LA Galaxy look to climb out of MLS cellar against Austin FC
Something has to give when offense-challenged Austin FC squares off against the porous defense of the Los Angeles Galaxy on Wednesday as the two Western Conference teams battle in Carson, Calif.
The Verde have an MLS-low 15 goals in 21 league matches this year. The Galaxy's suspect defense has surrendered a league-high 43 tallies.
The Verde (7-8-6, 27 points) head to Southern California after yet another anemic offensive showing, producing just four shots on goal Saturday in a scoreless draw with New England at home. Austin was able to split the points thanks to another sterling effort by All-Star goalkeeper Brad Stuver -- who stopped eight shots en route to his eighth clean sheet of the season -- but coach Nico Estevez lamented missed opportunities offensively.
'It's a game that if you play 10 times, nine you win,' Estevez said. 'I mean, you have almost two expected goals. The chances that we have is right in the goalkeeper. It is what it is, you know. We are unlucky.'
The Galaxy have been playing their best soccer of the season of late, winning 2-1 on Saturday at home over D.C. United. Marco Reus and Diego Fagundez scored goals and Novak Micovic had two saves in the win.
Los Angeles (3-13-6, 15 points), the defending MLS champion, has won consecutive matches for the first time this season and has captured three in a row at home. The Galaxy are 3-1-2 over their past six outings, turning the proverbial corner after going without a win in their first 16 MLS matches (0-12-4) -- the worst start in league history.
'The confidence is good and our spirits are high,' said Galaxy coach Greg Vanney. 'The emotion comes off the results we're not getting, but our thought process on where we are as a team have progressively been getting better. The guys are confident as we're starting to see games out.'
Reus has been a key cog in the Galaxy's turnaround and leads the side with five goals and seven assists. Matheus Nascimento has five goal contributions (two goals, three assists) in his last six appearances.
The Galaxy are still at the bottom of the West table and are tied with Eastern doormat CF Montreal for the fewest points and wins in MLS.
The Galaxy and Verde met earlier this season in Austin with the home side winning 1-0. LA leads the all-time series 5-3-1.
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