Gareth Bale’s MLS struggles laid bare as he’s hauled off after an hour of LAFC’s 1-1 draw against Minnesota… with the team’s goal difference down at -7 when he has been on the pitch compared to +33 when he’s not
- Gareth Bale was substituted after just an hour of LA’s match against Minnesota
- He has now failed to register a direct goal involvement in his last six matches
- When he has been on the pitch this season, LA’s goal difference is down at -7
- When Bale has not been playing this term, LA’s goal difference is up at +33
Gareth Bale had another evening to forget as he was substituted after an hour of Los Angeles FC’s 1-1 draw with Minnesota on Tuesday.
Bale was making just his second start for the team since arriving on a free transfer in July, but he struggled to influence proceedings and was replaced with his side 1-0 down following Brett Kallman’s opener on the stroke of half time.
As Bale came off, MLS reporter Matthew Doyle sent out a tweet highlighting the negative impact that Bale has had on LA’s goal difference when he has been on the pitch this term.
Gareth Bale has been unable to make a positive impact since joining LA FC in July
He was substituted by manager Steve Cherundolo (R) after an hour on Tuesday
After Bale was replaced, reporter Matthew Doyle tweeted damning statistics about his time at LA so far
He then updated the numbers after Carlos Vela equalised for LA just after Bale went off
‘Bale comes off after an hour. LAFC are -7 (goal difference) in his 375 minutes this year. +32 (goal difference) in the other ~2800,’ Doyle wrote.
He then added ‘make it +33’ as LA equalised through Carlos Vela just minutes after Bale was taken off.
Bale did start his LAFC career strongly by scoring in his second match in a 2-0 win against Kansas City.
The 33-year-old followed that up by finding the net again in a 4-1 drubbing of Salt Lake City two weeks later.
Carlos Vela (L) rescued a point for LA by scoring the equaliser after Bale had been replaced
However, he has gone off the boil in recent weeks, having failed to register a single goal contribution in any of his last six appearances. LAFC have won just once during this period, losing four times.
His match fitness also seems to have been a concern as he has largely been limited to cameo appearances from the bench.
When he did finally get to start a match on Tuesday, he lasted just an hour before being replaced.
Despite Bale’s struggles, LAFC are still in a dominant position at the top of the Western Conference, having moved 10 points clear of their nearest challengers Austin.