CARSON – In the first half of Saturday’s match against Minnesota United FC, the LA Galaxy’s attack was flowing. Romain Alessandrini scored in the seventh minute while Giovani Dos Santos had a pair near-misses.
By the start of the second half, though, both players had been lost due to injury.
Sebastian Lletget ensured that the Galaxy’s attack would continue strong. Lletget replaced Dos Santos at halftime and scored in the Galaxy’s 2-2 draw against Minnesota.
The goal showed not only the Galaxy’s attacking depth but, perhaps more importantly, Lletget is closer to returning to form after a devastating injury early in 2017.
“It’s been a rocky road, but hopefully from here on out I finish the season strong and see how high we can go,” Lletget said.
Lletget has seen some ups and downs this season. He has played 90 minutes just three times. He has been a starter, come off the bench or finished matches as an unused substitute. As he saw the Alessandrini and Dos Santos help the Galaxy control possession and threaten Minnesota’s goal in the first half, he may not have expected to be on the field contributing in that very game given how well the Galaxy’s attack flowed.
All things being equal, Lletget would have preferred his teammates have not left the game due to injury, but he tried to do his part with helping the team overcome those absences.
“We don’t like losing players especially in the middle of the game. It could disrupt the rhythm, but I had to do a job and fill in. Hopefully, I did that,” he said. “Individually I contributed to the team, but it just wasn’t enough at the end of the day.”
Lletget helped the Galaxy break a 1-1 deadlock. In the 73rd minute, Lletget collected the ball some 25 yards away from the goal on the right side. Dave Romney made a run down the right flank and helped draw a defender away from Lletget. With open field in front of him, Lletget took advantage. He carried the ball into the penalty area, switched from his right foot to his left and coolly slipped the ball into the back of the net.
The goal was his first since a 4-3 win over LAFC on March 31 and just his third since the end of the 2015 season. After scoring seven goals in his first season with the club, Lletget scored just one tally in the 2016 season. Lletget seemed poised for a strong 2017, but a broken foot during a U.S. World Cup qualifying match put an end to that. Lletget missed the rest of the year as he finished the year with no goals in 270 minutes played. It was not until this season that he returned to the field.
But being able to run and being match-fit are not the same thing, and Lletget is still trying to reclaim the match fitness he had in early 2017.
“I’m feeling better. I feel sharp, my acceleration and everything,” he said. “I’m just trying to get back to where I was. A lot has happened between that time but I just have to stay positive and keep moving forward.”
With the Galaxy facing a tricky week, Lletget could be called upon for more action. Colorado will visit StubHub Center on Tuesday before a trip to Seattle on Aug. 18. Still, Lletget was more concerned about the health of his teammates than his own chances of seeing more playing time due to their injuries.
“[Alessandrini] has been outstanding. I think we are finding our groove and our formation including Gio. They have both been key players,” Lletget said. “It’s a shame. I hope none of them are out for too long.”
