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Kamara’s winner keeps Sporting KC perfect, Galaxy struggles continue

KamaraGalaxy (Getty)

If Sporting Kansas City's first four wins of the season hadn't convinced skeptics that they are very much for real, Saturday's dominating performance against the LA Galaxy should have removed some more of that doubt.

Sporting KC thoroughly outplayed the Galaxy at Livestrong Sporting Park, with Kei Kamara's first-half header providing the difference in a 1-0 victory.

The win improved KC to 5-0 on the season, the best record in MLS.

The Sporting KC defense notched the team's fourth shutout of the season, and held the Galaxy without a single shot on goal. The LA trio of Landon Donovan, Robbie Keane and Edson Buddle could do nothing against a KC defense led by the outstanding play of French centerback Aurelien Collin.

Kamara notched the winner in the 40th minute when he faked out Sean Franklin to shake loose and head home a Bobby Convey cross to make the score 1-0. Sporting KC dominated possession but couldn't find an insurance goal.

Sporting KC returns to action next week at Livestrong Park against Real Salt Lake in a battle of first-place teams. The Galaxy return to Home Depot Center next week for a match-up against the Portland Timbers.

What did you think of the match? Surprised how easily Sporting KC handled the Galaxy, or are you starting to believe LA is just going to be this bad all season? Think the Galaxy can turn things around?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. 245 minutes, to be exact–a new MLS record. The last shot on target against SKC was Villar’s free-kick goal for FC Dallas.

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  2. The sky is not falling in LA, sure we are off to a stinker of a start, but this team does have talent and will succeed at some point this year. Neruda has a good point, it seems like many of last years weak teams have shored up their teams with quality talent MLS is good this year. LA will adjust and begin to win, if you recall the galaxy sucked at the beginning of last season too.

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  3. How is no one talking about one of the greatest goal celebrations in a loooong time? Slow-motion goal celebration choreographed with the team? Awesome.

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  4. I have to say, as a Galaxy fan, I had a bad feeling when everyone was putting them on top of their rankings even though Omar was out. I just knew they were going to be incredibly disappointing. And yes they are. Not just in results, but just watching them. Disjointed, half-hearted, just bad soccer. And I feel like Donovan is about to fall off a cliff. Just a bad feeling I have…

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  5. Good point about MLS changing.

    For a long time LA’s team talent has been so top heavy that once one of their top 4-5 players, including Omar G. is out they become very ordinary. Today against KC they missed Becks and of course Omar G.

    The perfect example of the link between a changing MLS and LA’s salary (i.e. talent) distribution: Arena brings in Chad Barret for Edson Buddle for a spark. That’s not good enough in MLS anymore. On the other hand look at KC. They have quality (not international star quality per se) at every position and their style of play represents the changing winds of MLS.

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  6. Here’s the thing. LA was great last year. But, in the past year the league has drastically changed. The players and game plan that Arena is putting on the pitch simply won’t cut it in MLS. The MLS is developing a style of play and player type and LA has neither. Bruce will be out by the middle of the season and big changes are on the horizon for this offseason. Yes, I am thinking about 2013. This is a pro league. LA loaned out players and thought they could come into the season and be ready. They weren’t. Now the confidence is gone and the team is in serious trouble. Last comment is this team has no real captain.

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  7. KC is such a fun team to watch. and that stadium is stunning. real jewel in the MLS crown. Would love to see a title or two break their way with such solid investment in a quality soccer experience.

    LA is in the middle of a nightmare. I get that Gonzalez is a real loss, but it’s so much more than that right now.

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  8. Wow! No shots on goal! There is no reason to believe the Galaxy are going to pick it up anytime soon! This is almost starting to smell redbull bad. Yet the redbull seem to have things together. What is this? Some sick version of the twilight zone?

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