Three things from LA Galaxy’s 2–0 victory over Philadelphia
Guillermo Barros Schelotto’s side is firing on all cylinders, having won four straight, after beating the Philadelphia Union by a score of 2–0.
Here are three things we learned from the LA Galaxy’s latest victory.
1) Zlatan doing Zlatan things
LAFC’s Carlos Vela has been stating his case for Major League Soccer’s MVP, and rightfully so.
However, in his first full MLS season, and injury free, Ibrahimovic is making a statement of his own having added two more goals on Saturday.
The Swedish striker has scored in every match he has played in this season, scoring eight of the Galaxy’s 11 goals and assisting on one more.
Having been directly involved in nine of his club’s total goals scored, it accounts for 81% of the offensive output. Vela, on the other hand, has contributed to 61% of his teams 21goals.
That in of itself tells a story: where would the Galaxy be without the contributions of Ibrahimovic in the final third of the pitch?
2) Defense coming together
LA’s defensive struggles from the last couple of seasons are well documented. Last season, the backline recorded only seven shutouts all season long.
Now, six matches into the campaign, the Galaxy have recorded consecutive clean sheets, something managed only once last season, and have conceded the second-fewest goals.
At the beginning of the season, the defense did look shaky at times.
In the first match against Chicago, Diego Polenta played a horrid back pass that the Fire turned into a goal. However, Polenta’s early struggles seemed to have disappeared and is playing with more confidence now.
Now, the Galaxy also have added depth at center back, signing Giancarlo Gonzalez from Serie A side Bologna, using Targeted Allocation Money.
Gonzalez’s top five European experience will aid in steadying the clubs defense even further as the season progresses into the summer months.
3) Mentality
If there is perhaps one negative from this victory is the fact that the Galaxy let Philadelphia back into the match after halftime.
“The second-half we said at halftime, we go out to kill to score three or four to zero and keep going,” Ibrahimovic said.
“After two seconds we almost conceded one goal. So either everybody was not on the same side or we just relaxed.
“And that cannot happen because when you go out and relax you get punished.”
What does that mean for the Galaxy going forward? GBS will need to make sure his players do not allow a slip up in concentration later in the season.
If they relax at a crucial moment later, it could be the difference between making the playoffs or not.
Luckily, the Union were unable to capitalize on their chances, and once Auston Trusty was shown a second yellow, the Galaxy cruised towards three points.
