Greg Vanney and the LA Galaxy record monumental 1-0 win over RSL
The LA Galaxy records the first three game winning streak under Greg Vanney
It’s finally come to fruition.
For the first time in 3.5 seasons at the helm of the LA Galaxy, Greg Vanney has recorded his first three-game winning streak managing the club he used to play for.
Since being appointed as LA Galaxy head coach in 2021, Vanney has seen good and bad moments on the sidelines - but this 1-0 victory against Real Salt Lake on Saturday night is arguably his most impressive result during his tenure.
Salt Lake came into the game riding a 15-game unbeaten run in MLS alongside Chicho Arango, who has cemented himself as the best MLS striker in 2023. America First Field is 4,000 feet above sea level and the temperature around kickoff was above 90 degrees - keep in mind the LA Galaxy was playing its third game in seven days.
Vanney was without his playmaking superstar, Riqui Puig, and his steady veteran ball progressor, Gaston Brugman, for the third consecutive game. John Nelson, MLS SuperDraft pick Tucker Lepely, and Martin Caceres were inserted into the lineup for rotation purposes.
The LA Galaxy went through the first half holding onto a 0-0 result. RSL had the better chances in the first 45 minutes with nine shots compared to the LA Galaxy’s two. Caceres and Arango clashed heads and forced the two South American players to be subbed out in the 21st minute of the match.
LA had a much better second half and found the game-winning goal through Gabriel Pec in the 74th minute. The Galaxy held on at the end and recorded its first back-to-back clean sheet since the 2022 campaign.
Vanney and the players celebrated this victory with multiple threes being lifted in the air by players with their fingers, acknowledging that it was the first three-game winning streak under Vanney. This “curse” has been at the forefront of discussion among the fanbase and media covering the LA Galaxy.
“It was a challenge for us to get three wins in a row. We made it the first time, so very happy for ourselves and very happy for Greg (Vanney), as well,” said captain Maya Yoshida.
Wingers Playing Their Part
A key reason for the LA Galaxy’s lack of consistent success since Vanney took over has been the underwhelming play of the wingers.
The possession-based system Vanney implements relies heavily on wingers getting touches in the final third and being the players who can score and create the best chances to score goals.
In his first two seasons in charge, Kevin Cabral and Samuel Grandsir showed flashes but failed to build on their best moments with G’s. The two Frenchmen were who Vanney intended his Galaxy team to be built around.
Cabral’s pace allowed the Galaxy to stretch the field but his extremely poor finishing held him back from reaching his potential and eventually losing his place as a starter in his final months as a Galaxy player. Grandsir had a good game every once in a while but found his groove in the squad in the final months of the 2022 campaign. It looked like he could be a key piece in the 2023 Galaxy but a surprise move back to his homeland forced the LA to turn the page on the French project.
Brazilian winger Douglas Costa was signed in 2022 but struggled to stay fit and make his mark with the club. It wasn’t until the last six months of the ‘23 MLS season that he began to rack up goals and assists consistently. Free agent signing Tyler Boyd added speed and vertically but was then traded to Nashville after a good first season with LA racking up seven goals and four assists.
Costa and Boyd combined for 21 goals and assist during the 2023 season. In just 20 games this season, Pec and Joseph Paintsil have matched that tally. LA spent close to $20 million this offseason to upgrade their wingers and that invest is bearing lots of fruit.
Pec has elevated his game in the last month and developing into a consistent performer every time he gets on the pitch for the G’s. Paintsil started the season recording goal contributions but his form dipped right as he got hurt and missed a month of the season.
Paintsil is still not in top form- he missed a good chance in the 51st minute - but that’s not a key issue for LA as Pec is putting the attacking load on his shoulders.
“The guy is a tireless worker. He's a horse. It's like I think he's played 50 games in each of the last three seasons. So coming here and playing the games that we have and the busy schedule moments, for him, it's nothing,’ said Vanney about the Brazilian winger.
He also mentioned that he’s spent most of the season searching for the best way to use him and get the most out of his raw talent. Playing on the right wing has seen Pec not only connect better with his teammates but also be the danger man the Galaxy envisioned when the club made him their most expensive signing in team history.
“We know the quality he has. His ability on the right side to get in on his left foot, and he's had a couple finishes in the last few games on that. When he's on left, he gets to the end line and he creates problems setting up goals which he did earlier in the week,” said Vanney.
“He's finding his ways in this league and in this team, and we are finding ways to continue to get him on the ball in good positions.”
Pec’s biggest criticism is his lack of production away from home. He silenced that briefly on Saturday night as he continues to provide the type of wing play that Vanney has envisioned since he first took the head coach gig in 2021.
Defense Locking In
As mentioned earlier, the LA Galaxy has recorded back-to-back clean sheets for the first since since April 2022. This current team shut out NYCFC and RSL - two opponents at the top of their respective conferences. Salt Lake had their chances but their lack of execution held them back on the night from rescuing a point on the night.
“We happened to have a two-week break and one of the things we stressed inside of that is some of our defensive work, our positioning, our connectedness, making things a little clearer and more predictable for each other. I think we were really good at that in the last couple of games.”
Improving the team’s defense has been at the forefront of Vanney’s LA Galaxy team. There haven’t been many consistent stretches since 2021 but is the defense starting to turn the corner?
The Galaxy has allowed an expected goals-against tally of 1.0 or less in four of the last five games. The club didn’t achieve that in its last previous five games.
With Caceres subbed out, Jalen Neal slipped in seamlessly next to Yoshida. Goalkeeper John McCarthy played his part as he posted his fourth shutout of the season and registered four saves in the victory.
“That's two in a row. That's not something we have done in probably a long time. It's a big thing for our group, as well. If we defend well, we're going to be really, really difficult to beat,” said Vanney.