Gabriel Pec made the perfect splash in the football of Major League last season.
He was the newcomer to the league year and finished with 19 goals and 17 assists in 38 games.
So far this season, it has two goals – one in MLS and one in the champions cup – on 36 shots while the Galaxy is preparing to welcome the Portland FC on Sunday.
“With Gabe, the keys for me are that Gabe must remain aggressive,” said Galaxy coach Greg Vanney. “There are times this season when he is looking for the ball a lot at his feet and he slows down the game and he tries to play a little game player and we need Gabe to play the finisher.
“Take the ball in the race or browse the spaces so that we can play it in the race. This is where I think he sees some of these chances … They were in transition, they are when he picks up the ball and that he is already in motion and that he has the defender on their heels, the teams can start dictating the game.
PEC found some moving space during last week’s 1-0 defeat against Austin FC. Pec created a pair of chances, succeeded in three shots on goal and had a shot.
“It’s a guy that when he moves, he is really, really difficult to defend,” said Vanney. In addition, after playing passes, we want him to continue to move and not just play someone passes, then let this guy do the action. Play and move and create a new scenario for itself to receive the ball in motion. His intentions are great, he wants to help the team, I just think it comes down to the application of what he should apply in a given moment. “”
“The more he can do things in racing, the more he can do things on the run in games, I think that the more these things will fall into synchronization, in time of synchronization, in terms of technique, and he will start to find the bottom of the net. We see it in training.
“In terms of obtaining moments and chances that we are used to seeing him bury, I think he saw some (against Austin FC). During the last two games, you could say that he had three to five beautiful looks that you would normally see it again with something.”
The Galaxy (0-6-3, 3 points) has not yet won in MLS Play – they beat CS Herediano in a match of the CONCACAF Champions Cup on March 12 – with only six goals in nine games. The Portland FC (4-2-3, 15 points) leaves a 3-3 draw against Lafc.
Julio Davila will be honored
All civil servants around the MLS will wear black armbands to honor Julio “Tranquilo” Davila. The link from the 1996 Galaxy referee to last season died last weekend.
The Galaxy said in a press release: “During the weekend, we lost a precious and long-standing member of our Gameday staff, Julio ‘Tranquilleo’ Davila. Julio was the referee of our club, which was involved with the Galaxy of Los Angeles since our departure in 1996. Its presence will be missing on the sidelines.”
Portland Timbers in Galaxy
When: 6 p.m. Sunday
Or: DIGNITY Health Sports Park
TV: Apple TV (MLS season pass)
Originally published:
California Daily Newspapers
