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A depleted LA Galaxy side narrowly fell to Toronto 1-0 Saturday afternoon at a renovated BMO Field in downtown Toronto.
#LAGalaxy XI: Rowe; DLG, Steres, Van Damme, Cole; Husidic, De Jong, Larentowicz, Magee; Gordon, Lletget #TORvLA pic.twitter.com/eVoDA61IgH
— LA Galaxy (@LAGalaxy) June 18, 2016
The first half was admittedly a dry affair. With Gyasi Zardes, Robbie Keane, Steven Gerrard and Giovani dos Santos all missing from the lineup, offense was always going to be at a premium. Outside of a few Sebastian Lletget half-chances (and a horribly missed breakaway), LA were unable to muster much in attack.
On the positive side however, the Galaxy defense managed to shut down Toronto FC and frustrate 2015 MLS MVP Sebastian Giovinco.
The TFC attack began to warm up in the second half, but Brian Rowe made several clutch stops, tipping over a long-range shot from Benoit Cheyrou in the 53rd minute, then denying Giovinco on a breakaway in the 60th to keep the Galaxy from conceding.
B-Rowe. https://t.co/WYlFfchGiK #TORvLA pic.twitter.com/pX22xZF6z0
— LA Galaxy (@LAGalaxy) June 19, 2016
LA also got away with one when Giovinco was clipped by Nigel de Jong on the edge of the box, but referee Ricardo Salazar failed to spot the foul.
But eventually TFC would break the Galaxy's resistance. In the 76th minute, Benoit Cheyrou played a beautiful long ball over the LA back four that Eriq Zavaleta headed to the far post, and Drew Moor was there to guide another header, this time to the near post, past Rowe and in.
LA head home to battle the Colorado Rapids next Wednesday.