The LA Galaxy's 2-2 draw with CF Montreal is a draw that feels like a loss. The match in Canada had its highs but also lows that continue to highlight LA’s issues.
Daniel Rios opened the scoring for the home side. He finished off a chance at the far post after JT Marcinkowski got a touch of the ball, but couldn’t parry away from the goal.
19-year-old Ruben Ramos Jr tied the match for the LA Galaxy in the 20th minute. It was his first career goal in 18 appearances in LA Galaxy colors.
LA extends its lead in the second half from an unlikely source. Defender Maya Yoshida with a back heel in the middle of the box. It was the 7th career goal for the G’s.
The Galaxy once again continues to make it harder on themselves. A poorly timed attempt to win back the ball by Marcinkowski led to a red card for the 29-year-old in the 68th minute. It’s the third straight game with a red card for the LA Galaxy.
Montreal took advantage of the red card and scored in the 80th minute to level the match. Prince Owusu scored his 14th goal of the season by beating Yoshida to a header inside the box.
The Galaxy had a moment deep into stoppage time with substitute Hirving “Chucky” Lozano in a one-on-one chance against Montreal’s Thomas Gillier. Lozano was unable to get a shot on target, and the Galaxy finished the game with a point.
“We were up, and I thought generally we were getting down to getting pretty close to just kind of close out minutes, the final what 15 or so up a goal. So yeah, I felt like when you do that, you set yourself up for three points. Then you've got to try to see it out,” said Vanney about the game.
He was honest about his thoughts on Marcinkowski's red card, which was the turning point in the match.
“I just don’t think JT needed to come for that necessarily, based on where the player was and the direction he was running. I just don’t think he really needed to try to make a play. He thought he could get there in time, and obviously he didn’t. So leaves us left us in a tough position,” he said.
Three straight games with red cards are something rare in football and something Vanney has never seen in his career.
“Sometimes it’s just poor decisions. Sometimes, you know, lack of awareness, whatever. There’s been different reasons for different choices,” said Vanney about the plays that have brought his side to 10 men in each game this week.
“At the end of the week, if you already said we took three red cards, but we managed to take four points, you probably wouldn’t bat an eye at that, but we’re at that point, especially here by being up a goal where the three points was the mission,” said Vanney about the situation.
The attack also had its ups and downs, especially in transition. Joseph Paintsil, Kyogo Furuhashi, and Robert Taylor had their moments individually, but struggled to get on the same page often when moments in transition arrived.
“Sometimes I think we can make a little bit better runs for each other, and just to sort of unbalance the defense and work together in our movements,” said Vanney about these moments.
“Sometimes I think that’s really good, and then we just miss the pass, we overhit it, or we do something just to not connect in the moment,” he added.
The one moment Vanney and the Galaxy wish they could have back was Lozano’s late miss. The Mexican winger was frustrated for missing that chance at the final whistle as Vanney went to console him.
“I just said [To him] just keep your head up, keep working,” said Vanney. “It’s been what his third game here, and every game we played down a man. So we can also help ourselves, as I said to him. We got to help ourselves by keeping 11 on the field, so that when he’s coming into the game, we’re not scrounging out a 10-man result”.
The Galaxy’s next test is on the road to San Diego. This week of football showed the work LA needs to do to improve on disciplined aggression to stop being their worst enemy.