Gabriel Pec made the perfect splash into Major League Soccer last season.
He was the league’s Newcomer of the Year and finished with 19 goals and 17 assists in 38 games.
So far this season, he has two goals – one in MLS play and one in a Champions Cup match – on 36 shots as the Galaxy prepare to host Portland FC on Sunday.
“With Gabe, the keys for me is that Gabe needs to stay aggressive,” Galaxy coach Greg Vanney said. “There’s times this season where he is looking for the ball at his feet a lot and he is slowing the game down and he’s trying to play playmaker a little bit and we need Gabe to be play finisher.
“Picking up the ball on the run, or running through the spaces so that we can play him on the run. That’s where I think he’s seeing some of these chances … they were in transition, they’re when he’s picking up the ball and he’s already on the move and he has the defender on their heels, now he can start to dictate the game. When he’s stagnant and he’s receiving it, teams are getting numbers around him.”
Pec found some space on the move in last week’s 1-0 loss against Austin FC. Pec created a pair of chances, had three shots on goal and had a shot carom off the post.
“He’s a guy that when he gets on the move, he’s really, really difficult to defend,” Vanney said. “Also, after he plays passes, we want him to keep moving and not just play passes to somebody and then let that guy do the action. Play and move and create a new scenario for himself to receive the ball on the move. His intentions are great, he wants to help the team, I just think it comes down to the application of what he should be applying into any given moment.”
“The more things he can do on the run in training, the more things he can do on the run in games, I think the more these things will fall in sync, timing-wise, technique-wise, and he’s going to start finding the back of the net. We see it in training.
“In terms of getting moments and getting chances that we’re used to seeing him bury, I think he saw a few of them (against Austin FC). Over the last two games, you could argue that he’s had three to five good looks that you would normally see him come away with something.”
The Galaxy (0-6-3, 3 points) have yet to win in MLS play – they did defeat CS Herediano in a CONCACAF Champions Cup match on March 12 – with just six goals in nine games. Portland FC (4-2-3, 15 points) is coming off a 3-3 draw against LAFC.
Julio Davila to be honored
All officials around MLS will be wearing black armbands to honor Julio “Tranquilo” Davila. The Galaxy’s referee liaison from 1996 through last season died last weekend.
The Galaxy said in a statement: “Over the weekend, we lost a valued and longtime member of our gameday staff, Julio ‘Tranquilo’ Davila. Julio served as our Club’s referee liaison, who has been involved with the LA Galaxy since our start in 1996. His presence will be missed on the sidelines.”
PORTLAND TIMBERS at GALAXY
When: Sunday, 6 p.m.
Where: Dignity Health Sports Park
TV: Apple TV+ (MLS Season Pass)
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