against the Chicago Fire on Friday night wasn’t particularly a new thing. In fact, you could argue LA is looking to get off to a fast start to the 2015 season.
Nevertheless, it took a strong finish in the second half to get the season started off on the right foot. LA found the back of the net twice in the last 90 minutes and turned a scoreless 65 minutes into a 2-0 win over the Fire at StubHub Center.
“It’s the same thing for the most part,” Galaxy head coach Bruce Arena said. “They’re an experienced group, and they know how to play and at home we obviously played well.”
The slow start occurred in the first half. Neither team created any serious scoring chances early in the match, but that changed as the first half wore on, and it was the Galaxy that played the role of aggressor. LA was the ones playing the ball forward, getting out on the break, sending the dangerous balls into the Fire penalty area, and getting the shots on target.
Unfortunately, they were not being rewarded for the chances they were creating, and none was more painful than in the 41st minute, as Stefan Ishizaki crossed a ball into the penalty area and Jose Villarreal found himself open in the box with a point-blank chance. Unfortunately, Villarreal, who is left footed, came in from an angle that allowed him to shoot only with his right foot, which he did, but he sent the shot just over the framework.
“I think experience definitely carried us through,” Galaxy center back Omar Gonzalez said. “Chicago’s first half didn’t have much, they just sat back and let us have most of the ball and we were unlucky to not be able to finish a couple of close chances.”
The Galaxy knew all they had to do was stay aggressive in the second half and they would ultimately be rewarded, which finally occurred in the 65th minute, and it was Villarreal that was the beneficiary, as an Ishizaki cross found its way past two Fire defenders and Villarreal was again open in the box. This time, Villarreal shot with his left foot and the result was a shot past keeper Sean Johnson into the back net. LA finished off the match in the 81st minute, as Gonzalez’s long ball was headed down by Baggio Husidic in the penalty area and Robbie Keane blasted a ball past Johnson into the back net.
“I thought the first half we played well, especially the last 15 minutes of the half. So I think it was just a matter of time to get a goal,” Arena said.
This will be certainly a challenging season for the Galaxy. Yes they’re still one of the favorites to win the MLS Cup, but LA is faced with the task of not just replacing Landon Donovan, but also Marcelo Sarvas, who was also huge in the Galaxy’s drive to the MLS Cup last season. Also later in the season, the Galaxy will have to integrate Steven Gerrard into its game plan halfway through the season, not to mention dealing with the off-the-field stuff that is sure to accompany Gerrard’s arrival. Still the Galaxy insist they won’t be sweating all of that, especially this group of players, who have the championship pedigree as well as vast amounts of experience in dealing with high-profile players.
“Bruce [Arena] does a good job bringing in guys that fit in with the team,” Galaxy midfielder Baggio Husidic said. “I think this year, we’ll be a big target on our back. You can’t replace Landon [Donovan]. Hopefully he’ll be around a bit more than he has during vacation. But we’ll look to replace in other words.”
For all the talk of starts and finishes, it was a strong finish that the Galaxy that enabled them to start the season on the right foot. Regardless, one thing is clear; Whether its early in the season or late in the season, the Galaxy clearly showed the resolve and fortitude that will have them in the hunt for another MLS Cup title in 2015.
Chicago Fire
Lineups:
LA Galaxy: Brian Rowe; Dan Gargan (A.J. DeLaGarza, 83’), Leonardo, Omar Gonzalez, Robbie Rogers; Jose Villarreal (Alan Gordon 70’), Juninho, Kenney Walker (Baggio Husidic 63’), Stefan Ishizaki; Robbie Keane ©, Gyasi Zardes.
Substitutions not used: Jaime Penedo, Todd Dunivant, Rafael Garcia, Bradford Jamieson IV.
TOTAL SHOTS: 13; SHOTS ON GOAL: 5; FOULS: 15; OFFSIDE: 2; CORNER KICKS: 4; SAVES: 1.
Chicago Fire: Sean Johnson; Lovel Palmer, Eric Gehrig, Jeff Larentowicz ©, Joevin Jones; Matt Watson (Michael Stephens 56’), Chris Ritter (Matt Polster 63’), Harry Ship, Shaun Maloney; Kennedy Igboananike (Guly do Prado 73’), Quincy Amarikwa.
Substitutions not used: Jon Busch, Alex, Adailton, Greg Cochrane.
TOTAL SHOTS: 8; SHOTS ON GOAL: 1; FOULS: 15; OFFSIDE: 1; CORNER KICKS: 2; SAVES: 3.
Referee: Jair Marrufo
Referee’s Assistants: Frank Anderson and Corey Rockwell
4th Official: Alejandro Mariscal
Attendance: 27,000
