Recap of March 28, 2015 Match: LA Galaxy vs. D.C. United

(Picture via Twitter User @LAGalaxyII)

As all MLS fans know, the league saw many players absent from play because of international call-ups. On March 28, the LA Galaxy played D.C. United, but without Robbie Keane, Jaime Penedo, Gyasi Zardes, Oscar Sorto, and Bradford Jamieson IV. Mika Vayrynen and A.J. DeLaGarza both started their first games of the season, and Edson Buddle played his first match (only 18 minutes) during his latest stint with the LA Galaxy.

Starting Lineups and Substitutions

Both teams yielded the other opportunities to score, but Galaxy keeper Brian Rowe and D.C. United keeper Bill Hamid, the 2014 MLS goalkeeper of the year, held their own. The game seemed destined to end in a draw until the last-minute when DC United’s Chris Pontius scored the game-winning goal in stoppage time.

Why did the LA Galaxy lose this game? Is it because the team missed Robbie Keane, Gyasi Zardes, and Jaime Penedo while they finished their commitments to their national teams? Do they rely too much on these three? I think this last question is the most important along with concerns about the Galaxy defense.

If you look at the stats, DC United dominated the LA Galaxy overall in almost all aspects of the match—passing, crossing, possession, and shot accuracy. During the game, the Galaxy took double the amount of DC’s shots, but 9 were off target, 4 on target, and Bill Hamid blocked the other 4.

With the Galaxy still recovering from Landon Donovan’s retirement and his key partnership with Robbie Keane and Gyasi Zardes, not having Keane and Zardes hurt the team. I don’t mean to suggest that Alan Gordon, Jose Villareal, and Edson Buddle are poor players, but Zardes and Keane are better quality players and definite leaders for the team.

Unfortunately, Robbie Rogers has struggled on defense this season, but everyone should give him some credit. He switched positions during the 2014 season from midfielder to defender—a difficult change. I remember the difficulty of it from my days as a defender when I would make the switch. The position’s mindset is quite different. In defense, you have one focus—protect the goal and your half of the field. In midfield, you have bit more leniency in how you play; you don’t necessarily defend as much, but you take the offensive much more. Others might disagree with me on this theory, but Rogers has only been a defender for almost a year and he’s still learning the intricacies of the position. Yet, he will need to notch up his pace because the LA Galaxy is slowly falling in the standings. Other defensive players—Omar Gonzalez, Leonardo, and Dan Gargan also need to take some time to think about their performances.

Hopefully this next game against the Vancouver Whitecaps will prove more successful for the LA Galaxy, especially with Keane, Zardes, and Penedo returning to the lineup. I’m sure (at least I hope) Rogers will be pumped up and ready to redeem himself.

Stay with us at Calisportsnews.com as we will keep you up-to-date on all things LA Galaxy and the rest of the LA sports teams! All Cali, all the time!

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