After each team earned a point in its MLS season opener, the Los Angeles Galaxy will play host to Charlotte FC when the teams meet Saturday at Carson, Calif.
While the Galaxy finished with a 1-1 home draw against New York City FC on Sunday, a day after Charlotte FC played to a 1-1 road tie against St. Louis City.
The Galaxy have been the busier of the two sides having also advanced in CONCACAF Champions Cup play via a road-goal advantage after a home/road matchup with Sporting SM of Panama. The MLS side held its Central America opponent to a scoreless drew in Carson on Wednesday, completing a 1-1 aggregate draw.
Through two Champions Cup games and one MLS match, Los Angeles has just two total goals. The low total has not been surprising.
“We’re trying to physically get ourselves ready for this week as much as anything so that we could keep guys as healthy as we could,” Galaxy coach Greg Vanney said. “I would say we probably spent less time on the tactical stuff in the latter part of preseason just to try to get guys physically as ready.”
Joao Klauss scored less than 90 seconds into the regular season against NYCFC. The Brazilian was making his club debut after scoring 25 total goals in three seasons with St. Louis City.
Charlotte FC received a game-tying goal from Pep Biel in the 73rd minute of their opener last weekend. The Spanish midfielder is now on a permanent contract with The Crown after he was loaned to the club from Olympiacos in Greece the previous two seasons.
Two road games to open the season will be followed by five consecutive home games for Charlotte FC, who will not play away from their home field after Saturday until April 18.
“Going into the LA game, the positives are, we’re a game in, we’re unbeaten,” Charlotte coach Dean Smith said. “There’s a lot more we can do well. In the review of the (St. Louis City) game on Monday, I showed the players an awful lot of stuff we can do better, individually and collectively.”
–Field Level Media
