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It’s “WWE Night” at Dignity Health Sports Park. WWE Superstar Charlotte Flair on hand to “WOOOO” the fans during pre-match festivities. The bell rung and off were the LA Galaxy in a high profile showdown with the Vancouver Whitecaps FC. As hyped as the fans were of both teams for the German legend first time MLS showdown between Thomas Mueller and Marco Reus, that won’t be happening. Mueller was scratched from the lineup before the game due to illness.
Greg Vanney has his guys approaching the start of this game conservatively. Playing out of the back and trying to possess the ball. Looks like a fairly smart strategy considering the Whitecaps have a lot of offensive firepower and are known to jump on quick leads.
Whitecaps do a good job putting pressure and pressing. They are a team that doesn’t let up, and it’s evident, but it also gets them into fouls often. Joseph Paintsil had two chances for the Galaxy, but both were squandered. He’s still rounding into form, but if this was pre-injury Paintsil then he puts away some of these chances he’s had since his return.
Galaxy getting out of several jams on their half of the field. This hasn’t been the most exciting half for either team. No serious shots on goal on either side. The only significant stat from the first half is the amount of fouls piling up for Vancouver, with 10 fouls in the half.
The half gets started, Reus is off, but Paintsil is still in the game and finds himself in the Vancouver box with Yohei Takaoka backpedalling and Paintsil makes him pay as he blasts the ball to the top of the net. Galaxy with little first half offense are up immediately at the start of the second half, 1-0.
The game is becoming physical where the Galaxy are picking up several yellow cards in the half. Vancouver pushing things upfield trying to level the game, but the Galaxy are defending well. But the pressure is mounting on the Galaxy. It just feels a matter of time that Vancouver will get on the board.
And then the dam broke. Off a free kick set piece, Vancouver gets on board thanks to Matthias Laborda’s header. It’s 1-1 with 10 minutes left in the match. It feels justified when the Whitecaps have outshot the Galaxy 17-4, with double the shots on target also.
Paintsil had a chance to retake the lead for LA right after the Vancouver goal, but the cross to the unmarked wide open Elijah Wynder feet away from the goal, went straight through his feet. You can’t spoil chances like these if you want to beat a team of Vancouver’s quality.
The chippy play has gotten out of hand as both teams are pushing and shoving each other, pulling shirts. The refs have lost control of the game. No cards given and there is little incentive for players to stop the antics. At this point the Galaxy are looking to hold onto a point. Some more back and forth but the ref blows the whistle in the 96th and this one ends in a 1-1 draw.
Fans missed the highly anticipated German showdown, but a result against arguably the best team in the MLS is a good result for LA. The Galaxy are trying to reach the level of the Whitecaps and they looked like the better team for most of the game tonight. This is a good showing from LA. Something to continue to build on.
Galaxy hit the road for a few weeks now, they won’t be back home until May 23rd against Houston. This should be their biggest test they have faced this season, three road games in a span of two weeks, including a cross country trip to Atlanta.
Notes:
- LA Galaxy forward Joseph Paintsil scored the lone goal of the match for the home side, his fourth contribution (two goals, two assists) in the last four matches overall.
- 21-year-old midfielder Troy Elgersma made his MLS debut tonight as a second-half substitute. Elgersma was named to the squad via a Short-Term Agreement from the club’s MLS NEXT Pro affiliate Ventura County FC.
- Joseph Paintsil led the game in both top speed with 33.02km per hour and total sprints with 27. In addition, Paintsil drew a game-high seven fouls.
- The Galaxy extended their scoring streak to 20 consecutive matches with Joseph Paintsil‘ssecond-half strike, continuing the longest active scoring streak in MLS.
Up Next:
The LA Galaxy begin a three-match road trip in Georgia against Atlanta United FC at Mercedes-Benz Stadium next Saturday, May 9 (4:30 p.m. PT, Apple TV). From there, the Galaxy head to Kansas City for a midweek contest against Sporting Kansas City at Sporting Park on Wednesday, May 13 (5:30 p.m. PT, Apple TV). Then, the Galaxy wrap up the road swing three days later with a visit to Seattle to take on Sounders FC at Lumen Field on Saturday, May 16 (6 p.m. PT, Apple TV).
