Whitecaps v Galaxy – take two
April 22nd, 2025by Jared Mercer
The Vancouver Whitecaps and LA Galaxy played a home and away series over the past week, which has highlighted the Whitecaps' strength in youth and Robbie Keane's clinical the first game a week ago in Los Angeles, where Vancouver have never won, ended in a 1-0 win for the Galaxy decided by Robbie Keane's clean second half finish. Vancouver played a high pressing game in the first half with speedsters Darren Mattocks and Kekuta Manneh all over the Galaxy defenders to great effect.
Carl Robinson so far this season has showed that he is much more tactically astute and clever in his changes than his predecessor Martin Rennie. Bruce Arena in the opposite dugout seemed to prepare for an onslaught coming into Vancouver and set his diamond midfield much deeper with only Keane sitting high up the pitch. A lot of pre-match hype was surrounding Landon Donovan and his looming MLS goal scoring record but he was less involved than teammates Stefan Ishizaki and Robbie Keane.
Early on Vancouver right back Steven Beitashour was all over the pitch making timely tackles and gut busting runs up the pitch creating chances and looking the most lively on the pitch. Teibert and Koffie stayed in a tight diamond to counter LA's midfield of Husidic and Sarvas , leaving the flanks more open for wing backs to storm up field.
Matias Laba remained anchor to track Ishizaki with Juninho doing the same for LA but more effectively on Pedro Morales. LA's right back Dan Gargan made forays forward as well, but crossing by both full backs left much to be desired.
Beitashour was most successful in intercepting passes and cutting out plays before they began or making a late recovery for the slightly mistake prone Jay DeMerit. With 47 successful passes and one key pass but only two of five crosses even landing in the box, Beitashour's weakness was revealed in the final third – especially when forced to cut inside and cross with left foot.
In the 37th minute it was Dan Gargan's cross that was headed back in front of the net for Ishizaki to head into the open net, showing more cool than his Vancouver counterpart despite Beitashour's tireless running. It was Ishizaki who sent in the tantalizing cross that Keane converted for the winner in the first match and he was for a while LA's most involved player in the match. Vancouver were doing more pressing and after the goal Bruce Arena's men seemed more comfortable soaking up pressure, albeit very early in the game to do so.
The goal had a marked change in momentum in the match as LA got into a groove knocking the ball around their diamond midfield.
