Galaxy blanked at home again, falling to Atlanta United 2-0
CARSON, Calif. (AP) — Josef Martinez scored a first-half goal, Miguel Almiron converted a penalty late in second-half stoppage time, and Atlanta United kept Zlatan Ibrahimovic off the scoreboard in a 2-0 victory over the LA Galaxy on Saturday night.
Brad Guzan got the shutout for Atlanta, which is 5-0-1 since getting blown out by Houston in its season opener.
Until the closing minutes, Ibrahimovic got few chances to make a difference in his fourth appearance for the Galaxy, who are 2-2-0 with a pair of 2-0 losses at home since his arrival. Ibrahimovic played the entire game for the first time in MLS.
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A sellout crowd of 25,846 at StubHub eagerly anticipated late-game Zlatan magic while the Galaxy surged in the final minutes. Ibrahimovic scored three goals in his first three games for LA, including two game-winners.
Instead, Atlanta's defense barely held on against a late-game onslaught led by Ibrahimovic, playmaker Romain Alessandrini and Giovani Dos Santos, who came on as a 66th-minute substitute for his first game action with his new Swedish teammate.
A few minutes after referee Baldomero Toledo declined to award a penalty when Ibrahimovic was pushed in the box, Toledo gave a penalty when Romario Williams went down in the fourth minute of stoppage time. Almiron scored his fourth goal of the season, infuriating the Galaxy and their bench.
Jonathan Dos Santos was a late scratch from the Galaxy's starting lineup after apparently getting hurt during warmups, and his team suffered defensively in his absence. Atlanta's formidable speed was too much for the Galaxy early on, with coach Tata Martino's team dominating possession and Almiron repeatedly shredding the Galaxy defense.
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Martinez missed a penalty in the first half, putting his shot off the post. Two minutes later, he jumped on the rebound of Julian Gressel's shot off the post and slotted home the sixth goal of another outstanding season for the Venezuelan forward.
Giovani Dos Santos entered in the second half for his first appearance since March 11, and the Galaxy generated multiple strong chances from that point. The Mexican star had missed nearly six weeks with a hamstring injury.
Galaxy goalkeeper David Bingham made saves on Martinez and Ezequiel Barco midway through the second half. Alessandrini was his usual playmaking force for the Galaxy, but the French winger struggled to find Ibrahimovic with his long crosses.
Moments after Ibrahimovic wasn't awarded a late penalty, Ola Kamara headed a free kick over the bar.
