Just 11 weeks in the past the Galaxy raised the MLS Cup for a sixth document time, a possibility that the staff celebrated on Sunday with a relay of supporters and first rescuers who carry the Philip F. Anschutz Trophy to the midfield within the Haum Health Sports Park .
A triumphant video reproduced on the big video screens of the stadium, the fireworks stuffed the air and a banner of the darkish blue championship defined above the stands of the South -Vest of the newly renewed stadium.
So the brand new season started and all this out of the blue appeared a distant reminiscence with San Diego FC, an enlargement staff enjoying his first recreation MLS, crashing the Galaxy social gathering driving two targets of the second half from Anders Dreyer and a clear sheet from Cj Dos Santos goalkeeper to a unprecedented 2-0 turned the other way up earlier than an exhausted crowd of 25,244.
The loss was the primary of the Galaxy in 22 video games at dwelling, relationship again to the ultimate recreation of 2023.
“The challenges can be totally different,” stated coach Greg Vanney earlier than the sport. “This yr can be a special method to success.”
Indeed. And with 4 of the gamers who introduced Vanney’s staff to the lacking title final yr, that highway was closed on Sunday. Among the lacking there have been MLS Cup Mvp Gastón Brugman and Dejan Joveljic, who marked the successful objective within the ultimate. Both have been sacrificed to the League’s wage restrict.
Joveljic was one of many 4 Galaxy gamers to achieve double figures in targets and assists final season; No MLS staff had already completed it earlier than. But solely one of many 4, wing Gabriel Pec, was in uniform since Joveljic was exchanged final month and Joseph Paintsil and Riquo Puig are out with accidents.
“Let’s begin once more,” stated Vanney. “It is nearly adapting to those (new) items in our puzzle.”
The items didn’t adapt to San Diego. Christian Ramírez, Joveljic’s substitute in entrance, was ineffective in his 63 minutes whereas the German veteran Marco Reus was unable to supply neither the rhythm nor Puig’s disappearance in midfield. This left remoted pec – and pissed off – for the many of the afternoon.
The Galaxy groups of Bruce Arena from 2011-12 have been the final to win consecutive MLS titles, a chunk of Vanney’s historical past can be chased. But the League has modified lots since then, rising from 19 to 30 groups whereas the addition of allocation cash, the U22 initiatives and younger gamers designated have modified the way in which the groups are constructed, making MLS extra aggressive.
Yet the story and a reconstructed checklist should not the one issues that work in opposition to the galaxy. They even have an enormous objective on the again.
“Everyone will come after us,” stated midfielder Diego Fagundez.
Dreyer, a Danish worldwide who was enjoying in Belgium final month with Anderlecht, scored the primary objective within the historical past of the franchising seven minutes within the second half. He was established by an enormous galaxy error with goalkeeper Novak Micovic, making solely his fifth begin MLS, taking a backpass from Miki Yamane in entrance of his objective and launching a excessive outlet ball for all times to hit Emir Garcé in depth within the galaxy penalty space.
Garcés raised a boot however was unable to regulate the passage, which bounced at Chucky Lozano di San Diego. He then despatched him to the middle of the Dreyer field, whose left blow was cleaned in a clear manner.
The galaxy, pushing for the equalizer, took it nearly within the 79th minute when a Yamane cross discovered a sliding miguel berry, however Berry’s left deflection was suffocated by Dos Santos. A minute later Dos Santos made one other rescue, one of many three within the day, to strive from the middle of the Ruben Ruben Jr. field.
Dreyer then did all that Moot together with his second objective three minutes within the arrest time. Tomás Ángel, son of the previous Galaxy participant Juan Pablo Ángel, obtained help.
