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LA Galaxy open MLS season with a win

By on March 6, 2015

There was excitement in spades coming into MLS’ twentieth season; sadly, this wasn’t the best representation of what the league has to offer. The opening kickoff and fireworks show beforehand was exciting enough, but most everything was downhill from there. Neither teams looked to have yet settled into the sharpness or rhythm of a run of form, and even Jose Villareal’s lone goal came via a Chicago mistake.

The Galaxy dominated much of the game and Chicago struggled to keep hold of the ball, bar a few bright moments from Stefan Ishizaki down the right — early on, Sean Johnson spilled his low, curling free-kick and the Swede sent the rebound into the side netting — Bruce Arena’s reigning title holders looked hardly any more creative than Chicago. Actually, they hardly resembled their title-winning side of last season, and the gulf in quality between the two teams looked smaller than it should. Brian Rowe started in goal ahead of Jamie Penedo, and of course, the elephant in the room, they lacked Landon Donovan. As Arena commented midweek, a host of players will be required to take over his lone responsibilities.

Today, it was Villarreal: the 21-year-old scored a vital opening goal. “This is the time for the younger players to step up. They have to step up this year. There are no more excuses anymore for [Jamieson] or Jose,” Robbie Keane said following the Galaxy’s preseason friendly last weekend. “To be fair to Jose, he always comes in and is always a threat and tries to make things happen because he’s very clever. This is going to be a big year for Jose. He’ll get more opportunities this year than he did in previous years so it’s important that he takes them.”

It seemed, though, that the Galaxy are counting on the arrival of Steven Gerrard in June. Kenny Walker, who filled in the central midfielder role that Gerrard is set to take over, was largely invisible. They’re in a transition between eras but are hardly pressed for results. Even after a 3-2 loss to the San Jose Earthquakes in their final preseason match last weekend, The Galaxy sense that a new playoff system gives them time to settle into the season; and from Arena’s position, this could hardly be a better start.

Galaxy’s backline held firm, keeping Chicago from a single sight of goal, as Maloney was bright on the ball in moments, yet hardly enough to bridge the quality gap between the two teams. While the pace of the game was slow and the Galaxy were nervy early on, Robbie Keane & Co. promised down the flanks. Forty minutes in Ishizaki’s low cross from the right trickled through across the face of goal, only to just evade the foot of Gyasi Zardes as well. Moments later, Villarreal sent another Ishizaki cross from the right inches over the crossbar.

The second half promised some brighter football, however, with Villareal opening the scoring with a low effort across the box after Chicago failed to clear an LA cross. Keane tested Johnson from twenty-five yards, and Arena brought Alan Gordon on for Villareal, sensing the Galaxy’s momentum. Ishizaki then got on the end of Omar Gonzalez’s long-ball, sending a low effort just wide of the far post from a tight angle to the right of the goal. Eighty-one minutes in, Keane put the game to bed with a fifteen yard side-volley form Baggio Husidic’s header down.
Man of the Match: Stefan Ishizaki

About Alex Morgan

Alex Morgan, founder of Football Every Day, lives and breaths football from the West Coast of the United States in California. Aside from founding Football Every Day in January of 2013, Alex has also launched his own journalism career and hopes to help others do the same with FBED. He covers the San Jose Earthquakes as a beat reporter for QuakesTalk.com and his work has also been featured in the BBC's Match of the Day Magazine.