The defending MLS Cup champion Los Angeles Galaxy will try to rebound from a surprising season-opening defeat on Sunday when they visit the Vancouver Whitecaps, who are off to a bright start under new manager Jesper Sorensen.
Shorthanded by a long-term injury to key playmaker Riqui Puig, and a shorter-term ailment to winger Joseph Paintsil, the Galaxy (0-1-0, 0 points) deservedly were beaten 2-0 by expansion side San Diego FC last Sunday in the visitors’ inaugural match as the 30th club in MLS.
The Galaxy’s result reflects an uncharacteristically turbulent offseason for a defending champion.
The Galaxy parted ways with striker Dejan Joveljic, and defensive midfielders Mark Delgado and Gaston Brugman. And loan signing Matheus Nascimento — who is meant to fill the void left by Joveljic — has yet to make his MLS debut after joining LA from Brazil’s Botafogo.
“It didn’t look like a team that just won the championship,” Galaxy manager Greg Vanney said after the opener. “It looked like a team that is fitting some things together still. And that’s what it felt like tonight. And ultimately, the game turns on a mistake.”
The error came in the form of goalkeeper Novak Micovic’s ill-advised pass to defender Carlos Garces, which turned into a turnover leading to Anders Dreyer’s first of two goals.
Meanwhile, the Whitecaps (1-0-0, 3 points) were the ones taking advantage of a gaffe in their opener, a 4-1 win at a 10-man Portland Timbers side that saw Kamal Miller dismissed after only 11 minutes for denying an obvious goal-scoring opportunity.
Brian White, Vancouver’s leading scorer the last two seasons, didn’t find the net in Portland, but he scored twice in Thursday’s 2-0 win over Deportivo Saprissa. That helped the Whitecaps advance 3-2 on aggregate to the CONCACAF Champions Cup round of 16.
Both the Whitecaps and Galaxy play in that round, though it’s the former with the tougher opponent looming in CF Monterrey.
Before that, Vancouver will try to solve LA’s offense, which likes to play the same possession-oriented style Sorensen is trying to install.
“It’s a team that would like to have the ball a lot,” Sorensen said. “So do we. So it’s about having also the courage to believe in ourselves, and know that they have some strengths that they can really exploit when we allow them.”
–Field Level Media
