In a phenomenal defensive effort, the Vancouver Whitecaps grabbed a well-earned 0-0 road draw against the LA Galaxy at the Stubhub center on Saturday night.
The Whitecaps nearly found an early lead against the run of play in the 8th minute when Giles Barnes served a beautiful cross that was headed off the crossbar by Erik Hurtado.
Bruce Arena was forced to burn two substitutions in the first half and switch his tactics whenGyasi Zardes replaced an injured Steven Gerrard in the 31th minute. He then swapped inDaniel Steres for hobbled central defender Jelle Van Damme in the 44th minute.
Despite 70 percent of the possession and just a hair under a 90 percent passing accuracy rate, the Galaxy only produced one shot on target in the first 45 minutes.
The home side increased their pressure in the second half. Desperate for three points, they forced eight total corner kicks and took 10 total shots. However, they could not crack the stingy Vancouver defense, led by solid performances from Kendall Waston and David Ousted.
Bruce Arena will have to continue to wait for his 200th win as his club has now drawn in five of their last six MLS matches.
LA Galaxy Postgame Notes
LA Galaxy 0, Vancouver Whitecaps FC 0
Saturday, Aug. 27, 2016
2016 MLS Regular Season
Los Angeles, California
Scoring Summary:
None
Misconduct Summary:
VAN – Fraser Aird (caution) 27'
LA – Robbie Rogers (caution) 53’
Lineups:
LA Galaxy: Brian Rowe; Robbie Rogers, Leonardo, Jelle Van Damme (Daniel Steres 44’), Ashley Cole; Nigel de Jong, Steven Gerrard © (Gyasi Zardes 31’ [Mike Magee 87’]); Sebastian Lletget, Giovani dos Santos, Emmanuel Boateng; Alan Gordon.
Substitutions not used: Dan Kennedy, A.J. DeLaGarza, Baggio Husidic, Jeff Larentowicz.
Head Coach: Bruce Arena
SHOTS: 10; SHOTS ON GOAL: 3; CORNERS: 8; OFFSIDES: 2; SAVES: 3
Vancouver Whitecaps FC: David Ousted; Kendall Waston, David Edgar, Jordan Smith, Marcel de Jong; Fraser Aird (Cristian Techera 66’), Matias Laba, Pedro Morales © (Andrew Jacobson 90’+2), Russell Teibert; Giles Barnes (Nicolas Mezquida 80’), Erik Hurtado.
Substitutions not used: Paolo Tornaghi, Blas Perez, Masato Kudo, Tim Parker.
Head Coach: Carl Robinson
SHOTS: 11; SHOTS ON GOAL: 3; CORNERS: 5; OFFSIDES: 4; SAVES: 3
Referee: Alan Kelly
Referee’s Assistants: Anthony Vasoli and Jeremy Hanson
4th Official: Baldomero Toledo
Attendance: 25,667
Notes:
- The LA Galaxy (9-4-13, 40 points) earned a 0-0 draw at StubHub Center Saturday night against Vancouver Whitecaps FC.
- With the result, the Galaxy remain in fourth-place in the MLS Western Conference standings.
- All time, the Galaxy are now 9-3-4 against the Vancouver Whitecaps, including 7-1-2 in matches at home.
- The Galaxy’s +14 goal differential this year is the best in MLS and their 26 goals allowed are second-fewest in MLS.
- In their last seven MLS matches at StubHub Center, the Galaxy have allowed just three goals.
- This season, the Galaxy remain undefeated at home with a 6-0-7 record at StubHub Center, scoring 24 goals while allowing just 11.
- The Galaxy are one of only four MLS teams still unbeaten at home in MLS.
- The Galaxy have been one of the most successful MLS teams at home during the last four seasons, scoring 141 total goals at StubHub Center, the most of any team.
- The Galaxy’s home MLS record throughout the last four seasons is 40-5-18, with 141 goals for and just 47 against.
- Since 2014, the Galaxy have only lost five of their previous 63 MLS games at StubHub Center.
- LA Galaxy Head Coach Bruce Arena’s lineup featured eight changes to the starting lineup from Wednesday’s match in Chicago: Brian Rowe, Robbie Rogers, Leonardo, Ashley Cole, Nigel de Jong, Steven Gerrard, Giovani dos Santos and Alan Gordon started in place of Clement Diop, A.J. DeLaGarza, Daniel Steres, Dave Romney, Jeff Larentowicz, Baggio Husidic, Gyasi Zardes and Mike Magee.
- LA Galaxy goalkeeper Brian Rowe returned to the starting XI after missing the previous two games with an injury.
- On the year, Rowe has now made 22 starts and recorded seven shutouts.
- Rowe is one of four goalkeepers in MLS to give up less than one goal per game. He allows just .88 goals per 90 minutes.
- With a 199-119-86 record all-time, LA Galaxy Head Coach Bruce Arena remains one game away from 200 MLS wins, which would make him only the second coach to reach that milestone.
- During the month of August, the Galaxy are now 49-39-15 all time.
- In their next match, the Galaxy will remain at StubHub Center for a match against Columbus Crew SC on Saturday, Sept. 3 live on Time Warner Cable SportsNet and Time Warner Cable Deportes.
