After the Whitecaps had their most successful stretch in their MLS history, they fell back to Earth as they were routed 3-0 by the defending MLS champion LA Galaxy. All the goals came in the first half with Mike Magee opening the scoring off a set piece, then Robbie Keane scoring in open play and Landon Donovan scoring on a penalty.
It was the Galaxy who carried the play from the opening whistle picking up the first chance as Juninho out dueled Davidson for the ball and unleashed a shot on target which was stopped by Cannon. The big three for the Galaxy connected well around the box with Keane set up for a shot but the striker sent the ball high over the net.
The Whitecaps got their first sustained pressure around the fifteen minute mark as they were able to get to a couple of crosses into the box by Lee and Chiumiento. Unfortunately there were not enough attackers in the box and there were no attempts on goal.
The heavy pressure by LA finally paid off in the seventeenth minute when Mike Magee opened the scoring off a David Beckham corner. The ball was sent in to a free man away from the traffic who headed the ball on net which was stopped by Cannon. It was not cleared and after another stop by Cannon fell to Magee who could not miss from a couple of feet out.
After DeMerit was dispossessed Landon Donovan had a 1v1 with Cannon which the keeper won as the striker shot the ball wide of the net. However it didn’t take long for the Galaxy to get the second as Keane walked through three defenders and put the ball back Cannon for the 2-0 lead.
The lead almost tripled after another miscommunication by the backline as Donovan was in alone on goal and this time hit the post. The Galaxy continued to pick apart the defenders from Vancouver as Donovan set up Magee but a last minute block prevented another opportunity for LA to extend the lead.
More miscommunication in the final five minutes of the half as Keane was played onside by Rochat giving the Irishman a run on the ball. DeMerit was able to get in front of him but was called for handling the ball in the box giving the homeside a penalty which was converted by Donovan.
The second half started with the Caps looking to get on the board as substitute Camilo, who came on due to a Thorrington injury, cut into the box but unleashed his shot off target. Then off a Caps corner the Galaxy had Donovan break out on a counter and find Keane streaking down the right side but his chip went over Cannon but missed the net.
It wasn’t until the 70th minute when the Whitecaps registered their first shot on target when Camilo’s free kick reached the net and was easily handled by Josh Saunders. Minutes later Rochat was given a chance at a free header off a corner but his attempt missed the goal by several feet.
The final fifteen minutes consisted of the Galaxy maintaining possession with the Caps only coming up with a couple of chances. Their best chance came off the foot of Camilo whose attempt saw Saunders make his most difficult save of the match.
It was a game where everything that could go wrong did for the Caps as there was miscommunication all over the pitch including the backline. The visitors could not breakdown their opponents and when they did they were unable to register a shot on target. In fact it wasn’t till a Camilo free kick in the second half that the Caps made Saunders work in the net.
It was another lopsided loss for the Caps as in their four losses the Caps have been defeated twice by two goals and twice by three goals, outscored in those four games by a combined 13-3 score. The Caps have time now to figure out what happened as they will have ten days off before they travel to face the Colorado Rapids.
(image courtesy of Getty Images)
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