Romain Alessandrini scored the winning goal against the San Jose Earthquakes on Friday night at StubHub Center.
By Ivan Yeo
One of the Galaxy’s most consistent performers over the last 15 months has been Romain Alessandrini.
Alessandrini has been the main constant in the Galaxy midfield since his arrival last season, as evidenced by his 13 goals and 12 assists in 2017. On Friday against the San Jose Earthquakes, Alessandrini again proved why he is one of the Galaxy’s designated players, as his 82nd minute goal,, combined with his work rate in the midfield enabled the Galaxy to squeak past its archrival Quakes 1-0 at the StuHub Center.
“It was a tough game, but we found the energy to win this game,” Alessandrini said. “Now we have to get some rest and keep going because we have a game again Wednesday at home. We want to win every game at home.”
Alessandrini came through for the Galaxy on a night in which they did not have another of their stars, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who was serving a red card suspension after he slapped Montreal’s Michael Petrasso on Monday afternoon. Alessandrini gave Galaxy fans something to cheer about in its first game back at StubHub Center in over a month.
“We’ve gutted out the last two games. But, the main thing is that we’ve played to zero, and as we said at half-time we said look just keep it a zero, we’ll find a goal,” Galaxy head coach Sigi Schmid said.
Alessandrini got the Galaxy got the breakthrough it needed in the 82nd minute. Ashley Cole played a ball to Emmanuel Boateng, who then dribbled through several Quakes defenders before stumbling and losing the ball in the process. The ball however went to Romain Alessandrini, who took a touch before firing a left-footed volley past keeper past Andrew Tarbell near post.
“I compared him, if he played baseball, he’s the kind of guy who would hit 45 home runs and strike out like 180 times. That’s just what it is,” Schmid said. “Sometimes it’s hit or miss. One of the things we talked about at half-time was shooting more. And, he ended up hitting a good shot and getting a goal.”
Alessandrini even made plays on defense for the Galaxy. It occurred in the 89th minute, as San Jose won a free kick from about 22 yards out. Danny Hoesen sent the free kick off the Galaxy, wall, but the ball went back to Hoesen’s feet, and he one-timed a volley at the Galaxy goal, the ball beat Bingham, but did not beat the framework, as it hit off the left post, bounced inside the six-yard box and Alessandrini punted the ball high in the air, just before Quincy Amarikwa could attempt a header at an open net.
Alessandrini had a chance at an assist seven minutes into the match, as he dribbled along the right side of the field, and despite being marked by Shea Salinas, Alessadrini still managed to get a cross into the six, to Chris Pontius, but his header just missed the near post.
San Jose had two great chances in the first half. The first came in the 18th minute, Florian Jungwirth played Danny Hoesen into the penalty area, Hoesen crossed into the six for Magnus Eriksson, but Galaxy center back Michael Ciani cut off the cross, sending the ball over the endline. The Quakes’ best chance however came two minutes later, as Chris Wondolowski sidestepped Jorgen Skjelvik, then fought off the center back’s late challenge to get inside the 18, Wondolowski crossed a ball for Hoesen, Ciani again cut off the cross, but the ball stayed in the box and Valari Qazaishvili charged in and one-timed a close-range shot that appeared to hit off the hand area of Galaxy right back Emrah Klimenta, but not penalty was awarded, and no video review was initiated.
[/columns]
