Jelle Van Damme is Leading the LA Galaxy Defense

Jul 9, 2016; Seattle, WA, USA; Los Angeles Galaxy defender Jelle Van Damme (37) goes for the ball with Seattle Sounders FC midfielder Cristian Roldan (7) during the second half at CenturyLink Field. Los Angeles won 1-0. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Buchanan-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 9, 2016; Seattle, WA, USA; Los Angeles Galaxy defender Jelle Van Damme (37) goes for the ball with Seattle Sounders FC midfielder Cristian Roldan (7) during the second half at CenturyLink Field. Los Angeles won 1-0. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Buchanan-USA TODAY Sports

Belgium international defender, Jelle Van Damme, is leading the LA Galaxy defense as they are the second best defensive team in MLS this season.

To the surprise of many, the LA Galaxy are currently the second best defensive team in Major League Soccer this season with only 18 goals allowed. They are only behind the Colorado Rapids who have allowed 13 goals this year. The backline of the Galaxy defense has been outstanding this season.

The team brought in three defensive minded players during the 2016 primary transfer window in Ashley Cole, Nigel de Jong, and Jelle Van Damme. Most know about the world-class talents of left back, Ashley Cole, and defensive midfielder, Nigel de Jong, but many fans had not heard of Van Damme. He was a mystery piece brought on using Targeted Allocation Money but he has been everything that the team could have hoped for this season.

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Jelle Van Damme is an experienced center back who has played around Europe at the top-flights of several leagues. He had an immediate impact on the Galaxy and has taken the defense to the next level. His aggressive nature to attack the ball and make clearances on a nightly basis has been crucial to LA success this season.

The team has recorded four shutouts with Van Damme in the line-up this season. He has started and played in 15 games out of a possible 20 this season. Jelle has also led the team to two consecutive shutouts with him in the line-up against the Portland Timbers in the U.S. Open Cup and against the Seattle Sounders in MLS action.

The 32-year old defender won a game-high five aerial duels and contributed 10 clearances in the match against Seattle. He has arguably been the team’s most consistent and valuable defender this season. Van Damme leads the back four and it is in large part thanks to him why Los Angeles is having the success that they are this year.

Many experts or fans focus on the big names of Giovani dos Santos, Robbie Keane, Steven Gerrard, Ashley Cole, Gyasi Zardes, and Nigel de Jong but Jelle has been a rock on defense this season. He has the perfect amount of aggressiveness without being reckless. He has committed 33 fouls this year and has been handed six yellow cards which is tied for second most in the MLS.

Jelle Van Damme was recently named to the MLS Team of the Week for Week 18 after an impressive outing against the Sounders. JVD could lead the LA Galaxy defense to a playoff run this season as well as a run in the U.S. Open Cup. The back four have been great this year but Van Damme has stood out in almost every match.