by Graham Tooke, @chelskitooke
Impact Recap
The Whitecaps continue their five-match road trip Saturday evening as they attempt to do the impossible and steal a point at the Stub Hub Center. Having suffered defeat midweek to the Montreal Impact, many will be expecting an improved performance along with a stronger lineup for the challenge of the Galaxy.
Jack McInerney started the goal scoring finishing off Laurent Ciman’s belter off the crossbar. Second half substitute Pedro Morales tied proceedings with ten minutes to go from the penalty spot.
But that score line lasted a matter of minutes before Ignacio Piatti stole his way into the ‘Caps area and beat David Ousted for the winner.
Coach Carl Robinson made a number of changes resting the attacking duo of Morales and Rivero. The pair had combined for 8 of the clubs 16 goals prior to kickoff. Despite allowing themselves to go behind early the side put together a decent first half with Rosales playing creator.
However, with Darren Mattocks as the lone striker and Kekuta Manneh and Nico Mezquida out of form there was little chance of the ‘Caps finding a breakthrough. Manneh screwed his best opportunity high although Darren Mattocks did find the left hand post with a blistering effort towards the end of the half.
Rivero proved late on he’s not necessarily the man you want coming off the bench failing to get involved. It would have been a perfect opportunity for Earnshaw to add to his 7 minutes of MLS time as a Whitecap and poach a goal.
It wasn’t doing and a dominant Impact controlled much of the second half looking more like the side that made it all the way to the CONCACAF Champions League Final. All of a sudden the task of getting by Montreal in the Voyageurs Cup might not be so easy.
Galaxy Matchup
Bruce Arena was his merry self in Massachusetts as his side earned a 2-2 draw with the New England Revolution in a rain soaked Gillette Stadium. The long-time head coach entertained the half-time reporter with his feelings on the performance of the referee in the first half.
His mood likely won’t perk up too much as he has to do without Gyasi Zardes who scored the second last week and scored his first international goal in a 4-3 victory for the US in a friendly against the Dutch.
Even Robbie Keane has mentioned he is unlikely to feature in the first half but may see time as a second half substitute. Although the likelihood of him not starting at home is slim seeing as he has been worked in over the past couple of weeks and is certainly ready to go from kickoff.
If he does live up to his word there’s not much to choose from with Bradford Jamieson IV away with the US U-20 squad and Jose Villarreal damaging his shoulder this week. It leaves the veteran pairing of Edson Buddle or Alan Gordon to go up against the probable centre back pairing of Waston and Rodriguez alongside Keane. What they lack in speed they make up for in aggression and will give Kendall Waston the toughest challenge he’s faced in the air this season.
Waston and Rodriguez will need to quickly improve upon the chemistry that saw them concede twice Wednesday and look wholly uncomfortable alongside each other. But no one has been overly enamored with Kah this season so Rodriguez will be given plenty of time to show his worth to the team.
Up top, MLS Player of the Month for March Octavio Rivero has only scored once in his last nine appearances after sprinting out of the gates with five in six. The Uruguayan hasn’t exactly let his performances slip but the support he has received has been nothing short of useless. Hopefully the addition of Techera sees Rivero get back to his early season best, but I can’t help think we need to see a two man strike force at some point like in Salt Lake when they came away with a 1-0 win.
Defeat in Los Angeles could be the beginning of a slippery slide for the Whitecaps with three clubs two points back. Even Portland has rebounded from their slow start and trail the ‘Caps by four points with a game in hand. June could be a very telling month for Robinson and his troops.
7:30 PM, TSN2 and TSN 1410
Probable Lineups
LA Galaxy: Rowe; DeLaGarza, Gonzalez, Leonardo, Sorto; Ishizaki, Juninho, Vayrynen, Maganto; Keane, Buddle
Vancouver Whitecaps: Ousted; Beitashour, Waston, Rodriguez, Harvey; Laba, Koffie; Rosales, Morales, Techera; Rivero
