CARSON, Calif. – The new-look LA Galaxy opened their 2016 campaign with five new starters, but the same goal as every year – to become the first MLS side to win the CONCACAF Champions League. To do so, they will now need to gain a result on the road in Mexico, after battling the Liga MX defending champion Santo Laguna to a 0-0 draw at StubHub Center on Wednesday night.
The match was a lively, if at times ragged, back-and-forth affair, with Santos maintaining the lion’s share of possession, and generating the majority of chances in the run of play. The Galaxy manufactured a few solid opportunities off set-piece plays.
Both sides may well rue their missed opportunities, but the Galaxy will at least be pleased with the shutout. The lack of away goals will no doubt frustrate Santos, but the impending home advantage will no doubt ease the pain Los Guerreros may feel as they depart California.
Santos’ two best opportunities came off set pieces as well. In the 80th minute, Nestor Calderon drove a direct kick from the corner of the penalty area hard into the Galaxy wall, and the deflected ball spun and missed the far post by only inches.
Calderon also had an opportunity in the 67th minute when he volleyed a corner kick at the same post, but Galaxy striker Gio Dos Santos was alertly parked on the frame and cleared the shot.
Chilean playmaker Bryan Rabello put multiple shots on frame but could not find a way past new Galaxy goalkeeper Dan Kennedy.
The Galaxy appeared out of sync for large portions of the evening, with missed passes and missed shots, and players yelling at one another as they tried to find team chemistry after only being in camp for a month.
Despite the apparent lack of familiarity with one another, the Galaxy nearly drew first blood when a Giovani Dos Santos corner found the head of a diving Jelle Van Damme. The header forced a quick reaction save on the low header from Santos keeper Augustin Marchesin to keep the the game level in the first minute.
The match got chippy in the closing minutes as players’ frustration at the looming scoreless evening mounted and each side began shoving and yelling, culminating in Galaxy captain Robbie Keane getting into a sideline scuffle with Santos head coach Luis Zubeldia. Honduran referee Armando Castro showed four yellow card cautions on the night.
The two sides will meet again for the return leg in Torreon, Mexico, on Tuesday evening, March 1st.
I am not sure I agree with the match analysis in the article, as I felt while SL had more of the ball, not much of it was in the final third, until late in the game. And the Galaxy had plenty of chances aside from set-pieces, and spent more time threatening (if disjointedly). I was impressed with Rogers… he had a lot of the ball, and was good at both ends. And Van Damme wins a LOT of headers, and looked pretty calm bringing the ball out of the back. I was pleased to see AJ at the other CB, I hope that is a sign of things to come. On the downside, the attack looked out of sync, and Zardes looks timid. And Kennedy, while at times strong (his punch to clear late was great goalkeeping) seemed to be a little shaky in communicating to his defense. But it does look like the Galaxy will have a strong defense, it just remains to be seen if the front can get it together.
Van Damme impressed, very solid and intimidating, would trade back Juninho for Gerrard in a heartbeat, Zardes for his frame needs grit, seems every since US Nats and Klinsmann he’s a pansy.
English much?
After 4 CCL knock out games the aggregate score is Liga MX 6, Dempsey 2 and both of those were off of set pieces. Even given the differences in fitness and preparedness, I had hoped for better. They really should set these games back about a month so that MLS teams have more time to round into form.
You’re right. But another way to look at it would be:
home sides 6, visiting sides 2. That’s only a goal off from the median expected result.
And yet another way to look at it is: Galaxy and Sounders are both in it. A goal for either team on the road might very likely see them through. RSL and DCU held form, as home advantage is often thought of as a two goal advantage. Given that all four MLS clubs are still in preseason, while all four Liga MX sides are in midseason, that’s a pretty good result.
And yeah, the scheduling for this round is stupid. But as Arena said last night when asked about the reffing, “Hey, it’s concacaf. you never know what you’re gonna get.”
A draw at home is not impressive.
A win would be nice but a 0-0 draw at home in a two-leg series isn’t bad. A score draw in the second leg will take them through.