Half the starters score 8 and above in LA Galaxy at NYRB Player Ratings

LA Galaxy Player Ratings (at New York)

This is not a Galaxy of stars but one of grit. Without the absent Robbie Keane, Galaxy produced a performance as hard-working as you will see this season. In fact, despite being thoroughly outplayed by the league’s only unbeaten side, it took a lucky deflection to deprive LA of all three points.

Jaime Penedo 8.5: He made a outstanding point blank save off Wright-Phillps in the 13th to preserve the 1-0 lead. He then showed great awareness to get down to a near post deflection from Gargan which he shoveled around the corner, not a highlight reel save but a crucial goal stopper. He stopped another goal in 73′ when BWP fired in an effort and his punching, when he came off the line, was strong.  The goal he conceded was due to an unfortunate deflection.

Dan Gargan 7: He lost BWP in the 13th and was bailed out by Penedo but did very well to ensure very little came from his flank.  Sal Zizzo gave him few problems until the equaliser on which the ex-Timber beat him comfortably. Still, one of the most underrated performers in the league continues to be an integral and successful part of the LA back 5.

Omar Gonzalez 8.5: Returned from absence and was part of a very solid back line but it was his distribution that made an early impression. The US international used his large frame well to block a BWP attempted flick which would have set up his own shot. BWP’s lack of shots on goal is a testament to his quiet control. When that failed, Penedo was there. He was latterly booked for shoving Duvall at a set piece which will lead to a suspension somewhere down the line, and gained his side nothing. Gonzales impressively Robbed BWP well in 83 despite giving him a yard start. All in all, a very good outing.

AJ DelaGarza 8.5: An excellent 5th minute interception was his second key moment of the game. He was part of a stoic defensive performance by the under fire Galaxy. He has now only lost nine out of 57 games when he and Gonzalez are the centre back starting partnership. He was very unfortunate  that he deflection off him bounced straight on to Felipe Martin’s head for the equaliser. Still, he continued to provide key blocks and interceptions.

Robbie Rogers 8: His job was to deal with the wily and increasingly assertive Lloyd Sam. He did so until NY head coach was forced to take Sam off in the 67th minute. In the first half, NY were mostly utilising the other flank and the centre, when they could get the ball wide at all. Rogers restricted Sam to a shot from a very narrow angle in the first half by clever positioning . Sam left in 67′ for Mike Grella who Rogers capably handled too. He warshly booked for a high boot  when Dane Charles ducked into a header.

Stefan Ishizaki 7: (off in 66′) After two clear minutes of RB possession that started the game, the Swede cleverly won a soft free kick to allow his side a calming first kick of the ball. Bruce Arena’s sides always seem to have ‘footballing intelligence’ in that way. A quiet first half otherwise. His rate of defensive tidying continued into the second half until his fellow Scandinavian Vayrynen replaced him.

Baggio Husidic 7: Husidic was under pressure in the first half as Red Bull’s high pressure game suffocated him and Juninho. The lack of turnovers though exasperated NY head coach Jesse Marsch and was a testament how well he and Juninho coped with it. His 62nd minute shot went over the bar but Husidic can be very happy with his performing on a day when only one side of his game was really tested.

Juninho 8: Juninho stamped his mark with a crunching early tackle. He leads the league in completed passes but it was his immense tackling that served his side well in a first half where LA barely touched the ball. He and Husidic performed excellently under pressure from NY’s pressure offence. Nastily flattened by McCarty in 89′, for which McCarty should have seen a second yellow. He is missing Marcelo Sarvas and this show augurs well for the arrival of whatisname from England.

Gyasi Zardes 6.5: Returning from absence, Zardes was lucky not to earn an early yellow when he stood over a NY free kick and had the ball kicked against him by an opponent. He was then booked in 14 for a crude foul on BWP. He threatened more in the second half with one run skinning the opposing full back and providing Gordon with a header. Not a great performance from Zardes but not a bad one either.

Alan Gordon 6:  (off in 71′) The opening half hour passed him by until he tempted Matt Miazga into committing a yellow card challenge. However a classy touch set up Zardes in the 39th for what can reasonably described as only LA’s second attack of the game. He did pick up a needless yellow for kicking the ball away just before half time. Bruce Arena looked disgusted but should save his displeasure for his own player’s poor decision, hardly the only cheap yellow LA picked up today.

His hold-up play was below his normal high standard but his ability to draw soft fouls  was exemplary to lift pressure from the nine men behind him. They will value his contribution well. He missed a fair chance from a Zardes cross on which he’ll know he should have hit the target rather than go over it.

Bradford Jamieson 8.5: (off in 93′) In Keane’s absence, he made the best possible start with a 9th minute goal of real quality. He picked up the ball 30 yards out and make a complete fool of Chris Duvall before firing in a deadly accurate finish to score the first goal Red Bulls have conceded at home and his first career goal. He ran 20 yards back to be the man to clear an overhit cross from the NY left, an added bonus from a man who had scored a goal. He will have a wonderful flight home and deserves the beer he’s only old enough to drink in some of the states he’ll fly over.

Bruce Arena said of him post match:

“Who knows, it’s a long way away. Let’s talk in a couple years on that. He’s doing well. Let’s wait a while. Let’s not get crazy like everybody does every time a young player does something right. This is a long haul in becoming a player. He’s many years away from being where we would like him to be and where he’s going to be so let’s just be patient and see what happens down the road.”

Mika Vayrynen 6.5: (on in 66) The Finn replaced the Swede Ishizaki in 66. He covered plenty ground as LA continued to surrender large amounts of possession. He seemed to position himself in a safety role whenever the first line of defender was beaten but wasn’t often called in to intervene, so well did his colleagues play. He made a lovely tackle, run and long ball lifted a period of NY pressure in 85. He hopelessly ballooned a late free kick over the bar but looks a good addition to a solid squad.

Edson Buddle 6: (on in 71′) He replaced Alan Gordon who had run himself into the ground. His first act was to be penalised for handling a bouncing ball in the RB penalty area, after he was unable to control it.

Rafael Garcia: on in 93′ Came on to run down the clock

Unused Substitutes: Brian Rowe, Ignacio Maganto, Tommy Meyer.