CARSON, Calif. – The LA Galaxy’s Omar Gonzalez and Gyasi Zardes, fresh from impressive performances in the U.S. national team’s 2-0 victory over Mexico earlier in the week, came off the bench with surprisingly strong efforts in Saturday’s thrilling, 2-1 victory over Sporting Kansas City in front of 20,018 at StubHub Center.
But at least one member of the Galaxy jokingly said he was not that impressed.
“They’re young guys. They should be able to play two games in a week,” Alan Gordon, 33, said with a straight face about Gonzalez, who turns 27 in October, and Zardes, who turns 24 a month earlier. “Come on.”
Actually, if Gonzalez had had his way he would have started Saturday’s game despite going the distance against Mexico on Wednesday. The talented central defender was told by Galaxy head coach Bruce Arena he likely would start on the bench, and Gonzalez played the final 12 minutes in relief of Tommy Meyer.
Zardes entered in the 69th minute as a substitute for Stefan Ishizaki and almost immediately gave the Galaxy a spark.
“Clearly with Gyasi he would play 20-30 minutes,” Arena said. “The same with (midfielder) Mika (Vayrynen, who came on for Rafael Garcia in the 66th minute). Omar we were going to hold, thinking we would use him at the end of the game.
“The substitutions we used tonight were the ones we thought we were going to use. I thought those guys all did well and obviously contributed to our success.”
Gonzalez was credited with the game-winning goal on a redirect that went into the net off Sporting Kansas City’s Bernardo Anor well into stoppage time.
“You come in for 15 minutes, score a goal, you can’t ask for more than that, I guess, from a sub,” he said. “I’m just extremely happy because these guys worked their butts off tonight. It was a battle.”
Gonzalez said it was a fitting climax to a wild 72 hours.
“Flying back from San Antonio, meeting up with the team the next day,” he said. “Bruce told me from the get-go, ‘We’re probably going to start you on the bench.’ I wanted to play, I wanted to start. But he said we have 28 more games in the season and we have to be smart about it.
“I respected his decision. I was telling myself from the moment I woke up today whatever happens if my name gets called I have to be ready to make an impact. Just be ready to step on the field.
“It ended up working out, so I’m very happy.”
The Galaxy’s Bradford Jamieson IV, who played so well in his first career start, was impressed Gonzalez and Zardes contributed so much on short notice.
“It’s big time,” Jamieson said. “It’s hard to play in games like that in Mexico in Texas and then turn around against Kansas City. Both were big matches. I don’t think it’s as much physical as it is mental.
“I was playing Sacramento (Republic) and then came on the bench when we played Seattle. For me, it was hard to get back into the swing of things. You have to be ready for anything, and obviously both came in and did a fabulous job.
“Gyasi came in and created chances and Omar got the winner.”
