CARSON, Calif. -- LA Galaxy head coach Bruce Arena continues to preach patience as the defending the MLS Cup champions prepare to take on expansion side Orlando City on Sunday at the Citrus Bowl in Orlando, Fla. (2 p.m., ESPN2, ESPN Deportes).
To say the Galaxy (3-3-5) have been struggling lately is putting it mildly.
They haven’t won on the road since last August in Colorado and haven’t won, period, since a 2-1 victory over Sporting Kansas City on April 18 at StubHub Center.
“We are keeping our heads above water,” Arena said this week. “We’re not drowning yet.
“I’ve seen it before and I’ll see it again.”
He was referring to a rash of injuries that have decimated his lineup.
Striker Robbie Keane, for example, has played in only four games because of a strained groin and hasn’t made an appearance since going the distance in a 2-0 loss to Vancouver on April 4. Center back Leonardo has been limited to six games and fellow defender A.J. DeLaGarza has played in just seven. Midfielder Jose Villarreal hasn’t played since a 1-0 victory over Seattle on April 12 and midfielder Mikka Vayrynen has yet to go the full 90 minutes in a match.
Throw in a heavy travel schedule that’s already featured preseason training in Ireland and Norway and visits to Washington, D.C., New York, this week in Orlando and Boston in two weeks and Arena could present a case for unfair treatment. But he isn’t.
The injuries, however, clearly have left him close to shaking his head.
“Injuries are part of the game. What are you going to do?” he asked. “It’s part of the game. These things go in cycles; there will be times when we get our full team back and all the aggravation will be worthwhile.
“Things happen every day and you have to make adjustments on the fly.”
The Galaxy are coming off a frustrating, two-game road trip which featured a 0-0 tie with Real Salt Lake and a 2-1 loss to FC Dallas, which scored twice in the last 13 minutes. Vayrynen said those two results were especially difficult to take.
“Last week was frustrating for us. The last two times we should have gotten the three points,” he said. “We’re getting there. Hopefully we can turn it around Sunday.”
The Galaxy will face an Orlando City (2-3-5) team led by former FIFA World Player of the Year Kaka and also including Canadian international Cyle Larin, who is tied with Kaka for the team lead in goals with three. Former Galaxy standout Donovan Ricketts is in goal.
“There’s plenty there to give us a battle,” Arena said.
Defender Omar Gonzalez acknowledged the defending champions have been challenged lately.
“It’s definitely a grind. Difficult times right now,” he said. “We’re looking to do everything possible to get out of this time period without as much damage as possible.
“Hopefully we can come out of it stronger and be better off for it. We just have to keep on battling and figure out ways to keep improving with what we have. When the key (injured) players ready, then we’ll be that much better.”
ORLANDO CITY SC vs. LA GALAXY
CITRUS BOWL, Orlando, Fla.
May 17, 2015 (Week 11, MLS Game #108)
2 pm PT (ESPN2, ESPN Deportes in US/TSN2 in Canada)
- Orlando City have scored five of their eight goals on the season after the 61st minute – leading directly to a win and two draws – after scoring twice late in their 2-2 home draw with the New England Revolution over the weekend.
- The Galaxy had their five-game undefeated streak come to an end – but still have not won in four games, since April 18 – following their 2-1 loss at FC Dallas on Saturday evening.
- Gyasi Zardes scored his second goal of the season, his first since March 15, in netting the Galaxy’s lone goal at FC Dallas. The defeat at Toyota Stadium extended their winless streak away from StubHub Center to 10 games in league play; their last away win having come last Aug. 20 in Colorado.
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