Los Angeles Galaxy forward Javier Hernández (14) looks to pass to teammate forward Raheem Edwards (44) during the second half of an MLS season match at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. on Saturday, March 19, 2022. Orlando City fell to the Los Angeles Galaxy 1-0. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr, Contributing Photographer)
Los Angeles Galaxy forward Raheem Edwards (44)headers the ball during the second half of an MLS season match at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. on Saturday, March 19, 2022. Orlando City fell to the Los Angeles Galaxy 1-0. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr, Contributing Photographer)
Los Angeles Galaxy to to get past Orlando City defender Antônio Carlos (25)during the second half of an MLS season match at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. on Saturday, March 19, 2022. Orlando City fell to the Los Angeles Galaxy 1-0. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr, Contributing Photographer)
Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder Rayan Raveloson (6) kicks the ball against Orlando City midfielder Sebas Méndez (8) during the second half of an MLS season match at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. on Saturday, March 19, 2022. Orlando City fell to the Los Angeles Galaxy 1-0. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr, Contributing Photographer)
Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder Samuel Grandsir (11) is dragged by Orlando City midfielder César Araújo (5) during the second half of an MLS season match at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. on Saturday, March 19, 2022. Orlando City fell to the Los Angeles Galaxy 1-0. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr, Contributing Photographer)
Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder Samuel Grandsir (11) take a shot at the goal during the second half of an MLS season match at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. on Saturday, March 19, 2022. Orlando City fell to the Los Angeles Galaxy 1-0. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr, Contributing Photographer)
Los Angeles Galaxy forward Kévin Cabral (9) attend a goal shot against Orlando City defender Ruan (2) during the second half of an MLS season match at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. on Saturday, March 19, 2022. Orlando City fell to the Los Angeles Galaxy 1-0. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr, Contributing Photographer)
Los Angeles Galaxy forward Raheem Edwards (44) takes a goal shot against Orlando City during the second half of an MLS season match at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. on Saturday, March 19, 2022. Orlando City fell to the Los Angeles Galaxy 1-0. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr, Contributing Photographer)
Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder Samuel Grandsir (11) moves the ball across the pitch during the second half of an MLS season match at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. on Saturday, March 19, 2022. Orlando City fell to the Los Angeles Galaxy 1-0. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr, Contributing Photographer)
Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder Sacha Kljestan (16) looks for an open teammate during the second half of an MLS season match at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. on Saturday, March 19, 2022. Orlando City fell to the Los Angeles Galaxy 1-0. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr, Contributing Photographer)
Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder Víctor Vázquez (7) kicks the ball against Orlando City defenders during the first half of an MLS season match at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. on Saturday, March 19, 2022. Orlando City fell to the Los Angeles Galaxy 1-0. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr, Contributing Photographer)
Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder Efrain Alvarez (26) attacks the goal against Orlando City defender Robin Jansson (6) during the second half of an MLS season match at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. on Saturday, March 19, 2022. Orlando City fell to the Los Angeles Galaxy 1-0. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr, Contributing Photographer)
Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder Rayan Raveloson (6) vies fo the ball against Orlando City midfielder Sebas Méndez (8) during the second half of an MLS season match at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. on Saturday, March 19, 2022. Orlando City fell to the Los Angeles Galaxy 1-0. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr, Contributing Photographer)
Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder Marco Delgado (8) pulls on Los Angeles Galaxy forward Kévin Cabral (9) during the first half of an MLS season match at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. on Saturday, March 19, 2022. Orlando City fell to the Los Angeles Galaxy 1-0. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr, Contributing Photographer)
Los Angeles Galaxy forward Douglas Costa (10) kicks the ball against Orlando City during the first half of an MLS season match at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. on Saturday, March 19, 2022. Orlando City fell to the Los Angeles Galaxy 1-0. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr, Contributing Photographer)
Galaxy forward Javier Hernández reacts after his team misses one of many goal attempts during the second half of a 1-0 loss to Orlando City SC on Saturday, March 19, 2022, at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr, Contributing Photographer)
Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder Rayan Raveloson (6) moves between Orlando City defenders during the first half of an MLS season match at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. on Saturday, March 19, 2022. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr, Contributing Photographer)
Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder Rayan Raveloson (6) winds up for a goal attempts against Orlando City during the first half of an MLS season match at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. on Saturday, March 19, 2022. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr, Contributing Photographer)
Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder Marco Delgado (8) kicks the ball up the pitch against Orlando City midfielder César Araújo (5) during the first half of an MLS season match at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. on Saturday, March 19, 2022. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr, Contributing Photographer)
Los Angeles Galaxy defender Julian Araujo (2) manuevers that ball against Orlando City forward Facundo Torres (17) during the first half of an MLS season match at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. on Saturday, March 19, 2022. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr, Contributing Photographer)
Los Angeles Galaxy forward Javier Hernández (14) dribbles the ball against Orlando City during the first half of an MLS season match at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. on Saturday, March 19, 2022. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr, Contributing Photographer)
CARSON — There is a good way to head into an international break and then there is the way the Galaxy is heading into the break.
In front of a sellout crowd of 25,174, the Galaxy did little to excite the crowd, eventually falling 1-0 to Orlando City SC on Saturday at Dignity Health Sports Park.
Due to the upcoming FIFA international window, the Galaxy will get a break, returning April 3 on the road at the Portland Timbers.
“Last week, we lose the game (against Seattle) on executing set pieces, and this week we didn’t manage a transition well, which then gives the away team a 1-0 lead,” Galaxy coach Greg Vanney said.
That moment came in the ninth minute as OCSC took advantage of sloppy Galaxy defense. Raheem Edwards mistimed a tackle that sent OCSC into attack. Nick DePuy stumbled and took himself out of the play, allowing Ercan Kara to play a cross to Facundo Torres, who got inside of Julian Araujo to knock in the header.
“We were a little overzealous on the transition,” Vanney sad. “We go in and try to win the ball right away, we don’t, they’re behind us, now our centerbacks are kind of scrambling and trying to rotate across to deal with the ball and he puts in a perfect cross and great finish and now in a game that we’re in control of, we’re down 1-0 and we’re uphill.”
Just like last week against the Sounders, the Galaxy failed to break down a defense that had packed it in. The Galaxy recorded 20 shots, to only six for Orlando City SC, but the Galaxy got just three of those shots on target.
“We create chances, we get the ball into decent spots and the connection between in the final action is not precise enough to get something into the back of the net,” Vanney said.
The Galaxy also earned 12 corner kicks, but nothing really came of those opportunities.
“We have controlled all four games through possession so far,” Galaxy midfielder Sacha Kljestan said. “We have yet to face a team that is controlling more of the ball than us or controlling the midfield, so that’s a very big positive for us.
“Having said that, yes, we would like to create better chances from the run of play through our possession and on the other side, I would like to see us to be able to create more chances through transition. We’ve been pretty good defensively and pretty good against the ball, limiting other teams chances and build-ups, now if we can create some of those turnovers that we get in the attacking half of the field into quicker chances on goal.”
The Galaxy played the second half without Douglas Costa, who was replaced by Efrain Alvarez. The club said Costa was dealing with “tight hamstrings.” Vanney said Costa felt something early in the first half.
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Initially, the Galaxy had better moments on the ball in the second half, but then things sort of fizzled as the game progressed.
“Final quality, final action, we need to continue to build on every phase of the game,” Vanney said. “We’ve shown pretty good ability to play out of pressure and to work into the attacking half of the field, but we’ve got to create more quality chances.”
