LOS ANGELES -- The LA Galaxy were left searching for answers after dropping their fourth consecutive match on Sunday.
The Galaxy fell 1-0 to the previously-winless Colorado Rapids at Dignity Health Sports Park to drop to fourth place in the Western Conference and continue their winless month of May. Andre Shinyashiki scored the lone goal in the 82nd minute as Colorado needed just a single counter-attack to steal three points from Los Angeles.
“It’s very frustrating. I’m at a loss for words; we were doing so well at the start of the season. It’s difficult when you go through bad runs. I think the team attempted and tried until the end, we dominated ball possession on their half, like usual," captain Jonathan dos Santos said. "We are lacking that final pass and goal, which is the most important in soccer because you can have all the ball possession in the world, but at the end, if you don’t score goals, nothing happens. Also, defensively, we are lacking, I also didn’t have the best game. I’m not trying to make excuses, but I didn’t feel 100 percent.
"It’s true, I trained all week after being out for ten days, but it’s not an excuse. In the end, I played because I wanted to and because I thought I could help my team. But in the end, this is a team, and we have a long season ahead and must be together. It’s hard to overcome a situation like this one; we lost against a team that’s sitting in last. But like I said, it’s sad because we are the LA Galaxy and the fans don’t deserve this. Four consecutive games that we lose is something no one likes, but Friday, we play another final, and we hope to go back to winning ways.”
The result was perhaps a bit unkind for a Galaxy team that controlled much of the ball holding significant advantages in possession (67.5-32.5) and passes (628-300) despite not having Zlatan Ibrahimovic due to suspension. However, the Galaxy's edges on the stat sheet resulted in nothing as Shinyashiki's goal off the counter just minutes from full time helped give Colorado their first win of the campaign.
Schelotto's team must pick themselves off the mat quickly as they'll now play their next two matches away from home, starting with Friday's trip to face Orlando City SC. A game that Los Angeles believe is a must win.
"We don't just need a result; we need to get wins," Galaxy defender Daniel Steres said. "I don't think we can harp on it too much or force it because if we press, then things like this can happen again, but we need to win."
