MLS
LA Galaxy struggling for goals without Chicharito
The most decorated team in Major League Soccer has scored one goal in their first two games of the 2023 campaign.
Los Angeles Galaxy has one objective in mind this season and it is to win the 2023 MLS Cup. They are the most decorated team in Major League Soccer with five titles, but the last time they won it was in 2014 and they are feeling the pressure from their city rivals, Los Angeles FC, who are the reigning champions.
Galaxy are struggling offensively
The Galaxy are not having the start of the season they expected without their captain and top scorer Javier Chicharito Hernández, who is recovering from a hamstring injury. The team managed by Greg Vanney lost 3-1 against FC Dallas at Toyota stadium in their first game of the campaign and tied 0-0 against Sporting KC over the weekend.
They tallied one point in two games and they are struggling to generate offensive plays without Chicharito up top. The Galaxy only had two shots on target against Sporting Kansas City on Saturday night and it was a busy night for goalkeeper Jonathan Bond, who ended the game with 11 saves.
Vanney has started Dejan Jovelic in the No. 9 position and the Serbian international has scored one goal in two appearances this campaign. He is struggling to find a connection with Riqui Puig and the Galaxy is struggling to generate offensive plays without Hernandez. The Mexican international continues to recover from his injury and he will miss the upcoming game against Vancouver Whitecaps on 18 March.
Vanney has made it clear that he will not rush Chicharito back because the season is long and he believes that the team can manage without their captain. It is expected that Hernández sees some minutes when the Galaxy goes on the road to play against Houston Dynamo on 8 April.