Here are three things we learned from the LA Galaxy’s 3-2 loss to the Houston Dynamo:
Frustration setting in
Tension is building for the LA Galaxy after conceding eight goals in their last three games. Players are becoming more visibly frustrated with each other on the field by throwing their arms up and yelling at teammates after each goal is allowed. Postgame comments mirror their body language.
“It is very irritating because after five minutes we conceded already a goal, like that, and we are chasing goals, which is not normal,” LA Galaxy forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic said. “We cannot concede like that. It shouldn’t be normal. It’s not good; it is not good. We can either wake up or continue like this, but if we continue like this, we don’t want the same objective – we don’t want to win.”
Players getting healthy
Injuries are becoming less of an issue for this troubled side, meaning the excuse of a rotating lineup doesn’t quite work as well anymore. LA Galaxy head coach Sigi Schmid is grateful for his players recovering from injuries, but laments their lack of teamwork.
Watch: Highlights from the Galaxy’s loss to Houston
“It’d be nice if we could play the same lineup two weeks in a row — which today we ended up starting the same lineup two weeks in a row — but it’d be nice if we had all our players healthy,” Schmid said. “It’s just a matter of just integrating everybody on to the same page. I thought at times we did alright, but it’s just not enough.”
Gio heating up
LA Galaxy forward Giovani Dos Santos is finding his stride. He’s scored a goal in the last two games and notched an assist in the match against Houston. This comes as perfect timing for both club and country: his club is struggling to score goals and he’s trying to make a case for himself for Mexico’s World Cup Roster. His increased contributions might just be what the team needs to start heading in the right direction.