MLS LA Galaxy

LA Galaxy Postgame Notes and Quotes: LA Galaxy 2, LAFC 1 - Saturday, May 8, 2021

Published on May 9, 2021 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
LA Galaxy News Release


NOTES:

The LA Galaxy earned a 2-1 win over LAFC at home on Saturday night.

With the result, the Galaxy are now 3-0-1 (9 points) in the 2021 MLS regular season, with eight goals scored and eight conceded.

At home this season, the Galaxy are now 2-0-0 with five goals scored and three conceded.

The LA Galaxy are 5-3-2 (W-D-L) all-time against LAFC, including 3-1-0 (W-D-L) at home.

LAFC remain the only football team yet to win a regular season game at Dignity Health Sports Park, trailing the LA Chargers (NFL), LA Wildcats (XFL) and San Diego State University (NCAA Mountain West Conference).

LA Galaxy forward Javier Hernandez tallied his league-leading sixth goal of the season in addition to recording his first assist this season.

His assist marked his first with the LA Galaxy.

Hernandez now has six goals and one assist in just four games this season with the club.

LA Galaxy defender Derrick Williams made his second-consecutive start for the LA Galaxy after debuting last weekend in Seattle.

LA Galaxy goalkeeper Jonathan Bond tallied four saves on the afternoon, bringing his MLS total to 19 saves on the year, the most in MLS.

LA Galaxy Defender Daniel Steres made his fourth-straight start in central defense. Steres is one of the longest tenured Galaxy defenders with 126 previous appearances.

In all, the club had seven players feature during Sunday's match that came through the club's developmental system (LA Galaxy II and LA Galaxy Academy): Daniel Steres, Julian Araujo, Efrain Alvarez, Carlos Harvey, Adam Saldana, Cameron Dunbar, Ethan Zubak.

In their next match, the LA Galaxy will host Austin FC on Saturday, May 15 at Dignity Health Sports Park.

For more information, visit www.lagalaxy.com.

Postgame Quotes

LA GALAXY HEAD COACH GREG VANNEY

About the emotions around this win:

"I'm so happy for the guys. They laid it out all there today. Every single guy that went out there gave it everything they had to the victory today so I am happy for them. They earned it with their work rate, their commitment, sticking to it. They got a lead, they gave up the lead, they got it back and so I am proud of them. It is a group of guys, who if they continue, which I can believe they will, will gain the character that they have to compete in these games. We will continue to get better as a team. If we can carry this along with us, we will have a very good group that will be hard to beat."

Regarding Cameron Dunbar's role in the goal and coming in as a second half sub:

"He is quick. He shifty. He doesn't stop, he just keeps coming and doesn't stop, so later in the game, when guys are a little tired, the last thing you want to deal with is a guy that keeps coming at you and whose has speed and quickness and is always in your business when you're trying to do things. It just creates so many problems. We felt like we were going to have to defend in stretches and get out in the counter attack and use his speed in the transitions - use that on that opposite side and switch some balls from one side to another. Cam just kept on competing and fighting to keep it alive and the next thing you know it's in front of the goal with an opportunity and Jonah put in the work to get out of the back and get all the way up to the field to be in the position to deal with the drop pass to finish it. So again, it was sheer commitment on that to see the play out and to give ourselves a chance."

On if he ever made a tackle that led to an assist:

"I can't recall... but again, it was a heck of a tackle and the one thing that I will give him credit for because it is one of the things that we as a group need to get better to people and we need to contest those balls. It was one of the few times in the game that I thought we were really close enough to compete for the ball that was played out that turned into a goal. So we need to be more present in those types of situations, the way Derek was in that one and it turned into a second chance opportunity that turned into a goal that gave us the lead so kudos to him. We need to see more of it not just from him specifically but from our group in general to be able to sustain and get second chance attacks sometimes. Sometimes I think it is too easy for teams to get out once we have attacked them one time. Really good job by Derek. We are fortunate that landed it on Javier's foot. That was one of the best passes will probably see in a little while."

On the fans and stadium atmosphere:

"Given what everyone has gone through over the last year and teams have played with no fans, I don't know if our team produces that type of effort, that type of commitment without the fans pushing and backing them every step when guys are tired the fans are pushing them and cheering them. For me it is a culture win and that includes our fans which are part of our culture, part of our family and who we are. And I think that they are a huge part of that today in helping our guys just dig deeper. It was a challenging game to get a result.

On Jonathan Bond's play:

I think he has been excellent. I think he has had to come up with saves every game. Three of which we have able to get wins. Collectively, I'd like to see him not to have to make so many saves which means collectively we get better on the defending side and prevent some of these opportunities where he is having to come with saves but for right now, he is a key part of how we're getting some results in making big saves and keeping the score where we need it so he gives us a chance to get results on other side. I thought he got a little more help from the group. We did not give up as many clear-cut chances, but he made the saves he had to make and kept us alive while we got sorted out and got chances on the other end.

On Chicharito's impact on teammates on and off the field:

"Since I have gotten here, he has obviously worked incredible hard and the first that that I think all leaders need to do is lead by example in the work you put in to prepare yourself to be successful and to prepare yourself execute on the field and to do the things that you need to do because then you have credibility with your team mates. I don't think you just get credibility off your career; you get credibility by the work you put in and the work that you bring every single day and what you bring to the group. He's done everything this offseason and, since we have been here, he works every single day. From that he is just trying to help his teammates all the time.

He is much short of communication and constantly trying to help guys and communicate to bring the group forward and help guys within their roles. Once you've done your own personal work and your job then you can help others and that's what leaders do. And Jonah is supported by Victor and Sasha and others because there's no team that's led by one guy it is a group project and again he has set the tone with everything he's done to prepare for the season to be that guy and his character just leaves from there."

On competing against Bob Bradley:

"As far as winning the games, the game is not between Bob and I. The game is between our two teams our fans. He is an excellent coach and they have an excellent team. Today we got the better of them and we executed in the key moments and in some ways maybe we out worked them in some moments but we executed in the times that we needed to to win the game so it is nice for our fans. It is nice for our club and for our players specifically to win an important game like this and now after 4 we have 3 wins. That is how you want to build things and give yourself some time and an opportunity to get better as a group and we continue to bring guys in. Kevin Cabral will be this week preparing for the next matches as Derek got his first 90 minutes and we will continue to build our roster and this is giving us time to do this as we continue to get results that is the most important thing."

LA GALAXY FORWARD JAVIER HERNANDEZ

On emotions at final whistle:

"Honestly a part of the happiness and the effort we all did and I did inside the pitch and how this game was played and what it means for all of us, for the people, for everyone, you know, El Trafico, the Derby. For me it's like, I'm always competing with myself, with my best version, with what is in my hands so it's always very touching when I can help my teammates in that way and that help can be reflected in the scoresheet. That's amazing. I am very happy and touched, not only about myself, but all my teammates. You saw today how Cameron [Dunbar], Efrain [Alvarez], Sacha [Kljestan], Carlos [Harvey], like the subs that came in, how well they did. And then the 11 that we started, it's just amazing to feel that energy and when the results come, when you give everything, sometimes when you give everything you can leave with the results, but sometimes you can win, draw or lose. That energy and that way of all of us, we have that mindset, in the way that we are playing, the way that we fight, the way that we suffer in a way because LAFC is a very good team. It was amazing. For me, I am very touched because I've been working so hard, I've been through some difficult things in my life and this is just a reminder that grinding effort, hard work always is the best way to go because you are going to get closer to whatever you dream of and then everything can conspire more positive than negative."

On what he told Jonathan dos Santos before the game:

"I told him that probably I was going to assist him. I don't know what he said in the interview. And I don't want to sound like a very Nostradamus thing, but I've been telling this a lot to Jonathan [dos Santos], and I want to make this public because Jona is one of the best players in MLS. That's why LA Galaxy bet on him when they signed him. He is a star of the Mexican National Team. He's a world class player, he's been very unlucky with injuries, but right now we are seeing what Jona is capable of. Apart of scoring goals, you can see his performance today and he's our captain, he's our leader. I've been pushing him in that way because I know how great he can be and how great he can be for all of us, for this whole organization and today was incredible that we were, not joking, but I told him that I was feeling that probably I would give him an assist. I was feeling it since Seattle, I don't know why I was feeling like I was going to make an assist and thankfully it was to him and it was the winning goal and it was kind of amazing."

LA GALAXY MIDFIELDER JONATHAN DOS SANTOS

Translated from Spanish:

On scoring a goal tonight:

"It was a goal that I personally needed, I know that this year is a very important year for me. I'm still getting back into game fitness and very day I feel like I am getting better, but the most important thing is that the team won today against a very difficult rival. They held possession the majority of the game and didn't let us execute our game plan but at the end of the day the team played with a lot of heart which is what helps you win these types of games. The team played well defensively which was something we were lacking in the previous games but overall happy to have won this game and to show that the Galaxy are still here."

On linking up with Chicharito on his goal:

"I can't explain how good it feels. I swear, that before the game Chicharito said that he was going to pass me the ball so I can score a goal and it ended up happening. Chicharito is playing at top level and I'm grateful for the assist. I was so overjoyed I took off my jersey and I really have no words and I super exhausted right now but it's a day to remember."

On tonight's game:

"It was a big win against a good team like LAFC, who played a great game. I thought we deserved the win, the team defended well, we played with heart and we were able to finish the chances that we had which at the end of the day is what matters. I'm proud to be the captain of this team and to be able to show it in this game makes me even prouder."

LA GALAXY GOALKEEPER JONATHAN BOND

On his first El Trafico:

"It was amazing, the atmosphere was great, the smoke and the confetti coming down everything felt very different. I felt like before the second goal I kind of felt it building and the fans kind scored the goal, I know Jona [Dos Santos] scored the goal but you could feel it was coming and it yeah it was just an amazing day and just relieved to come out with a win."

On the defensive lines performance:

"To be honest it's not something that we haven't been doing well in previous games I disagree. I think when you look at the goals against Miami one was penalty and one was offside, there is two and if you look at the New York game one was stupid freekick that hit early and but it hasn't been like we've been carved open kind of thing. Their goal today was good but I felt like we score goals together and we are suppose to defend as a team together so all though we have conceded more goals than we like to this point I don't feel like our defending as a back four has been bad. Football is strange you try to apply statistics to things and I don't think football works like that very much. Having said that today the four defenders and the midfielders in front were incredible. The amount of pressure we were under at times, heading goals away, Derrick [Williams] sliding tackles, Jorge [Villafaña] winning heards at the back post, Julian closing down his winger, and then we have Jona [Dos Santos] and Carlos [Harvey] working across because they have men in the pocket. Defensively they stood out tonight because LAFC are a good team and they put a lot of pressure on us."

The team's playing style:

"We are trying to establish a style, a way of playing. We are a new team, we got lots of new players trying to gel but in that learning which we'll probably be in some time we are grinding out results and we've done it in different ways. Even in Seattle we played some good possession football and we implemented some of the stuff the manager wanted. A culture win is a good way of putting it, it's something that we ground out and we fought for today and we earned it. I think it was very satisfying to win in that way in this kind of game."

Scoring Summary:

LA - Javier Hernandez (Assisted by Derrick Williams) 11'

LFC - Diego Rossi (Assisted by Corey Baird) 62'

LA - Jonathan dos Santos (Assisted by Javier Hernandez) 79'

Misconduct Summary:

LA - Jorge Villafana (caution) 20'

LA - Adam Saldana (caution) 42'

LA - Javier Hernadnez (caution) 44'

LA - Jonthan dos Santos (caution) 80'

LFC - Tristan Blackmon (caution) 82'

LA - Carlos Harvey (caution) 83'

LA - Julian Araujo (caution) 90'+2

Lineups:

LA Galaxy: Jonathan Bond; Julian Araujo, Daniel Steres, Derrick Williams, Jorge Villafana; Samuel Grandsir (Sacha Kljestan 63'), Jonathan dos Santos ©, Adam Saldana (Carlos Harvey 55'), Sebastian Lletget (Efrain Alvarez 75'); Javier Hernandez, Ethan Zubak (Cameron Dunbar 63').

Substitutions: Jonathan Klinsmann, Augustine Williams, Nick DePuy, Danilo Acosta, Oniel Fisher.

TOTAL SHOTS: 11; SHOTS ON GOAL: 3; FOULS: 14; OFFSIDE: 4; CORNER KICKS: 9; SAVES: 4.

Head Coach: Greg Vanney

LAFC: Pablo Sisniega; Tristan Blackmon, Jesus Murillo, Eddie Segura (Moon-Hwan Kim 70'), Diego Palacios (Marco Farfan HT); Latif Blessing, Eduard Atuesta, Mark-Anthony Kaye; Corey Baird (danny Musovski 70'), Diego Rossi, Jose Cifuentes (Kwadwo Opoku 46').

Substitutions not used: Tomas Romero, Jordan Harvey, Raheem Edwards, Alvaro Quezada.

TOTAL SHOTS: 17; SHOTS ON GOAL: 5; FOULS: 11; OFFSIDE: 0; CORNER KICKS: 5; SAVES: 1.

Head Coach: Bob Bradley

Referee: Allen Chapman

Lineman 1: Corey Rockwell

Lineman 2: Nick Uranga

Fourth official: Baldomero Toledo

VAR: Kevin Stott

Ast. VAR: Michael Kampmeinert

Attendance: 7,193

Check out the LA Galaxy Statistics

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Major League Soccer Stories from May 9, 2021


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