Galaxy hoping to convert expected goals into victories
If expected goals counted, the Galaxy would be in better shape headed into Saturday’s meeting against the Houston Dynamo.
Expected goals is a metric used to determine the quality of a scoring chance by calculating the likelihood that it will be scored from a particular position on the field.
In the 1-1 draw against Vancouver on March 18, the Galaxy won the xG battle (1.8-1.4). In last Saturday’s 2-1 loss to Seattle, the xG battle ended up heavy in the Galaxy’s favor (2.5-1).
The quest to turn the expected goals into real goals will get a boost this weekend with the return of Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez.
“Some of these things, we need a break, we need a little of this or a little or that, a ball that’s getting blocked, get deflected and finds the goal,” Galaxy coach Greg Vanney said. “Maybe a handball call to go your way …you just need something that when you’re in this grind and you’re building your group back up, you need a little something to fall your way and we’ve had very little fall our way in this stretch, even though I think we’ve played well.
“Our expected goals have been higher. I think we’ve had significantly better chances than our opposition … efficiency and execution.”
Hernandez has been sidelined this season with a hamstring injury. This is the first road trip he’s made this season. He returned to full training this week and should see some action against the Dynamo (5:30 p.m., Apple TV+) on Saturday. In his absence, the Galaxy (0-2-3) has managed just three goals.
“We were in this stretch last year where we weren’t getting the first goal, we were giving up the first goal and teams, when we give up the first goal, stay very, very compact and sit very low,” Vanney said. “There were times when Seattle had all 11 guys within 25-30 yards of their goal. Some of that is because they have a 1-0 lead and they’re protecting something. If it stays 0-0 or we can get the first goal, that will open up spaces.
“Every team has moments through a course of a season … we’re trying to get guys in, build our group. We’re trying to get two (designated players) off the injured list. We’re trying to bring in three new players from international service. You could see a very different group in two, three weeks than what you’ve seen over the last two, three weeks.”
This would be the first game in which Hernandez and Brazilian midfielder Douglas Costa have been active since last season. Costa made his season debut last week.
Will Kuntz added to front office
The Galaxy officially announced the hiring of Will Kuntz as Senior Vice President of Player Personnel.
In his role, Kuntz will be responsible for multiple aspects of the club’s soccer operations, including salary cap management, club development, immigration process, executing player and personnel contracts, and technical administration.
He spent the previous six seasons as Senior Vice President of Soccer Operations and Assistant General Manager at LAFC.
Galaxy at Dynamo
When: 5:30 p.m. Saturday
Where: Shell Energy Stadium, Houston
TV: Apple+