LA Galaxy vs Chicago Fire: 3 Thoughts on MLS Season Opener
Mar 6, 2015; Carson, CA, USA; Los Angeles Galaxy forward Robbie Keane (7) celebrates after scoring a goal during the second half against the Chicago Fire at StubHub Center. The Galaxy won 2-0. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports
The defending MLS champions brought the 2015 season in with a roar. The LA Galaxy followed the banner raising ceremony with a hair raising performance on the StubHub Center pitch, suffocating Chicago into making poor decisions for much of the match. The field looked completely tipped in a first half that saw the Fire escape into the locker room somehow at 0-0. They were not quite as fortunate in the second half.
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After the Chicago Fire looked like they came out of the break invigorated, referee Jair Marrufo was uninterested in a potential penalty where Robbie Rogers took Quincy Amarikwa down in the box. The close call seemed to wake the Galaxy back up and they buried a Fire defensive error in the 65th minute. The normally reliable Jeff Larentowicz fluffed his lines on a clearance that hit teammate Lovel Palmer and found Jose Villarreal, who found the gift on his left foot and made no mistake with his shot.
The Galaxy nearly doubled their lead when Stefan Ishizaki made a brilliant run into the box. The pacey winger had Robbie Keane wide open in the middle for a tap in. His pass was well off the mark and missed the sprinting Irish international. It’s safe to say that Robbie Keane was not pleased with the service.
Shortly thereafter, in the 81st minute, LA Galaxy finally put the match to bed after toying with the Men in Red. Omar Gonzalez put a silky smooth chip into the box that found former Fire midfielder Baggio Husidic. Husidic used the back of his head to set up a wide open Keane. All the anger Keane conjured from the earlier missed pass from Ishizaki, he used to smash the ball into the back of the net past a helpless Sean Johnson.
The Galaxy outshot Chicago 13-2 in a match that could have gotten out of hand. Let’s take a more in depth look at what stood out in the MLS season opener. Check out the follow three thoughts on the 2015 MLS Season Opener and chime in in the comments below.
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