MLS Week 12, Mexicans Abroad: What we learned

All of a sudden, the LA Galaxy can’t win a game, while Carlos Vela continues to put LAFC on his back. Here’s what we learned from Week 12.

Jonathan dos Santos is still not at 100%

Jonathan dos Santos captained the LA Galaxy in Sunday’s 1-0 defeat to the Colorado Rapids but looked out of sorts, in what was his first game back since picking up a knock two weeks ago against the Columbus Crew. Injuries have always been a problem throughout Jonathan’s career, and this season has been no different. Jonathan has been overwhelmingly one of the best players for the Galaxy this season, and it is quite obvious that when he is not at 100%, the Galaxy isn’t either. The five-time MLS Cup champs have now lost four straight, and like Mexico national team coach Gerardo “Tata” Martino, Galaxy fans will be hoping Jonathan returns back to full fitness sooner rather than later.

Fabian and Antuna’s performances have done enough to convince Martino

Speaking of Martino, the preliminary roster for the Gold Cup was released this past week, and in addition to Jonathan dos Santos, both Marco Fabian and Uriel Antuna were named in the 29-man squad for Mexico. Evidently, Fabian has done enough to at least merit a spot in the preliminary roster, while Antuna’s call-up is his first since being called up last year by Juan Carlos Osorio.

In the case of Antuna, he has had a decent first season with the Galaxy, and he was once again in the starting XI this weekend for Guillermo Barros Schelotto’s side. He has had a golden opportunity to step up with Romain Alessandrini out for the foreseeable future, and here, he had the chance to start from a more advanced position with Zlatan Ibrahimovic suspended. Ideally, you’d like to see more from Antuna in terms of goals and assists, but considering the lack of wide player options in the team (thank you Tecatito), it wouldn’t be surprising to see Antuna get a look in the final roster.

Carlos Vela will be missed

One player that definitely won’t be in the Gold Cup is Carlos Vela. The Los Angeles FC forward denied the opportunity to play for Mexico, citing personal reasons, and it appears like he is saying goodbye forever to the national team.

It’s a real shame because Vela has been absolutely killing it this season, and he scored two more goals this week for LAFC. He continuously looks impossible to stop, and while he had a penalty saved on Sunday by Jesse Gonzalez(remember him?), he was able to bounce back by scoring right past him for the eventual equalizer.

Vela will undoubtedly be missed, and assuming he never returns, the kind of legacy he leaves behind with the national team is for you to decide. But with LAFC, at current pace it looks like he is going to reach legendary status before the season even ends because he is without question the best player in Major League Soccer right now.