Galaxy Escape Chicago With A Point In 2-2 Draw
- Updated: August 25, 2016
The Galaxy were in Chicago Wednesday night to take on the Fire in what was the second of the club’s three games this week. With Los Angeles firmly entrenched in fifth place in the Western Conference being 6 points ahead of the sixth place Timbers, winning against Chicago seemed to be an afterthought. Given Chicago is in, well, dead last in the entire league with just 22 points.
But Los Angeles would be a little shorthanded at Toyota Park. Robbie Keane, Steven Gerrard and Brian Rowe would not be on the active roster while Giovani Dos Santos and Nigel De Jong would come off the bench to gain some rest midweek.
#LAGalaxy XI: Diop; DLG, Steres, Van Damme, Romney; Larentowicz, Husidic; Lletget, Magee, Boateng; Zardes #CHIvLApic.twitter.com/yEW4trrayi
— LA Galaxy (@LAGalaxy) August 24, 2016
Through the ever crucial first 15 minutes of play in this one things seemed to be going as planned for the Galaxy. No goals, but the Chicago attack never gained ground on Los Angeles’ side of midfield and their attack was stagnant. Meanwhile the Galaxy were slowly building towards a goal.
A goal that would finally come to fruition in the 31st minute thanks to some great attacking play by none other than Jelle Van Damme. Of course! The center back Van Damme has been anything but shy about brining the ball up the field himself this season and his forward movement here lead to a great opportunity that Gyasi Zardes took advantage of, giving Los Angeles the 1-0 lead.
Gyasi opens the scoring in Chicago: https://t.co/b3FwLZ7hMe#CHIvLApic.twitter.com/uBfkFLmvy3
— LA Galaxy (@LAGalaxy) August 25, 2016
Then things took quite a turn in Chicago’s favor. Just a few minutes later in the 34th minute a deflected save by Diop goes off the face of AJ Delagarza and lands right at the feet of Fire forward Arturo Alvarez and Alvarez capitalizes knotting the contest up at 1.
Wait, it gets worse. In the 38th minute Van Damme trips up newly acquired Luis Solignac in the box and gives David Accam a penalty kick. It did not end well for Diop.
The King. #cf97pic.twitter.com/Y7qD6t300b
— Chicago Fire (@ChicagoFire) August 25, 2016
Trailing 2-1 the Galaxy would head into the half and it was easy to see looking at the numbers why they struggled.
#LAGalaxy are being outshot 9-5 and 5-2 on target. pic.twitter.com/Lq7vihc82p
— Corner Of The Galaxy (@GalaxyPodcast) August 25, 2016
Things did not appear to be getting much better for Los Angeles as the second half carried on. Young Goalkeeper Clement Diop came running out to midfield at one point chasing down Accam and had his ankles broken in the process. While Diop was lying at midfield Accam passed to Solignac for an empty netter with only Van Damme in his way and the Galaxy lucked out that the skied the shot over the bar.
Then the injection of energy the Galaxy needed took place with the substitution of Gio Dos Santos for Jeff Larentowicz. Dos Santos was creating well for the Galaxy attack but it wasn’t until another sub Alan Gordon came on that Los Angeles made it count. A great attack from the two in the 69th minute led to a Galaxy goal evening things up at 2.
.@OficialGio makes it look easy. #CHIvLA https://t.co/JU21NrWv6n
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) August 25, 2016
Accam and Chicago would have some great attacking play late but nothing would materialize for either team as the game would end in the 2-2 draw.
A game that was on pace to be a disappointing loss for Los Angeles ended in a slightly less disappointing draw. Overall Galaxy fans can live with the result but clearly many felt this should have been a win, even given the clubs tough schedule this week and the fact that this match was in Chicago.
The Galaxy will head back home to Carson on Saturday to take on the Vancouver Whitecaps who have struggled more than most would have thought so far this season. If Los Angeles wants to win though they will have to shake the cob webs off and play much better than they have been recently.
Thanks for reading along Galaxy fans and keep on coming back to CaliSports for all your Galaxy news!