El Tráfico: A tactical analysis
Galaxy’s tactical prowess on full display
Chants of “MVP” rang throughout Dignity Health Sports Park after Galaxy forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s hatrick stole the show from LAFC MVP front runner Carlos Vela Friday night.
Galaxy head coach Guillermo Barros Schelotto’s brave tactical approach helped sealed the 3–2 victory over cross-town rival Los Angeles Football Club.
Before Friday night, the only two teams to have defeated LAFC in MLS have been Vancouver and Colorado. Schelotto took a much riskier approach than Vancouver, who sat in a low block, to contain LAFC’s possession-based play and its high-octane pressing.
The Galaxy pressed Bob Bradley’s side when LAFC looked to build from the back and offensively, Schelotto’s side opted to play a more direct style to nullify the LAFC high press.
The most poignant example of the press’ success against LAFC’s possession came in the 56th minute play. LAFC midfielder Latif Blessing opted to play a long ball — which resulted in a turnover — but exemplified just how cautious the Black and Gold were to play a short passes into the midfield.
Few teams have taken this courageous approach against the most prolific offense in the league let alone do it for nearly the entire game, but the Argentine tactician took a bold risk and it paid off in a big way.
Scoletto also displayed his willingness to forgo any sort aesthetic build-up play and was content in playing direct balls into the Galaxy’s big target forward, Ibrahimovic, to avoid any goal-scoring opportunities off of turnovers — something that LAFC has been successful in doing all season long, especially when it has struggled to break teams down in possession.
The direct balls into Ibrahimovic allowed the Galaxy space in behind LAFC’s midfield three allowing for quick combinations and the opportunity to run at a retreating back four. And if Ibrahimovic was unsuccessful in knocking down the ball to a teammate, the Galaxy midfield was there to counter-press, win second balls, and to initiate its offense. The Galaxy relied so heavily on this direct-possession approach that it attempted about 69 percent of its total passes in its attacking half.
Above all else, the biggest impact the Galaxy’s game plan had on LAFC was on the LAFC supporting cast. Forward Diego Rossi, midfielders Mark Anthony Kaye and Blessing were largely ineffective against the press as they only created one combined key pass.
Rossi was the most disappointing considering he is one of the top five goal scorers in the league and is often what keeps teams from focusing all its defensive effort on Vela.
The Uruguayan international was kept from creating in the final third as most of his successful passes were backward passes and failed to record a single successful dribble or shot on goal.
While LAFC remains atop of the MLS, the Los Angeles Derby now begs the question of how good is LAFC’s midfield three, outside of Atuesta, and can Diego Rossi be a consistent threat when it really matters? If LAFC wants to be remembered for this historic season they need to change the narrative that they can’t win the tough games.
