By Wendy Pintor
May 20, 2023
The Galaxy travels to contend against Wayne Rooney’s D.C. United at Audi Field, Saturday night this match marks the 51st meeting across all competitions between LA and D.C. United, with the Galaxy leading the all-time series 21-17-12. Against D.C., LA holds a 20-15-11 record in league play, an 0-2-0 record in the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs and a 1-0-1 record in the Concacaf Champions’ Cup. In 24 all-time regular-season matches played on the road against D.C. United, the Galaxy hold a 9-10-5 record. In the last meeting between the two teams, the Galaxy fell 2-1 on the road to D.C at Audi Field on Aug. 11, 2019 and again today, after holding 70 minutes strong, even that was not enough as they came short after one more time away getting rained on 3-0.
Goalkeeper Johnathon Bond was pressured by
Lewis O’Brien after he received a backpass, and after the goalkeeper loses the ball in his own penalty area, the former English Premier League forward Christian Benteke was first to it and sent a controlled finish past the ‘keeper. Benteke scored his team-leading sixth goal of the season and added an assist two minutes later as United stormed away to a 3-0 victory over the visiting LA Galaxy.
Substitute Cristian Dajome also scored his first goal since arriving in D.C. in a trade from Vancouver last month. Benteke deftly chested the ball down and looked left to play his fellow attacker in past the LA back line, and Dajome finished low past Bond. Then shortly after Mateusz Klich added his second of the season in D.C.’s largest margin of victory over LA since a 4-1 home win in June of 2008. Tyler Milker made six saves to preserve his second consecutive shutout and fifth overall this season. All three goals rained on LA in a total of nine minutes.
Christian Benteke is overloaded with joy by teammates after scoring D.C. United’s opening goal against the LA Galaxy. Right before an off-side goal.
“ it’s not easy playing in the east, We played well for 70 minutes and I think that was good enough for us, it’s not like we didn’t preform, we just fell short again in the last few minutes.” said Vanney when told it wasn’t enough for them to of had an overall good performance and not be able to win yet another away game this season. Said Coach Vanney ,Justifying the performance of the team.
“ hoy pierde el Malaxy “ meaning bad galaxy in Spanish, I’m a fan for of over 27 years, since day one at the Rosebowl” said fan Scott Benitez, of Los Angeles, California have become so upset they’ve nicknamed the team and expect a huge amount of change he also added “Trust the process” is over. Vanney has to go it seems like he has no idea what he is doing with his starting line ups and his subbing is terrible..”
Benitez and other fans are frustrated back home not seeing changes. While the tweets, and chants #KlienOut
The Galaxy statically (2-8-3, 9 points) nearly matched D.C. in total shots and had more attempts on target. But had few chances of true value as they drowned to a second consecutive loss and fourth in a row on the road. Manager Gregg Vanney’s LA squad has scored only one goal in its first seven away games. That said, the Galaxy were well in the game until Benteke broke through in the 71st minute.
“I know we still can comeback, I have no doubt in my mind, I know it’s about having faith and we have that, yeah we are not happy about todays results but we are hopeful. “ added Raheem Edwards
LA Galaxy will face LAFC this Tuesday at the BMO stadium for the Lamar US Open, with no Motivation, Vanney responded after asked how do you keep these players motivated what do you tell them or what aren’t you telling them that they need to hear, “ they are motivated “ he said. After losing a second away game in a week and beating twenty year olds in the Open Cup.