Anyone who thought that LA Galaxy would continue as they started after winning the championship was mistaken. The team and Marco Reus have now also lost their fourth competitive game of the season. Three other former Bundesliga players are largely responsible for this.
“Of course it’s also unsettling, simply because we’ve lost four games in a row,” Reus told the dpa: ”That’s obviously not what we had in mind as a team.”
At home against St. Louis City SC, there had been a surprising 3-0 defeat minutes earlier. The guests from Missouri came with six former Bundesliga players in the starting eleven – and three of them played a decisive role in the final result.
Teuchert missed a great opportunity in front of Micovic in the 22nd minute, before scoring the opening goal (44th) with a tap-in.
In the meantime, Reus had hit the post (24) and set up another top chance for Ramirez (34). After the break, Galaxy went ahead: former St. Pauli player Hartel converted a Teuchert assist to make it 2-0 (49′), while a shot from former Hoffenheim player Klauss hit the post in the 51st minute.
It would have been the early decision. But as it was, the Californians still had hope. And despair: at the strong Bürki in the opposing box – and at themselves: Reus made a perfect pass to Gabriel Pec, who somehow managed to shoot wide from an optimal position (64′). Becher only scored the 3-0 for the guests in the 84th minute. Shortly before that, Baumgartl had come on for Horn and made his debut for St. Louis.
As a result, the champions’ record after three games in the MLS and one in the Champions Cup is sobering: four defeats. “This is the worst possible start we could have had,” said Reus, admitting: “It’s a bit frustrating at the moment.” He appealed to his teammates: “We have to understand that we have to raise our standards, even in training.” Everyone has to step up, “especially me, of course,” said the former Dortmund player, “but we will find a way to get things back on track.”
Next Wednesday, Galaxy must turn around a 1-0 first-leg deficit against C.S. Herediano of Costa Rica in the second leg of the CONCACAF Champions Cup. “None of us want to have a miserable season,” said Reus. ‘I hate losing. That’s why it doesn’t matter to me whether you lose a game in the local league or in the MLS or Bundesliga.’
