FT: LA Galaxy 1-1 Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham Hotspur’s tour of the United States began with a frustrating 1-1 draw against the LA Galaxy in Carson.
Gareth Bale’s man of the match performance, which included a well-taken goal, will raise some serious questions about an alleged back injury which ruled him out of Team GB’s Olympic squad.
Andre Villas-Boas also has injury concerns, as both Kyle Walker and Rafael van der Vaart limped off with injuries.
All in all, it was a testing match for the ex-Chelsea boss.
Injury doubts
Dutchman van der Vaart was seen clutching his groin as he disappeared from the action before half-time, which surely means that he will be a major doubt now for the start of the Premier League season in just over three weeks time.
Right back Walker was taken off in the second half on a more precautionary scale, having just recovered from the toe injury that ruled him out of England’s Euro 2012 squad.
Tottenham started the game brightly and took the lead on 17 minutes.
New signing Gylfi Sigurdsson looked bright and his excellent cross was headed in by Bale.
Whilst Sigurdsson looks sharp after a scoring debut last week in a friendly win over Stevenage Borough, fellow new boy Jan Vertonghen looked off the pace.
The Belgian was lax and looked completely lost on the field, as his partnership with Younes Kaboul (pictured) at the back struggled to gel.
Ledley King’s retirement might have left a gaping hole that still needs fixing.
Soft equaliser
The lack of cohesion between the pair led to a soft equaliser for LA Galaxy, as Marcelo Sarvas’s cross in the 28th minute, found the head of central defender David Lopes.
Lopes crashed his header past second choice goalkeeper Carlo Cudicini and had it not been for some charitable finishing from Robbie Keane, the final outcome could have been worse.
Bale’s participation will have raised some eyebrows in London, as he pulled out of the Olympics three weeks ago with a back injury that looks suspicious now.
Stuart Pearce will be unimpressed with his 73 minute cameo, in a friendly that meant very little to either side.
Changes in the second half from both teams interrupted the flow of the match but the Americans will be pleased with their performance, considering that they were missing star players, David Beckham and Landon Donovan.
There was no sign of unhappy Luka Modric here and Villas-Boas confirmed afterwards that he is unlikely to be seen on the rest of the North Londoners American experience.
This continues with a curious friendly against English rivals Liverpool in Baltimore on Saturday. Then, they meet Thierry Henry’s New York Red Bulls on July 31.
By Simon Wright – Follow me on Twitter @Siwri88
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