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SBI MLS Team of the Month (August): LA Galaxy

LAGalaxy

Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/USA Today Sports Images

By CARL SETTERLUND

After a middling first half of the season, the LA Galaxy began to heat up in July and the Landon Donovan-led contenders kept that run going during their seven August matches.

The Galaxy averaged nearly three goals per game to become the league’s highest scoring offense and now also boast by far the best goal differential in MLS at plus-21, making them SBI’s choice for Team of the Month.

Donovan in particular has played inspired soccer down the closing stretch of his final professional season, racking up three goals and five assists during the Galaxy’s current four-game winning streak.

The squad responded after a surprising 4-1 loss at Columbus on Aug. 16 by defeating Colorado in a shootout, shutting out playoff hopeful Vancouver, and handing Eastern Conference leader D.C. United a 4-1 shellacking. The Galaxy then further impressed with a sound win over Chivas USA in the SuperClasico to close out the month with a 5-1-1 record.

It hasn’t just been Donovan leading the offense, as Robbie Keane came through for an incredible four goals and six assists in August, while Gyasi Zardes chipped in five goals.

The back line, led by Omar Gonzalez, has only let in one goal in the past three games.

At 13-5-7 overall, the Galaxy sit five points off the Seattle Sounders’ pace for the Supporters’ Shield and have a game in hand over their northern rivals.

The Galaxy beat out D.C. United, FC Dallas and the Philadelphia Union for the SBI award.


What’s been the key to the Galaxy’s unstoppable run of late? Can they catch up with Seattle and hold off D.C. and Real Salt Lake for the best record in MLS? Who was your pick for Team of the Month?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. Which is why I hope Landon doesn’t wind up actually playing in his USMNT send off game. It is the games with the LAG that count, and the LAG has been the organization that has treated him right, and there is a Supporters Shield to be won and an all time assists record to break. To quote from Bull Durham, “Never f*ck with a winning streak!”

    Reply
    • I’m sure he’ll play with the USMNT, but I hope his minutes are very limited. A 15-20 minute cameo would be nice. He would get his recognition from the crowd, a handshake from Jurgen, and then get back on the plane to LA. We’ll see though.

      Reply

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