Grinding the gears, there's absolutely nothing worst than driving down the road hearing your car's RPMs kick up and she instead slows down instead of speeding up. Saturday night the Los Angeles Galaxy experienced a little more stress in their match against the Vancouver Whitecaps than last weeks LA derby encounter. In a match whom the Galaxy really needed to win in order to extend the winning run to two games. In the league none can stress the importance of winning home games most than we here at World Football Daily.

The first half exhibited the alacrity and typical slow start to the Los Angeles Galaxy's play. Dominating possession in the first half the Galaxy found it still rather difficult to challenge David Ousted's goal. Only recording one shot on goal out eight total shots. Opposed to Vancouver who instead preferred to press high up the field putting fast paced pressure on the Galaxy's back four. The forward pairing of Mattocks and Manneh by Whitecaps coach Carl Robinson almost paid off on certain moments in the opening half. Pressure from Mattocks in one instance forced a terrible back pass from Leonardo and left Penedo scrambling to boot it clear. The issue for the Los Angeles Galaxy this week appeared to be in their initial passing. Last week's display against Chivas USA, the Galaxy showed their capacity of creating cutting passes quite astutely. This time around the passing overall throughout the first half lacked immensely.

The Galaxy did not look entirely lost in the first half to the contrary of what the statistics stated. The Galaxy was in fact patient when it came to their build up going forward. The main obstacle was coming from random weight on passes or lack of passing. The fruit of their labor would come to forward for the Los Angeles Galaxy though after the restart.

At the start of the second half it did not take long for the Galaxy to make something of their build up. The Galaxy's new signing Stefan Ishizaki whipped in a beautiful cross from the right side of the Whitecap's penalty box in the 47th minute. Meeting the cross was none other than the Los Angeles number seven Robbie Keane on the volley to make it 1-0 in favor of Los Angeles. Much of the match began to fade after the goal, the best opportunity for Vancouver came in the 77th minute when Kenny Miller got to Mezquida's corner on the near post forcing a save from Penedo.

The Galaxy in fact could have had two more goals in the dying moments of the game. Robert Friend had a chance in both the 82nd minute and in the 88th minute. Friend was able to run onto a one-touch pass by Robbie Keane to take on Ousted one on one, but Robert scuffed his shot wide of the far post. In the 88th minute the Canadian giant was able to get up to a Keane cross into the box but Robert sends his effort again wide of the post. The Galaxy on a third attempt could have extended their lead further. Robbie Keane in the dying moments of the match took down a brilliant header from Rob Friend. Keane sped into the Vancouver box beating DeMerit and attempting a cheeky chip, but the chip went over the bar.

 The Los Angeles Galaxy won their second league game this year in rather dull fashion. The main take away from this match up was the three points for the Los Angeles Galaxy. The questions still rise of the Galaxy's capability of containing themselves when they take on a team that will press them high up the pitch. Sloppy passing could have afforded the Galaxy in this encounter but didn't, the Galaxy need to tighten up their passing from all ends of the field from the attacking role to the defense. The Los Angeles Galaxy will travel to Vancouver next Saturday with hopes of trying to acquire a result in Canada to keep their MLS campaign rolling right. 

20,847 attendance