LA Galaxy 0, Sporting Kansas City 0 | 2016 MLS Match Recap

Alicia Rodriguez

The LA Galaxy and Sporting Kansas City played to a 0-0 stalemate at StubHub Center on Thursday, in the teams' final game before a two-week league break during the Copa America Centenario group stage.

Clear-cut chances were hard to come by, and the respective defenses were far superior on the night. Despite the Galaxy holding over 60 percent of possession, they did not register a shot in the game until after the hour mark, and failed to register a shot on target at all.

Sporting, meanwhile, did shoot on goal several times, but never seriously tested LA goalkeeper Brian Rowe.

Box Score

Three Things

KEY PLAYERS OUT: Perhaps unsurprising, the teams were not at their best and a significant cause of that was the players missing in action. The Galaxy's Gyasi Zardes and Robbie Keane were out on international duty, while Steven Gerrard picked up an injury recently. Meanwhile, Sporting were missing Graham Zusi, Matt Besler and Soni Mustivar, all on international duty themselves. Missing three starters apiece? Yes, that likely played a role in the result.
SIGN OF HOPE? Given Sporting's poor form heading into the game, with five points in their last 10 games, getting a draw on the road is probably a positive result heading into the league break. Add to that the fact that they got a clean sheet, their first in 11 matches, and they're only two points out of a playoff spot in the Western Conference, and they may have something to build on for the second half of the season.
TEAM REUNION: Several players part of the Galaxy's MLS Cup-winning teams in recent years were spotted visiting their old stomping grounds, from freshly-minted Liga MX champion Omar Gonzalez to Columbus Crew SC's Hector Jimenez and D.C. United's Sean Franklin.