We are now racing toward the conclusion of the season. One team, the San Jose Earthquakes, has officially reached the finish line, with 10 more teams set to follow over the upcoming four weeks, for better or worse.
Fifteen minutes into the latest installment of El Tráfico, it seemed the match was settling into a pattern that has become all too familiar:
- The Galaxy frequently controlled the ball through midfield, generating some danger, if not clear-cut chances.
- As they sensed the field tilting in favor of their goal, they began to lose their defensive shape and took risks both on and off the ball in pursuit of the opening goal.
- A turnover occurred.
- Denis Bouanga struck decisively.
That’s the routine. Here’s how it unfolded on the pitch:
In each of the last three El Tráficos prior to this weekend, and four out of the last five, this sequence had played out to varying degrees.
This should have been the final chapter. LAFC led 2-0, possessed the league’s deadliest counterattack, and were up against an improved opponent that still concedes chances at an alarming rate. This scenario felt all too familiar, and yet it was happening again.
However, LAFC has shown decreasing interest in ball possession over the past few months. This disinterest seems to have cultivated a kind of… neglect, perhaps? It feels as though they have not embraced their ability to transition from defense to offense.
Two months ago, this was not a problem; they fluidly switched between maintaining possession, penetrating the defense, creating chances, and scoring goals. Nowadays, however, they have resorted to counterattacking or nothing at all. Consequently, they have become predictable and faced challenges against the better possession-based teams, as they lack a Plan B. LAFC is not effective unless they are on the attack, and everyone is aware of it.
This isn’t just an opinion; it’s a noticeable trend: defeats to Columbus before the Leagues Cup and again in the final; a meager one point from six against Houston; and now the most remarkable second-half collapse in El Tráfico since the inaugural edition.
The rivalry’s intensity is diminishing, particularly with respect to counters against top-tier teams, as LAFC persists in their attempts due to their struggles whenever they gain possession. Consequently, opposing teams focus solely on nullifying the counter, leading to a reluctance to explore other tactics.
However, the Galaxy, trailing 2-0, managed to turn the tide. After regrouping in the locker room, they returned to the field with renewed vigor. The initial 2-0 drubbing by LAFC transformed into a 4-2 victory for the Galaxy, creating a Hollywood-style comeback that left LA’s coach Greg Vanney grinning during the post-match conference.
“In my almost four years here, this stands out as one of my proudest moments, if not the proudest, with this group, this team,” Vanney stated. “The way they responded on such a significant night showcased their confidence and character in the second half. As a coach, it was just as enjoyable to observe as it was to participate.”
So, how did this turnaround occur? Firstly, LAFC allowed them the freedom to possess the ball, and the Galaxy accepted that challenge, committing to do it more mindfully.
“During the first half, Bouanga frequently found space and took on [center back] Jalen [Neal]… which wasn’t a favorable matchup for us,” Vanney remarked. “We needed to adjust our structure and recognize opportunities, and that’s exactly what the players did.”
The key structural alteration from the first half to the second, as I observed, centered around the positioning of LA’s right back, Miki Yamane.
- In the first half, the formation was a strict 4-3-3 with a single pivot, featuring Riqui Puig and Marco Reus operating as dual number 10s, while the fullbacks advanced aggressively.
- The second half adopted a hybrid structure of 4-2-3-1/4-3-3, typically employing a double pivot. When Riqui held deep, he played as an 8, partnered by Edwin Cerrillo as a 6. As Riqui advanced to the 10 position alongside Marco Reus, Yamane frequently moved inward to function as the second pivot rather than pushing up, thereby providing LA with numerical superiority in midfield to counter any potential threats from LAFC.
- When Yamane wasn’t moving inside, he maintained a shadowing role on Bouanga, even when the Galaxy were in possession.
This clip, albeit uneventful, occurs right after halftime and aptly illustrates how Yamane adjusted his play for the second half:
