After a long absence, the Galaxy are returning to CONCACAF competition.
By winning the MLS Cup, the Galaxy qualified for the CONCACAF Champions Cup and begins play in the Round of 16.
Their two-leg series begins Wednesday on the road against C.S. Herediano (5:30 p.m.). The second leg is the following Wednesday (March 12) at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson. This is the Galaxy’s first CONCACAF game since the 2015 season.
“To be able to come down here in a new format, so the most important thing in the first match is you set yourself up for the best chance to win the series back in Los Angeles,” Galaxy coach Greg Vanney said. “You want to get an away goal, if at all possible, and you want to keep things tight for the opposition.
“With each of these games, (with) a relatively new group, some of the mistakes that we were doing to ourselves in the last game are things we’ve got to continue to clean up, both with and without the ball. Trying to find the right solutions with this group to be more goal dangerous. For us, it’s another opportunity to get out and try to turn the knob a little bit in terms of executing better.
The Galaxy made the 7-hour trip from Vancouver after Sunday’s 2-1 loss.
“Better now than the old days, when we had to commercial it all the way down,” Vanney said. “Most of the guys had their own row and they could lay out across the three seats. It’s a long flight, but we got in, they went to the gym to move around a little bit, get some rest and we went out and trained this morning (Tuesday) to get the flight out of the system and get turned around for tomorrow (Wednesday).
Sunday’s game was a costly one, with the club learning that newly acquired midfielder Lucas Sanabria will be sidelined for an undisclosed time after suffering a fractured collarbone. Defender Emiro Garces was also taken off during Sunday’s game because of a calf issue, but Vanney said Garces will be available.
“It’s a fractured collarbone, it wasn’t broken all the way through, but there’s certainly a fracture there,” Vanney said of Sanabria. “He’s had it before. Different spot. He flew back to seek whatever medical attention he needs.”
Sanabria is another addition to the injury list. Miki Yamane (hamstring) didn’t make the trip. Joseph Paintsil (quadriceps) is still weeks away, as is Mauricio Cuevas (hamstring). Matheus Nascimento’s debut has been delayed due to a groin injury. Not exactly the way the Galaxy wanted to head down to Costa Rica.
“The biggest thing is getting a result down here,” forward Christian Ramirez said. “The good thing about having these midweek games is that it’s a quick turnaround and lets you shift your focus from league play to this. We know it’s a process that we’re going through right now, with a bunch of new faces a lot of injuries going on, so we just have to buckle down, stay together and get through it.”
It will be another short turnaround after Wednesday. The Galaxy resume MLS play on Sunday at home against St. Louis City SC.
GALAXY at C.S. HEREDIANO
When: Tuesday, 5:26 p.m.
Where: Estadio Jose Rafael Fello Meza; Cartago, Costa Rica
How to watch: Fox Sports 2