Galaxy’s early optimism quickly vanished in black hole of injuries
For years, the L.A. Galaxy have been the signpost club of Major League Soccer.
Last season, they were like traffic cones.
Defensively porous and offensively inexperienced, opposing teams navigated through and around them as they finished dead last in MLS for the first time in league history with an 8-18-8 record, setting team records in futility. Their 67 goals against was the second-most in MLS, they had the fewest points (32) and only won three times at home. Their 45 goals for was the second lowest total in the Western Conference.
The bottom had been reached. The only way was up.
Head coach Sigi Schmid was hired — for the second time — to right the ship, and the season started with promise, a 2-1 seasonopening home win over the Portland Timbers. But it was followed by a 2-1 loss to New York City FC a week later.
A bye week hasn’t helped the Galaxy get over a rash of injuries that will see them without all three of their Designated Players this weekend, and international duty has plucked starting striker Ola Kamara from the lineup.
And while super striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic, formerly of Manchester United, may have been landed by the Galaxy on Thursday, he won’t be running up top for the Galaxy come Saturday.
All that early optimism has been replaced by questions as to whether L.A. can keep pace in the uber-competitive Western Conference, or if they’ll wind up right where they finished last season. Trap game, anyone?
“I don’t buy into all that nonsense of missing players is an easy game. No game in this league is easy,” said Caps coach Carl Robinson.
L.A.’s Romain Alessandrini, Giovani Dos Santos and Jonathan Dos Santos are all sidelined with hamstring injuries, though the Dos Santos brothers were already going to miss Saturday ’s game at B.C. Place because they’re on international duty with Mexico.
Last week’s 4-1 loss to Atlanta FC saw Kendall Waston red-carded, but the Costa Rican is away for international
friendlies and would have missed this game anyway.
Vancouver striker Kei Kamara has been around the league long enough to know better than to underestimate a team missing key players.
“We’re missing one of our biggest puzzle (pieces), and our captain,” Kamara said. “The Galaxy is a good team all-around. They might be missing one or two guys, but they’re going to bring some guys who can compete and get them results.”
Robinson has his own roster juggling to do, figuring out who will slot in on defence. Doneil Henry, Marcel De Jong and Justin Fiddes are all working their way back from injury, and the club parted ways with Canadian international David Edgar this week. Aaron Maund and Jose Aja are good bets to play, but any other decisions will be made closer to the game.