CARSON, Calif. — The LA Galaxy have finally seemed to turn the corner on their season, which began with them regularly at the bottom of the Western Conference standings. And on Saturday, they continued their unbeaten run, drawing with the Houston Dynamo, 0-0.
The Galaxy are now unbeaten in their last three MLS games and have only lost once in their previous 11. Whether or not their efforts will fall short is still to be determined, as they are five points off the final Wild Card position with one game in hand.
One of the reasons the Galaxy secured a point was because of goalkeeper Jonathan Bond, who picked up three saves.
Defender Maya Yoshida also played a crucial role defensively in his third game for the Galaxy since signing with them. The Japanese international’s leadership and reliable play were pivotal in keeping the clean sheet.
Yoshida and his fellow defender Chris Mavinga were vital for the Galaxy in stopping the Dynamo’s quick counterattack. Mavinga was also reliable with his passing, completing 68 of his 71 passes.
Yoshida completed 61 of his 66 of his passes and five of six long balls. He also won two of two tackles, made four clearances, four recoveries, two interceptions, and one block, according to FotMob.
“His experience really helps us,” Bond said. “He’s very vocal, organizes very well, very experienced, reads the game very well, just every aspect of it, and has a lot of aggression as well. I found a lot of trust in him and him in me very quickly. I think together we feel very comfortable, and he did get into good position, but then our defending in and outside of the box from everyone was really strong.”
Offensively, the Galaxy did not have many issues getting into the final third. However, a lack of execution there led to a goalless night.
“I felt like it was a game of lost opportunities in our attacks,” said head coach and sporting director Greg Vanney. “We were able to pretty consistently get into the attacking half of the field on several occasions. Get into something that looks like it can be attack and then we falter in the final action, whether it’s the second to final pass. The second assist pass which leads to a better pass. The cross. We had 16 crosses, but only one of them, two of them, maybe turned into decent looks.”
Next, the Galaxy plays St. Louis City SC before an “El Trafico” matchup against LAFC. Both games could have significant playoff implications for the Galaxy as they enter the season’s final stretch.
