Marco Reus salvages a point in Cali Clasico for LA Galaxy
LA Galaxy end its road trip with 1-1 draw at Stanford Stadium
The LA Galaxy ended its road trip with a 1-1 draw against the San Jose Earthquakes after falling behind in the 16th minute of the match.
Beau Leroux opened the scoring with his shot from outside the box being put in the top corner. Goalkeeper Novak Mićović could do nothing but watch that shot hit the back of the net.
The Galaxy grew into the game as it went on, with better passing and intensity at Stanford Stadium. After halftime, the LA Galaxy began to get into a better rhythm and build some momentum to get shots on target.
Earthquakes goalkeeper Daniel made quality saves to deny the Galaxy’s opportunities in the second half. Earl Edwards Jr. had played a spectacular game in between the sticks back in Carson, now it was Daniel being the headache for the Galaxy.
However, Marco Reus provided the breakthrough moment with his goal in the 70th minute of the match. The German combined with striker Matheus Nascimento to get a one-on-one shot at Daniel. The first attempt was saved but rebounded into the path of Reus to put the ball into the empty net. With the goal on Saturday night, the German has 10 goal contributions in his last 10 games.
The Galaxy had the best chances to win the game in the final 10 minutes, but Gabriel Pec and Joseph Paintsil couldn’t finish off their chances. The Galaxy left with a point thanks to Reus’s moment in the second half.
“Marco has been outstanding in these games. Again, I think as he feels -- he's just such an intelligent player. He is so just smooth and taking the ball under pressure in these games where teams are trying to match up one-on-one, he's good, his touch is soft, he uses his body very well to protect the ball. He sees actions before the actions are happening, and that just -- again, when you're a team that plays you like this, it really helps to give you these little time edges and little advantages,” Head Coach Greg Vanney postgame.
Reus played 90 minutes in back-to-back games with injuries not plaguing him as it did earlier this season. When he’s been on the pitch, the LA Galaxy has a conductor and someone who can read the game at another level. When healthy, Reus has been the only game changer on the Galaxy who has been the difference maker in multiple games this season.
“I think with just the quality over the last little bit, I think coming out of the stretch where he was doing a lot of treatment and getting a lot of work, I think mentioned to you guys a while ago, he's said he's felt as good as he's felt in a long time. So we have conversations during the game,” said Vanney.
“I check on him during the game and he's letting me know how he's feeling. He knows himself better than any of us know him.”
Vanney also mentioned to reporters that Nascimento was dealing with stomach and groin issues at halftime. He was going to get just 15 minutes in the second half, but his good second half saw the two sides push for more playing time. Eventually, he would combine with Reus for the goal, which was his final action of the match.
“Some of those combination plays with Marco, you also have to be reading and understanding what Marco is doing,” said Vanney about Nascimento.
“If [Reus] gives it to you, you give it back, keep moving, and you might get it back again. I feel like [Nascimento] is settling into the team, getting used to his teammates, getting a better understanding on both sides of the ball with an attack and defense as to what the roles are, and as he gets more comfortable with our league and our team and all those things, I feel like he's a kid coming out of what I thought of the a shell early on. He's coming out of that shell a little bit and obviously showing his quality through the course of these games,” added Vanney.
The Galaxy will be frustrated that it could only get one point from this game, but something is better than nothing. Reus provided the moment that the team needed to avoid collecting no points from the road trip. The Galaxy is 17 points away from the last playoff spot in the Western Conference following results across the league.
Up next for the G’s are the Vancouver Whitecaps on the Fourth of July.