KANSAS CITY, KAN. – LA Galaxy Insider Adam Serrano’s Three Points to the club’s 2-1 defeat to Sporting Kansas City.
MAKESHIFT DEFENSE DOESN’T HOLD IN DEFEAT
Injuries and a suspension forced Bruce Arena to mix up his back four ahead of the match with Sporting Kansas City and during the team’s 2-1 defeat, the moves did not pay dividends.
With Omar Gonzalez (ankle), Robbie Rogers (ankle), Dan Gargan (red card suspension) unavailable, Arena opted for Tommy Meyer and A.J. DeLaGarza at right back and left back respectively while placing Kofi Opare and Leonardo at central defense. From the get go, the defenders appeared out of sync with goalkeeper Jamie Penedo as Sporting pressed for the opener. Kansas City got their goal in the 10th minute after a costly foul on the edge of the box when Benny Feilhaber fired in a free kick from close range that caught Penedo out of position. The goal broke a streak of 60 games since the Galaxy last conceded a goal within the opening 15 minutes which dated back to the 2012 campaign.
Defensive miscommunication popped up again on Sporting’s game winner as LA failed to clear out a Sporting corner out of the six-yard box. With LA unable to clear out the danger, Lawrence Olum nodded a header into LA’s vacant net.
COMEBACK FALLS JUST SHORT
Despite falling behind early, the LA Galaxy found their footing, but saw their comeback attempt fall just short in their 2-1 defeat to Sporting Kansas City.
After switching from a diamond midfield to a flat 4-4-2 formation, the Galaxy began to find space in the Sporting end which resulted in several attempts both on the counter and in possession. In the second half, the Galaxy came closest to pulling level as Robbie Keane and Marcelo Sarvas saw attempts sail over the bar. Keane eventually found the back of the net when he tallied his 10th goal of the season in the 79th minute of play.
Immediately after Keane’s goal, the Galaxy threw numbers forward in search of the equalizer, but saw their attempt fall just as Sporting’s defense held firm.
BRADFORD JAMIESON IV BAGS AN ASSIST IN HIS MLS DEBUT
The lone ray of sunlight in a dreary day for the LA Galaxy was the MLS debut of 17-year-old midfielder Bradford Jamieson IV.
The impact was immediate for the youngster who helped set up Robbie Keane’s strike in the 79th minute less than five minutes from coming into the game. With the Galaxy struggling to create down the flanks, the Galaxy Homegrown Player provided needed width throughout his 15 minute shift in the 2-1 defeat.
For a player with five goals to date for LA Galaxy II, Jamieson IV’s debut should help the teenager lock down a larger role in the team’s plans heading into the late summer schedule.
Adam Serrano is the LA Galaxy Insider. Read his blog at LAGalaxy.com/Insider and contact him at LAGalaxyInsider@Gmail.com.
