Match Preview: Galaxy host St. Louis for Sunday night clash
The Galaxy will look to take advantage of their game in-hand
Sunday night soccer is back at Dignity Health Sports Park. The LA Galaxy will host Western Conference leaders St. Louis City SC at 5 p.m. to close out the MLS weekend during the international break.
The Galaxy’s injury list continues to grow as right back Calegari will not be available. His timetable is unknown but coach Greg Vanney believes this could be a serious injury that will take time to recover from. Raheem Edwards will be unavailable due to yellow card accumulation, Fourtently, Douglas Costa is ready to go after suffering a dislocated shoulder versus San Jose. Just take a look at the availability report here:
City is coming off a 2-1 loss to rivals Sporting Kansas City last weekend. The midwestern side has struggled away from home but is still a very dangerous team. In the reverse fixture, these teams drew 1-1 at City Park in a game that the Galaxy were able to steal a point. Let’s get into the preview.
The Storyline
The Galaxy’s playoff chances revolve around their games in-hand. This Sunday’s game is one of their games in-hand as it was originally scheduled for the Fourth of July but was rescheduled to September. Due to the fact that this game is at home, dropping points isn’t an acceptable result.
While it might be intimidating to go up against the top team in the West, the Galaxy has always played to the level of their competition under Greg Vanney. The team’s best players always show up and have their moments of brilliance in these games.
With Douglas Costa back on the pitch, I expect LA to be more creative compared to last weekend's scoreless draw to Houston. His return will fuel the rest of LA’s attack as they look to make a statement on Sunday night. Three points are a must due to the tight playoff race in the Western Conference. This game determines how likely the Galaxy is to make the final playoff spots in the West.
Players to Watch
LA: Maya Yoshida, defender
After a strong debut week for the LA Galaxy, Yoshida will face his toughest defense test on Sunday night. St. Louis likes to play direct and many long balls and crosses will head towards the Japanese defender.
Although it’ll be warm at the start of kickoff, City will be eager to press and disrupt the LA Galaxy’s build-up. With how efficient Yoshida has become as a passer, the Galaxy will rely on him to get out of pressure situations.
St. Louis is one of the top goalscoring teams from set pieces. One reason Yoshida was brought onto the team was because he’s excellent at winning aerial duels. The Galaxy didn’t have an air-dominant defender until Yoshida arrived. I expect him to clear away many balls and take away opportunities in the air for City.
STL: Nicholas Gioacchini, forward
In the reverse fixture, Gioacchini scored City’s lone goal in the draw. This season, his 10 goals in MLS are tied for first among domestic-based players. He’s been crucial in City staying atop the West with striker João Klauss out with injury for several weeks.
He didn’t appear in last week’s match versus SKC so he will have fresh legs on the pitch. He’s able to get into good positions with the ball and his pace makes him a threat in behind. This has been Gioacchini‘s breakout season as a professional and excels in his pressing system.
'If he starts alongside Klauss, the Galaxy must be careful of his movements as second striker. He’s got ability on the ball so don’t be surprised to see him drop into the midfield. Gioacchini is going to be a headache for the LA Galaxy backline.
The Winning Edge: Puig vs Löwen
Both team’s best players play in the middle of the park. Riqui Puig is the Galaxy’s primary creator while Eduard Löwen is the team’s engine and set-piece specialist.
Puig welcomes the pressure and performs spectacularly under those bright lights. He sets the tempo of the game and his vision allows for the Galaxy to start attacks in great positions. Whether it’s a goal or an assist, he’s going to make a major contribution if LA is going to win.
On the other side, Löwen brings stability in what can be a chaotic midfield for City. He’s great with the ball at his feet and is key for City in their counter-pressing moments. He’s dangerous on free kicks as he can score from most angles and whips in a lovely delivery.
This game is going to be decided by which star midfielder shines the brightest. Both teams will hold their own but one stellar performance can change all that. Either Puig or Löwen will come away with the biggest moment of the game at the end of the 90 minutes.
Edwards is out too??!! So whos in for him Aude? Then cuevas for Calegari