The LA Galaxy could muster seven shot against Atlanta United on Saturday.
By Ivan Yeo
It’s been a whirlwind of an early season for the LA Galaxy.
The Galaxy have brought in new players off and in-season and have seen players go in and out of the lineup due to injuries. Saturday’s match against Atlanta United was no different, as Jonathan Dos Santos was in the starting 11 and was going through pregame warmups when he apparently sustained an injury to his right knee and ended up being a late scratch. Baggio Husidic took Jonathan’s place in the starting 11.
“He felt something in warm-ups and didn’t feel that he could go,” Galaxy head coach Sigi Schmid said about the situation with Jonathan Dos Santos. “It looked like he almost thought he could go. He consulted with our trainers, consulted with his brother and others, and felt he couldn’t go.”
The inconsistency in the starting 11 all came back to haunt the Galaxy on Saturday night. Atlanta United showed why they are a force to be reckoned with in the East, using its possession and passing game to frustrate LA, and goals from Josef Martinez and Miguel Almiron sent Atlanta to a 2-0 win over the Galaxy at StubHub Center.
“When it doesn’t go in, it doesn’t go in, but it’s not like we had clear chances, to be honest,” Zlatan Ibrahimović said.
Atlanta’s possession game stifled the Galaxy’s star-studded attack, as they out-possessed LA 54% to 45%. However, it was another number that showed who was firmly in control of the match, as Atlanta out-shot LA 19-7.
“I don’t think we got enough shots off, we were looking for one extra pass all the time,” Schmid said. “There are times where you just have to say that you’re going to hit it.”
Atlanta almost got on the score sheet in the 19th minute, as Ezequiel Barco played Almiron into the penalty area, Almiron looked to split Daniel Steres and Rolf Fletcher, but Steres took down Almiron and referee Baldomero Toledo whistled for the penalty spot. Martinez stepped in to take the penalty, he sent the shot left past keeper David Bingham, but the ball hit off the post and back into play, keeping the game scoreless.
Atlanta however persisted and eventually got the goal in the 22nd minute. Almiron played a ball to Julian Gressel inside the 18-yard box. Gressel immediately took the shot, but it bounced off the crossbar. The ball however fell to Martinez, who touched it forward towards goal and Martinez beat Steres and Jorgen Skjelvik and buried the point-blank chance to give Atlanta the early lead.
Atlanta wore down the Galaxy with its passing and possession over the course of the remainder of the half as well as the second half. Then in Stoppage time, Atlanta got a chance to put the match away. Kevin Kratz sprung Romario Williams into the penalty area, Williams made a cutting move to try and evade Skjelvik, both players crossed paths, with Williams going to the ground and Toledo awarded Atlanta another penalty, much to the Galaxy’s dismay. This time, it was Almiron who stepped up to the spot and he beat Bingham, sending the shot left while Bingham went left, to seal the three points for Atlanta.
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