LA Galaxy v San Jose (2-0) – Galaxy Get Goal from Keane and a Win over Dormant Quakes

LA’s Strategy

     Bruce Arena gave a start to Robbie Keane even though he had only arrived at the club 48 hours prio. Keane took the place of Juan Pablo Angel up top and paired with Adam Cristman. The 4-4-2 formation placed Juninho and Beckham in the center of midfield and Donovan and Franklin out wide. In defense, Frankie Hejduk got the start at right back, his second start of the season. The veteran defender conceded a couple of fouls that made it look like he was slightly off the pace of the game, but overall he handled himself well and had a solid evening.

San Jose’s Strategy

     Frank Yallop set his side in a 4-4-2 as well. The strikers were Wondolowski and Stephenson, who played slightly deeper of the two. Gjertsen played wide right and was most dangerous cutting inside of Dunivant rather than swing in crosses from out wide. Bringing energy and endeavor from the left side was Bobby Convey, but he was ineffective at providing service for the two forwards. Baca and Corrales played in central midfield. Corrales was the more creative player, looking for through balls and trying to find his forwards going towards goal, to which he had moderate success.

Galaxy Take Lead After Roaring out of the Gates

     The home side looked eager to show off their new attacking addition at the outset of the match. The movement between Keane and Cristman was great early on. One striker would come to the ball while the other was trying to get in behind. They also had a few scissor movements which especially confused San Jose’s back line. In the opening minute, Juninho put Cristman through on goal and the striker’s stop and go movement allowed him to get a shot away that went just wide.

     Early on, the Galaxy passing was sharp and very quick giving San Jose little time to react. The away side looked outclassed and overwhelmed at the start. The fast start paid off in the 21^st minute as the Galaxy took the lead through Keane. Beckham took a quick free kick from the center circle that was misplayed by Hernandez. This error gave Keane an open path to goal and the Irish international rounded Jon Busch and finished with ease.

     The partnership of Beckham and Juninho worked better than v Portland. Playing against two in midfield and against a side that did not counter attack made the defensive duties for the central players easy to manage. Unlike San Jose, Portland used a quick counter and also dropped a striker deep to pick up the ball. It was disappointing to see Yallop not try to exploit this as a possible weakness.

Galaxy Lay off the Gas & San Jose Comes to Life

     At around the half hour mark, LA seemed content to sit back and let San Jose control the ball and the run of play. The Galaxy dropped off to the midfield line and would only pressure once San Jose crossed into their half. The home side appeared to be content to hold a one goal lead going into the locker room. The Quakes were able to control the match, but did not have the quality or the creativity to break down the Galaxy defense. San Jose lacked ideas and Wondolowski and Stephenson were hardly involved in the attack. Instead, San Jose found most of their success out wide through Convey or Gjertsen cutting inside from the right.

     However, the Quakes were able to fashion a couple of half chances. Gjertsen cut inside and had a shot saved by Saunders in the 24^th minute. Seven minutes later, Baca had a go from distance that was saved. To start

San Jose go Down to Ten & LA add a Second

     The strong fight back by San Jose to try and equalize seemed to be fading a little passed the hour mark. Just before being subbed off, Keane nearly replicated his first goal in the 64^th minute but put the shot over. Yallop went to the bench to try and provide a spark in the 71^st minute. He took off Wondolowski (who did not look happy) and Stephenson and brought on Dawkins and newly acquired Ecuadorian Edmundo Zura. Bruce Arena then brought on Mike Magee for Robbie Keane, who most likely is working towards full fitness.

     Ten minutes later, San Jose was reduced to ten men after Steven Beitashour was sent off. The Quakes defender jumped over a sliding Landon Donovan but he left a foot down and his studs connected with Donovan’s knee. The incident looked like it could have been avoided as the replays showed Beitashour looking down at Donovan before extending his boot towards him.

     After the sending off, the match looked like a formality. The Galaxy had chances from crosses but Lopez and Magee were unable to finish. Then, in the 90^th minute, LA finished off the match. Donovan played it wide to Franklin whose ground cross found Mike Magee rushing to the near post, and he put the ball by Busch before the keeper could come out and collect the cross.

Conclusions

     LA definitely deserved the three points and were the better side. With the addition of Keane, LA finally have a consistent goal scorer. One downside to the win was the play of Sean Franklin. He did not look comfortable playing in the midfield and was missing in action for much of the match. He should return to right back and Magee or Stephens should play in midfield.

     Also, the Galaxy cannot think that they are the best team and not go out and show it on the field. For large stretches, they looked content and almost uninterested. Bruce Arena has the job to push the Galaxy to play hard every match if they are to pick up the Supporters Shield, MLS Cup and advance into the Champions League.

     San Jose looks lost and appears to have no shot at making the playoffs. The Quakes have no ability to create chances and thus score goals. Yallop should try and experiment with a new formation to try and breathe life into the attack. A change from the 4-4-2 may not be the answer, but the status quo could certainly cost the experienced manager his job. 

Thoughts on LA with Keane? Or how to rejuvenate San Jose?

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San Jose v Vancouver (2-2) – Hassli’s Brace Cancels out Wondo’s

Entering the match, the two sides came in limping. Vancouver were on a four match losing streak and San Jose had gone winless in six.

San Jose’s Strategy

     Frank Yallop started with a 4-2-3-1 formation, using Wondolowski on the left side instead of as a strike partner for Lenhart. Lenhart’s job was to hold up the ball and he took quite a pummeling doing so. Dawkins operated as the playmaker between the forwards and midfield. Wondolowski played more as a left striker than a left winger and stayed high up the pitch. On the right side, Peterson played as a true winger and the midfield of Dawkins, Ring and Stephenson looked to find him in space.

Vancouver’s Strategy

     Tom Soehn had to forge a makeshift back four due to the absences of Jordan Harvey, Alain Rochat and Jay DeMerit. Jeb Brovsky went from midfield to left back and slide Greg Janicki into central defense. Also, Mustapha Jarju made his MLS debut and Vancouver went to a 4-4-2 instead of their usual 4-2-3-1. Camilo and Salinas played on the wings, swapping sides midway through the first half.

Quakes Score Early and Dominate

     The Earthquakes claimed the lead in the third minute of the match. Vancouver gave the ball away in their own half. Lenhart sent a return ball to Dawkins who delicately chipped a pass to Wondolowski out wide. Brovsky was caught out of position and Wondo was free to finish a right footed shot past Joe Cannon.

     San Jose remained the team on top for the majority of the first half. Lenhart was working hard to hold up the ball and draw fouls. Wondolowski looked dangerous in the left forward spot and Dawkins and Peterson were looking to find the two forwards.

     Vancouver started slow as Jarju and Hassli looked like strangers playing together. Salinas was active out wide and trying to swing in crosses but the two strikes were standing on top of each other a few times and made themselves easy to mark. Jarju did have a great chance to the right of goal but put it over. San Jose’s 4-4-2 defensive shell was proving difficult to breakdown.

Vancouver level Before Half and Carry Momentum

    Just before the half, Simon Dawkins was forced to leave the match with a hamstring injury and the rookie Rafael Baca was brought in. After this change, the match seemed to swing in Vancouver’s favor. One minute later, Hassli was able to equalize. San Jose lost possession on the left touchline and Salinas put Hassli through on goal through the left channel. This was possible because Bobby Burling was caught too high up the pitch and Hassli finished to the far post with Busch only able to get fingers to his shot.

     Due to the Dawkins injury, Yallop set his side in a 4-4-2 to start the second half, moving Baca wide left and Wondolowski up top. This tactical change did not seem to forge a cohesive attack. However, the Quakes were able to take the lead back in the 54^th minute. Peterson sent in a free kick from the right side that was comfortably finished by Wondolowski, for his second of the night. The free header a mere five yards from goal was made possible after Wondo’s marker had fallen down.

     Nevertheless, the Whitecaps responded well to again being down a goal. Through his excellent off the ball movement, Hassli began to find room in the channels and Jarju stayed up top. But, the Gambian’s night ended early in the second half and Vancouver sent in Chiumiento to play behind Hassli and shift to a 4-2-3-1.

     The Caps found success down the left hand side. Salinas was going by Chris Leitch like he was a turnstile. In the 61^st minute, Salinas provided his second assist to Hassli. He skipped past Leitch to the endline and squared the ball to Hassli who was unmarked ten yards from goal, and the French man finished for his second goal.

Wide Open Final 25 Minutes

     Both teams were in dire need of a win and they were desperately trying to score a third. This made the final quarter of the match entertaining. Salinas found space by Leitch again and set up Camilo who missed the target. Lenhart had a one v one after Janicki misplaced a header. The out of form striker missed the target and two minutes later had a header saved by Cannon. Camilo had another chance but took too many touches and Burling recovered to clear in the 86^th minute. Three minutes later, Koffie rattled the crossbar with a rocket off the crossbar. Wondolowski had two half chances in the 92^nd minute but was unable to get a shot away, the match ending in a draw.

Conclusion

     Neither manager will be happy to pick up a point, but they can take positives out of the match.  

     San Jose has now drawn seven matches in a row. Frank Yallop should consider shaking up his lineup to try and freshen up his team. Maybe he should drop Lenhart to the bench and start Wondolowski on his own up top to make room for an attacking midfielder. The system they started the match with (Dawkins in the center) seemed to work but he may have picked up an injury for a few weeks.

     Vancouver look to have a promising strike partnership. Hassli will be freer to work the channels and hold up the ball while Jarju will play off the shoulder of the center backs and try and win headers and make runs to get behind the defense. This partnership may take a few games to look cohesive as a few times the strikers got in each other’s way.

     For future matches, maybe Tom Soehn will consider moving Camilo into the middle where he seems more comfortable to try and create chances for the strikers. Camilo played out wide but always wants to cut inside and find the ball instead of playing a true wing. If they keep him on the right, the right back will have to get forward to provide width.

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