Gyasi Zardes got things going for LA against NYCFC with the game’s first goal.
By Ivan Yeo
Though it was a bright and sunny Sunday afternoon, it was the stars that were shinning on the StubHub Center on the day.
The Los Angeles Galaxy, featuring Robbie Keane, Steven Gerrard, Giovani Dos Santos, Omar Gonzalez and Gyasi Zardes took on a New York City FC side boasting its own start power in Andrea Pirlo, David Villa and Frank Lampard, though his presence was strictly limited to a suite inside the StubHub Center due to nagging injuries.
In the end, it was the Galaxy stars that left their imprint in this highly anticipated nationally televised match. Keane paced the LA attack with a brace and Zardes, Dos Santos and Sebastian Lletget tallied as well in the Galaxy’s 5-1 win over NYCFC.
“I thought the fans were terrific today and it was a very nice atmosphere to play in,” Gerrard said of the atmosphere surrounding today’s game. “You can feel the fans behind us and with us the whole game. It was nice to reward them with a good performance.”
The win vaults LA back atop the Western Conference and Supporters Shield standings. The Galaxy are one point ahead of Vancouver in the conference standings and two points clear of DC United in the Shield race. NYCFC though failed to capitalize on a golden opportunity, as they, Orlando City and the Montreal Impact all lost this weekend, keeping them tied with 28 points apiece in the race for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.
“Well another game where we won and got three points, that is the most important thing,”” Galaxy head coach Bruce Arena said. “Certainly the goals are great but we played well today. After the first 15 minutes I thought NYC FC was all over us, but once we settled in we played pretty well.”
The Galaxy actually did not have a good start to the match, as they allowed NYCFC to dictate terms at the beginning. LA however soon turned the tables and creating their own chances. The Galaxy finally got on the board first in the 36th minute, when after a David Villa foul, Juninho did a quick restart that caught NYCFC off guard. Juninho’s ball found Keane, who crossed into the penalty area to an unmarked Zardes, and his header beat NYCFC keeper Josh Saunders near post.
LA then broke the game wide open in the second half. Dos Santos played Keane through from the right flank in the 54th minute and Keane touched a ball over a diving Saunders into the back net to make it a two goal game. The two players switched roles in the 67th minute, as Zardes intercepted a ball, played a pass to Keane, who then sprung Dos Santos for goal. Dos Santos, who went the full 90 minutes for a second straight match in just a week’s time, chipped a ball over Saunders into the back net.
“Better, it’s getting better,” Dos Santos said of his match fitness. “I feel fit, and I’m happy for the confidence the coaches give me. I hope to keep working hard and help the team.”
The goal continued to come in the match. LA made it a four goal game when Gerrard’s shot in the box was redirected by Lletget into goal. NYCFC however caught a break when LA’s Dan Gargan made a slide tackle on Patrick Mullins inside the penalty area, but referee Baldomero Toledo thought the play was enough to warrant a penalty, which David Villa converted in the 80th minute. LA’s answer was to simply score a fifth goal, as Lletget played Robbie Rogers through on the overlap, Rogers crossed into the six-yard box and Keane tapped the ball into the back net to close matters on the afternoon.
“We know we have the players that are capable of continuing to do this,” Keane said of the Galaxy’s potent attack. “If we don’t concede too many goals, we’re going to be a hard team to beat because we’ve got quality in this side. We’ve got players who can score goals.”
With just over two months remaining in the season, the Galaxy, with its full compliment of players, are finally starting to click on both offense and defense. Yes the Galaxy’s lead in both the West and the Supporters Shield race are slim at the moment, but if LA continues to turn in performances like this, it’s hard to imagine anybody beating this LA Galaxy team this season.
