LA Galaxy vs. Dynamo Player Ratings

This felt very similar to the Sporting Kansas City game. Awful restart to gift the Dynamo a goal in the first two minutes, even worse on Houston’s very first foray of the game. Then a slow descent into chippiness with multiple Galaxy players earning yellow cards, and giving up dumb fouls in the final 18 which led to not one, but two Dynamo goals. David Bingham also picked a great game to have an absolute stinker. (No man’s land, let me call you my home.)

This week, the Galaxy were once again undone by miserable defensive play and no midfield. Giovani Dos Santos had a good game statistically, but LA’s shape was much better once Jonathan joined the squad and gave the team an actual player in the middle of the pitch. The Galaxy need Jona back as a starter, which is going to shuffle someone to the bench.

Good

· Ola Kamara – combined with Skjelvik loses their man for Houson’s first goal of the game. Nice work to strip Houston to start the break for LA’s first goal, then a nice pass to Ibrahimovic. Missed a wide open goal after a fantastic pass from Romain in the 56^th minute. Scores on an even harder cross in the 85^th minute after a fantastic run.

· Zlatan Ibrahimovic – fantastic pass into the box that wasn’t rewarded with no Galaxy player making a run (a theme of the night). Forced Willis into a rebound on LA’s first goal. Astute and gorgeous long ball to Giovani on the Galaxy’s second goal.

· Giovani Dos Santos – continued his run and slotted in a fortunate rebound on the Galaxy’s first goal. Still impacting midfield by playing too far forward. That said, sent in a beautiful cross to Kamara for the Galaxy’s second goal. Ended the game with a goal and an assist, and he seems to have some momentum. So….do you bench him for being the odd player out?

Okay

· Romain Alessandrini – stellar pass through the Houston defense that should have been rewarded with a goal in the 56^th minute. Quiet other than that, and we send prayers to the hamstring Gods.

· Ashley Cole – good defense in 15^th minute, lucky not be beat in the 21st. Needed to keep his head as captain opposed to earning yet another yellow card for the team in the 36^th minute and getting even more hot headed. Saved a goal in the 88^th minute with a dragging leg.

· Jonathan Dos Santos – thankful sub to actually give the Galaxy a midfield.

· Chris Pontius – late sub.

Poor

· Sebastian Lletget – tried to be too cute with long shots over the course of the game. Unfortunate rebound on Houston’s second goal.

· Perry Kitchen – has to play much quicker off his feet to avoid being stripped, which resulted in yet another yellow card. Seems to have “dumb foul in the final 18” tattooed on his body. He hasn’t been good in WEEKS.

· Jorgen Skjelvik – combined with Kamara lost their man for Houston’s first goal of the game. Didn’t cover himself in glory on Houston’s winning goal (communicate with your goal keeper!).

· Michael Ciani – good defensive play in the 14^th minute being physical with Houston’s forward, another great play in the 21^st minute bodying off a forward. Got turned by Elis and earned a yellow card for his efforts. Followed that up with a nice physical defensive play in the 37^th minute. But gave up the foul leading to Houston’s second goal and got left in the dust by Quioto in the 81^st minute after failing to trap a long pass. This all cancels out to “poor.”

· Dave Romney – like last week, skinned down the left, giving up multiple promising chances.

· Ema Boateng – late sub. Nice defensive play to start the Galaxy’s second goal. However, didn’t use his pace to the best of his abilities in the last 15 minutes to push the Houston backline.

Putrid

· David Bingham – in utter no man’s land on Elis’ beautiful cross, bailed out by an epic miss by Manotas. Adventures in goalkeeping when he inexplicably leaves his post towards the end of the game instead of waiting for a Skjelvik pass. More awful goalkeeping in the closing minutes coming off his line and once again in no man’s land for Houston’s third goal. Whiffs a clearance in the 93^rd minute.

Man of the Match = Ola Kamara. His movement gave Houston fits and starts.