CARSON, Calif. — Since Gregg Berhalter went down with an injury in mid-August, the LA Galaxy have switched from one central defense pairing to the next. Against Chivas USA, they employed their fourth different pairing in the seven games. But this pairing might stick.
Omar Gonzalez and A.J. DeLaGarza did well to shut down Chivas USA’s attack in their 2-1 victory on Sunday. The duo could once again line up together when the Galaxy visit Philadelphia on Thursday.
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If nothing else, Gonzalez and DeLaGarza are familiar with each other: They manned the middle together at the University of Maryland.
“We know each other pretty well so it makes it kind of easier for the both of us instead of moving someone else in the middle and me on the right,” DeLaGarza said this week. “We’re both comfortable like that.”
Sunday’s pairing was not their first with the Galaxy this season. DeLaGarza slid alongside Gonzalez in a game against Real Salt Lake in April as well as a match at San Jose. The Galaxy are 2-1 in those games and have allowed a total of three goals (although television replays showed that Sunday’s Chivas goal was scored from an offside position).
In their three remaining matches, the Galaxy face some of the league’s strongest forwards: Philadelphia’s Sebastien Le Toux (13 goals), Colorado’s Omar Cummings (12 goals) and Conor Casey (11 goals), and FC Dallas’ Jeff Cunningham (12 goals).
Galaxy coach Bruce Arena held out specific praise for DeLaGarza in slowing down Chivas’ attack, particularly the bigger strikers Justin Braun and Alan Gordon.
“A.J.’s positioning for the most part was pretty good,” he said. “It was pretty obvious, but we have confidence in A.J. that he’s a smart player and he can deal with the mismatches.”
Opposing teams may look at DeLaGarza and try to capitalize on a possible height advantage, but the 5-foot-8 DeLaGarza said he’s got ways to deal with taller forwards.
“They’re going to target me when I’m 5-8,” he said. “You just try and put a body on them and not let them get a head on the ball cleanly.”
The other recent pairings have had their share of struggles. Leonardo was pulled from the Galaxy’s 2-0 loss to New York at halftime after making a mistake in a play that led to a New York goal. The other central defender on that day, Yohance Marshall, gave away a penalty later in that game.
While Berhalter has returned to training, it’s unclear when his return to action will be. He has yet to dress for a game since a 1-0 win over New York on Aug. 14.
Whether DeLaGarza does or doesn’t get the nod alongside Gonzalez, he says he’ll be ready.
“Whatever I need to do I’m going to be there, whether it’s a support player, in the middle or on the outside,” he said. “Whatever the need, be I’ll be there.”
