Evan Bush had four saves and posted his fifth shutout of the season to help the Montreal Impact play the Los Angeles Galaxy to a 0-0 tie Saturday night.
The Impact (9-11-4), in the sixth and last Eastern Conference playoff spot but with games in hand on all rivals, are feeling better about themselves since Drogba’s spectacular first start last Saturday.
The Impact have a quick turnaround having to travel north for a match on Wednesday night against the San Jose Earthquakes. “[Drogba is] very, very strong, he can obviously score goals, which he’s done all of his career, so, hopefully our center halves are ready for the game, ready for a big test, and this is going to be a big test for them”. Fourth-year pro Tommy Meyer, who is 6-2, could step in; he’s played in only four league games this season. The former Chelsea star scored a hat-trick in a 4-3 win over the Chicago Fire. But Keane had his kick blocked by a sliding Bush.
Gerrard has alerted his teammates to Drogba’s skill and physical presence around the goal. “So you have to play him cute and, you know, be aggressive with him at the right times and try not to give set pieces away around the box because he’s clinical from there as well”.
Drogba’s ability to win the ball inside the penalty area and convert crosses from the wings added a new dimension to Montreal’s attack, hitherto based mainly on counterattacks in games away from home.
Bruce Arena addressed the media following the LA Galaxy’s scoreless draw with the Montreal Impact. “It’s getting this group to come together, and Didier is part of the puzzle, the formula”.
“I think you’d have to be careful and play Drogba very careful because he’s very clever”, the ex-Reds skipper said. In the 57th minute, newly acquired Designated Player Didier Drobga snaked into the box and tiptoed the endline before attempting to chip Ricketts, who made the save as the ball richoched dangerously close to the goal, but the Galaxy managed to clear.
“It was 20 days I was out, so I took it easy because I was still missing something”, said Piatti. DeLaGarza reads the game exceptionally well and makes good decisions, but he’s only 5-9.
The Galaxy had entered the match leading Major League Soccer in scoring. L.A. has scored five or more goals in seven of their last nine competitive home games – with four and three in the other two encounters – and have a blistering attack featuring Robbie Keane, Giovani Dos Santos, Gyasi Zardes, Sebastian Lletget and Gerrard that’s rounding into form.
The biggest moment of the game came within the opening exchanges when Montreal’s Justin Mapp curled a shot towards the far corner only for Donovan Ricketts to conjure a decent stop.
“Omar’s very good in the air, so I’m sure it’s going to be an interesting battle”, Keane said.
“If we do we should be OK”.