It was billed as the most star-studded game in the history of Major League Soccer as LA Galaxy took on New York City at the Home Depot Center in California. This game saw illustrious names like David Villa, Andrea Pirlo, Robbie Keane and Steven Gerrard pitted against each other. There was however no Frank Lampard who was still struggling with a calf injury.
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In the end, the star-power of LA Galaxy proved to be decisive. They took the lead through rising star Gyasi Zardes and then doubled their advantage thanks to captain Robbie Keane. This lead was extended in fashion thanks to Giovani dos Santos. No sooner had the Mexican international made it three, more misery was piled on for the travelling New York City side and their fans.
Lletget made it four with no clear sign of the Galaxy’s goal-scoring carnage stopping anytime soon. Keane doubled his tally to make it five and almost had a third in the last minutes of the game but was forced to contend with just the two. Not that he or the Galaxy were complaining.
New York however were complaining, if not stunned. David Villa could only manage a penalty as New York struggled throughout against a fast and powerful Galaxy team that exploded into life in the second-half. Galaxy had 23 shots in total and countless spells of attractive build-up play to match.
New York had made an impressive start to the game, a game in which many billed them as the underdogs. The heat definitely played a part in the game, with play slowed considerably as a result of the sweltering California conditions. But the home side naturally coped the best and overturned New York’s strong start quickly.
Both sides had attacking options in abundance, with Gyasi Zardes also firing close just under the twentieth minute mark but again strong defending played a role in thwarting the chance. The officials also thwarted a chance, as the Galaxy were ruled offside on the half hour mark, but they stayed committed to the cause and were rewarded five minutes later with Zardes unmarked to put them ahead with Robbie Keane taking the assist from a free-kick.
Poku was looking to carry his impressive form into this one. With a chance in the first-half, the-in form youngster perhaps should have chosen to pass to McNamara rather than go it alone. Had he done so it may have been more than just a corner.
Villa had the first real chance on goal of the game, his shot was however blocked superbly by Garza. This action from the Galaxy defense was about to be one of the few they would have to partake in given the total dominance of Galaxy that New York could manage only 3 shots on target.
Poku did eventually pass to McNamara but scuffed his shot by dragging his feet through the turf and so saw his shot go astray. But it did show the promise in the New York game-plan despite going 1-0 down. But LA were made to rue their missed chances, dos Santos going close at the end of the first period again thanks to impressive defending. This time it was Hernandez who played his part.
Despite the low scoreline at half-time it really should have been more. LA spent most of the half in the New York side of the field and the link-up play leading up to the chances was great to watch and well executed but a mixture of luck, good defending and poor finishing meant the score remained the same.
The second-half was a very different story as LA finally took their chances as they asserted total dominance over proceedings. Almost every Galaxy player on the field had chances in this game it seemed. From Robbie Rogers and Omar Gonzales to Robbie Keane and Giovanni dos Santos, it was a team effort made more impressive by individual brilliance.
Robbie Keane finished in style to make it now 2-0 after a period of total LA Galaxy control. A master of one-on-ones, Keane sent the ball just over Saunders and chipped it in nicely. Shay Facey, on loan from Manchester City, was at fault for not correctly dealing with the Galaxy captain. Facey had a game to forget making poor decisions throughout the game, with a poor defense altogether hence the heavy scoreline.
Gerrard played his role for the sizeable British audience watching at home, who were not disappointed despite Lampard’s absence. He put in Lletget on the edge of the six-yard box to make it 4-0. Lletget had been playing an important part of the Galaxy attack all game and was rewarded for his hard work with a goal. This game was certainly a great advert for the offense in MLS, with plenty of goals to be repeated and analyzed.
Andrea Pirlo was not as effective as he was expected to be, leaving David Villa to shoulder most of New Yorks game but to no more effect than his Italian teammate. City were awarded a penalty which of course, the Spanish legend immediately claimed. He dispatched it with ease but it was merely a consolation goal because it was too little too late.
Keane was on the scoreboard again. He and Robbie Rogers combined well to put the Irishman in for his second and Galaxy’s fifth. He could have had a hat-trick but was again denied. A selfless pass from Gerrard to his ex-Liverpool teammate Keane was not enough as Keane was denied by a sliding Hernandez desperate to not concede any more goals. Luckily, five was all that it was to be.
For the Galaxy it seemed like business as usual but for New York they will be asking just exactly what happened. They were not expected to win – but they were not expected to lose by such a large margin either. That was their biggest ever defeat, putting Galaxy top of the Western Conference on 46 points. New York were left seventh in the Eastern Conference, outside the play-offs.
Final Score: LA Galaxy 5-1 New York City