If the Galaxy are going to make a playoff run this season, they are going to have to win at home.
“The only way you ultimately get that confidence is to go out and get a win,” coach Sigi Schmid said. “It’s just a matter of reestablishing that fortress at home.”
They better get started on that soon, because their former fortress proved to be a prison once again Saturday, when second-half goals from Jonathan Lewis and David Villa lifted New York City FC to a 2-0 victory before an announced crowd of 25,667.
That extended the Galaxy’s winless streak to eight games, leaving them nine points out of a playoff berth with 11 games to play. And much of the blame for that lies with their dismal record at home, where they have won just once in 12 tries.
Yet that number alone doesn’t begin to explain the depth of their struggles at the StubHub Center. The Galaxy have led at home just once all season — for 75 minutes in their lone win.
That came in April.
And if the Galaxy don’t win at least one of their final five home games, they’ll break the MLS record for fewest home wins in a season set 16 years ago by the defunct Tampa Bay Mutiny.
The Mutiny won just two home games in 2001, after which they were immediately expelled from the league.
The Galaxy (6-12-5) can take some consolation from their latest loss, though, since they played better in the first 50 minutes then they have over any similar stretch all season.
