For the first 25 minutes of their season opener, the Los Angeles Galaxy looked as though they were going to steamroll over the New England Revolution. They dominated in shots, corner kicks and virtually every other offensive measure -- yet failed to convert all of those chances into a single goal.
Up until the midway point of the first half, the Galaxy were getting forward with numbers, creating chances, and looking dangerous. But as chances fell by the wayside, the Revolution began to settle down and compose their defense and impose their will in the midfield, eventually weathering a late Galaxy push for an equalizer.
It wasn't until the insertion of Paulo Nagamura in the second half that saw the Galaxy start to connect again on offense.
"I thought that (Paulo) Nagamura, when he came on, did a better job of (getting forward). That's the one thing Paulo gives us," said head coach Steve Sampson. "He not only defends, but he provides a great work rate to connect with the front runners. It also gives Pete (Vagenas) that freedom to go forward when he knows Paulo's on the field."
So why didn't the Brazilian get the start for the Green and Gold? Nagamura has been nursing an injury all preseason long, and is not yet 90 minutes fit. In his place, Marcelo Saragosa got the nod. Sampson admits that Nagamura is getting closer to full fitness and concedes that this week's training will determine who gets the start against Chicago this week.
Without Nagamura, the Galaxy lacked any real threat up the middle of the park and was resigned to playing long balls into their strike tandem of Herculez Gomez and Landon Donovan. On a normal day, the duo's speed far outmatched what most defenses can field, but on Saturday, the Revolution back line was able to sit back and not allow either striker to get in behind them.
"We were playing predictable soccer," said Gomez this week in training. "They knew what we were doing. We can't just be lofting balls in like that. We've got to start at some point trying to play some soccer."
If Nagamura is 100 percent this Saturday, he could well help to add another dimension in the Galaxy midfield. His ability to win balls and free up Vagenas to go forward and link up with the attack should help the Galaxy forwards get the service and touches they need to punish the Fire back line.
Greg Daurio is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
