LA Galaxy vs. Sporting KC Player Ratings

It is difficult to write LA Galaxy player ratings when there is a clear goat of the game. In this case, that clear goat was Clement Diop. He makes great saves, but he also has critical errors when it comes to reading the game. Brian Rowe may not be as spectacular, but he is more steady, and right now, Diop’s confidence has got to be shot.

No bones about it, Diop had a shocker last night. Starting from the first few minutes where he was late to come out and only a bad touch from an SKC player bailed him out, to his absolute howler against Espinoza, to his once again late charge on Opara’s wonder goal, it was misery.

The Galaxy’s offense didn’t get to clicking until late in the second half to improve the scoreline, but without those howlers, the Galaxy may have walked away with a 1-0 win against the leading team in the West in what otherwise looked like a cagey match.

With the 2-1 loss, the Galaxy’s miserable home record rolls on. With Gyasi Zardes now off to USMNT camp, and Nathan Smith likely to miss games with an upcoming suspension, Curt Onalfo’s side continues to get more stretched.

Player Ratings

Good

• Romain Alessandrini - he’s a one man show out there willing the Galaxy to score. He had a couple of shots that with better finishing shoes he puts away, but he buzzed around the 18 trying to make something happen for the home side. He had 5 out of the 8 Galaxy key passes.

Okay

• Jaime Villarreal - involved in Espinoza’s goal when neither he nor Ashley Cole worked their way forward to block Espinoza’s shot. However, his overall movement in the center of the park wasn’t terrible (especially with Garcia abandoning the center), and he in general took better care of the ball.
• Jose Villarreal - had a headed shot on target that was saved, but set up Romney’s follow-up goal. 0 key passes this time around, but he should get a shot while Zardes is off on USMNT duty.
• Emmanuel Boateng - not the best night for Boateng whose passing in the final 18 let him down. Didn’t test SKC enough with his speed, but still was the only other player doing anything on offense.
• David Romney - lost Opara on the bicycle kick goal, but also scored off a header. We’ll call it a wash.

Poor

• Rafael Garcia - not enough presence to protect Villarreal in the middle of the park, he’s caught drifting too far left or too far right on his chalkboard with not a lot of touches for his minutes.
• Ashley Cole - backed up from Espinoza instead of staying close to block the long shot. Still not involved in the offense.
• Jelle Van Damme - had Dom Dwyer in his back pocket, but was also leading a backline that lost all discipline, drifting too far to the wings. Also reverted to his bad habit of pressing too far up the pitch for hero ball when the Galaxy were down by two goals. Picked up a yellow.
• Gyasi Zardes - he has two touches in the final third. Two! He is defending deep on the wing, and just can’t get involved in the attack. Here’s to hoping his time with the National Team gets him back on track. He might need some new scenery.
• Jack McBean - not all of the games can be like last week. Only 13 touches, not much productivity.

Awful

Yes, I’m inventing a new category this week for two players.

• Clement Diop - three howlers, was lucky only two went in. Too late off the line and bad decision-making, plus some bad distribution this week too. Really should not be starting in the US Open Cup game, that should be Kempin this week.
• Nathan Smith - Had a couple of good moments with some tackles to start the game, but it degenerated from there into his usual mess of getting beat down the right. Not only that, but he was lucky to be on the pitch after a horrible tackle on Benny Feilhaber that earned him a yellow, but should have been a red. Expect him to sit after the MLS DisCo gets to him this week. Bradley Diallo, get well soon.

Late Subs

• Joao Pedro - too late to do anything interesting but circle the ball around midfield.
• Bradford Jamieson IV - handful of touches, but he’s been exciting when on the pitch. Also should see more minutes while Gyasi is off at National Team camp.