Things are finally starting to look up for the LA Galaxy after a less-than-ideal start to the season. They followed their 4-1 victory over C.S. Herediano in the Concacaf Champions Cup with a 1-1 draw in Portland.
The next step of their progression could be one of their most challenging yet, as they travel to take on an in-form Minnesota United on Saturday, March 22nd.
The LA Galaxy are still bottom of the MLS standings but have shown some signs of life in recent games.
The early-season injury crisis which didn’t help the new-look Galaxy find their feet in earlier games has finally started to loosen its grip on the team. Miki Yamane, Emiro Garcés, and Matheus Nascimento are all available for selection again, and Greg Vanney just shared that Joseph Paintsil has been training and should be available for next Saturday’s game against Orlando City SC.
All of the newly returned players made cameos as substitutes in the Galaxy’s 1-1 draw against the Portland Timbers last Sunday, March 16th. The youth continued to lead the team at the start as academy products Isaiah Parente and Harbor Miller each kept their places in the starting 11 alongside 23- year-old Tucker Lepley.
It was a different story in net as experience seems to have triumphed over youth with John McCarthy taking over league duties from 23-year-old Novak Micovic.
Micovic last played for the Galaxy in the 3-0 loss to St. Louis City SC, in which he dropped the ball on what should’ve been a routine catch from a corner kick, gifting City their first goal of the season and killing the momentum from what had been a largely positive first half for LA.
With added experience at the back in the form of Maya Yoshida and Zanka, in for the still-learning Emiro Garcés, the Galaxy’s youngsters were ready to impact the most recent game against Portland with their energy and they did so to great effect at the start of the match.
Maya Yoshida started the team’s first real attack from his own defensive third with a long forward pass to Tucker Lepley, who did well to receive the pass and drive the Galaxy into the attacking third. The ball circulated back to Maya Yoshida, this time at the halfway line, where he sprung another pass forward to 17 year-old Harbor Miller, who showed great tenacity to turn a missed pass from his captain into a free kick for his side just outside of Portland keeper James Pantemis’s box.
Unfortunately, the Galaxy’s presence in the first half was short lived as Portland started to control the possession and the chances starting at the sixth minute of play. They did well to keep the Galaxy away from the ball and forced them to defend for large periods of that half.
The starting 45 ended goalless but there was little that Greg Vanney was pleased with. “The first half we didn’t have control of the game and I felt like we were inefficient and spent a lot of energy on the defensive side”, said Vanney just after the match.
The Galaxy have a habit of starting second halves with renewed energy and with more focus than in the first, but Portland and Felipe Mora flipped the script and showed they benefited most from the team talk.
A low, driven cross from David Pereira da Costa following a corner beat the young Harbor Miller and found Mora, who was able to get his foot to the ball and put the Timbers up 1-0 in the 49th minute.
The taste of blood in their mouths seemed to wake up the LA Galaxy as they remembered their relationship with the ball and were better at circulating it. Miki Yamane’s introduction in the 64th minute helped with this massively.
Yamane’s composure and experience brought the right side to life as he brought Parente and Lepley into the game and overlapped to give Gabriel Pec a reliable option in attacking areas or send in crosses himself.
Still a goal down at the 73rd minute, Vanney hoped to maintain the attacking ambition by taking off defensive midfielder Edwin Cerillo to give Matheus Nascimento his LA Galaxy debut. He looked lively with his first couple of touches, trying to get himself into positions to impact the game and gave Portland’s defenders another attacker to worry about.
It may take a few more games to get him up to speed and accustomed to Vanney’s playstyle, but Nascimento could be a great asset in the team’s attacking toolbox.
The Galaxy’s breakthrough and second MLS goal of the season came in the 80th minute through a fantastic deep ball from Zanka towards Cristian Ramirez, the hometown kid. Ramirez showed excellent composure and technique to chest the ball down into space, setting himself up for a half-volley which he blasted home.
Ramirez’s late goal earned the Galaxy their first point of the season. They’ve had a rough go of it so far, facing each of the Western Conference’s top-three teams in their opening three fixtures.
The tough challenges continue as they prepare to face fifth-place Minnesota United at Allianz Field on Saturday, March 22nd. Minnesota has impressed so far this year, keeping their place in the MLS Power Rankings.
Tani Oluwaseyi leads his team in goal contributions with two of his own and an assist. Kelvin Yeboah has also looked dangerous with two goals, continuing the red-hot form he showed during the end of the 2024 season.
The last time that Minnesota faced the Galaxy was during the 2024 Western Conference Semifinals, which ended 6-2 for the eventual champions. Yeboah scored two in that game, but United didn’t have an answer for braces from each of Gabriel Pec, Joseph Paintsil, and the since departed Dejan Joveljic.
A much different Galaxy side will travel to St. Paul in search of their first MLS win of the year. They’ll have to do well to beat an improved Minnesota United, but if they manage it, the comeback will feel like it’s very much on.
PHOTO: LA Galaxy
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