The game in 100 words (or less): We’re three weeks into the 2016 MLS season, and I’m still not totally sure what to make of the latest edition of the LA Galaxy. That’s totally fine, because, again, we’re just three weeks into the season. That said, they’ve been each of the following for at least 45 minutes this season: the best team in the league, the worst team in the league, and a painfully mediocre team. In Saturday night’s 3-1 victory over the San Jose Earthquakes, they were a little bit of the first and third, though playing 45 minutes with a man advantage certainly played its part in the former. For now, they’re one of four teams in the Western Conference, including the ‘Quakes, with six points from three games.
[ MORE:Previewing the rest of MLS Week 3 ]
Three moments that mattered
45+3' — Dawkins hacks down Lletget, sees red — Lunging with your entire body’s weight: check. Going through a player’s legs from behind: check. Scissoring his leg(s) with your two legs: check. Add all that up, and you’ve got a red card, Simon Dawkins.
56' — Pinball in the box, Zardes pokes it home — A clever free-kick routine led to Gyasi Zardes stabbing the ball home at the far post in the 56th minute. Jelle Van Damme and Mike Magee get the official assists on the play, but the respect paid to Robbie Keane shouldn’t go unnoticed.
Keane ➡️ Magee ➡️ Van Damme ➡️ Zardes. #LAvSJ https://t.co/WBSpHKJseH
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) March 20, 2016
62' — Two for Zardes, 2-0 for LA — Van Damme picked out the threatening diagonal ball forward, which Kip Colvey did well to read and win out of the air. Unfortunately for Colvey, he played the ball into the path of Zardes, who was superbly composed with his first-time finish.
WATCH: @gyasinho tallies his second of the night 👌 https://t.co/a8ZRG4AGNk #CaliClasico #LAvSJ https://t.co/OPn7OgbrQR
— LA Galaxy (@LAGalaxy) March 20, 2016
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Man of the match: Gyasi Zardes
Goalscorers: Zardes (56', 62'), Wondolowski (89'), Keane (90+1' - PK)