LA Galaxy @ NY Red Bulls (5/19)

Posted on May 16th, 2013 by in Game Preview. (View Comments)

LA Galaxy @ New York Red Bulls

Sunday, May 19, 2013

Red Bull Arena

Kick-off: 10:00 a.m

 

The LA Galaxy is in New York to face the third and final game of the road trip this Sunday.  Coming off a victory at Philadelphia this past Wednesday the Galaxy will look to keep gaining points when they face the leaders in the Eastern Conference.

The Galaxy went into Philadelphia on a two-game losing streak and having difficulties scoring goals. All that changed against the Union, as LA would score four goals to return to their winning ways. The Union’s goalkeeper Zac MacMath headed the ball into his own net to give the Galaxy the 1-0 lead just a couple of minutes into the game. Although the Galaxy was off to a good start, the Union managed to equalize off a throw in, in which Okugo found himself unmarked in the six-yard box.  The difference in the game was the dangerous pairing of Landon Donovan and Robbie Keane, who were playing together for the first time in nearly a month. Landon Donovan tallied a goal and two assists this game, while Keane added a goal and an assist himself. Hector Jimenez also got himself on the scoreboard, finding the back of the net for the first time this season. The LA Galaxy has yet to lose when scoring the first goal.

 Landon Donovan and Robbie Keane joined Mike Magee as players with more than one goal this season, and Donovan also joined a list of players to have played 200 games with the club, alongside Kevin Hartman, Cobi Jones, and Mauricio Cienfuegos.

The Red Bulls will be no easy test. On a five-game unbeaten run, the Red Bulls have maintained themselves on top of the Eastern Conference. Led by players like Thierry Henry, Tim Cahill, and Fabian Espindola, the Red Bulls’ attack is one of the most dangerous in the league.  The Red Bulls’ last defeat came on April 17th against Sporting KC, their only defeat at home. New York is winless against Western Conference opponents this season, and the Galaxy will look start a winning streak and keep it that way.

THIS IS LA!

LA Galaxy:

17 points, 17 GF, 9 GA

5-3-2, 3rd in Western Conference

Home Record: 3-1-1

Away Record: 2-2-1

Previous Games:

(5/15) Philadelphia Union 1-4 LA Galaxy

(5/11) Vancouver Whitecaps 3-1 LA Galaxy

(5/5) LA Galaxy 0-1 Houston Dynamo

(4/27) Real Salt Lake 0-2 LA Galaxy

(4/20) LA Galaxy 2-0 Sporting KC

New York Red Bulls:

21 points, 19 GF, 15 GA

6-4-3, 1st in Eastern Conference

Home Record: 3-1-1

Away Record: 3-3-2

Previous Games:

(5/11) NE Revolution 1-1 NY Red Bulls

(5/8) NY Red Bulls 2-1 Montreal Impact

(5/4) Columbus Crew 0-1 NY Red Bulls

(4/27) Toronto FC 1-2 LA Galaxy

(4/20) NY Red Bulls 4-1 NE Revolution

@acosta19LA

LA Galaxy @ Philadelphia Union (5/15)

Posted on May 14th, 2013 by in Game Preview. (View Comments)

LA Galaxy @ Philadelphia Union

Wednesday, May 15, 2013

PPL Park

Kick-off: 4:30 p.m

 

Game two of the three-game road trip is around the corner, and on Wednesday the LA Galaxy visits PPL Park to take on the Philadelphia Union. Now on a two-game losing streak the Galaxy will look to return to winning ways against the Union, whom they have not defeated since their meeting on April 2011.

The Galaxy suffered their third defeat of the season this past Saturday when they fell to the Vancouver Whitecaps. The defending MLS champions once again suffered in the final third, and their inability to capitalize on opportunities in front of goal as well as poor defending led to the Galaxy giving up three goals in the second half. Gyasi Zardes entered the game in the second half and scored LA’s lone goal after heading the ball into the back of the net following a cross from Jose Villarreal. Following the disappointing defeat and due to the schedule, Bruce Arena suggested there would be changes in the lineup for Wednesday’s game. It is important that the Galaxy rescue points from the remaining games of the road trip to keep up with Dallas, who leads the conference (and league) with 24 points.

It’s expected that Robbie Keane will make his return on Wednesday. If that’s the case, he’ll help the Galaxy attack which has been suffering the past couple of games. Aside from Magee, there is no Galaxy player that has scored more than one goal. Keane has missed three games nursing from an ankle injury, games in which goals have been scored by Magee and rookies Rugg and Zardes.

The Union will host the Galaxy on a two-game unbeaten run. With just one defeat at home so far, Philadelphia has put up good results at PPL Park. Jack McInerney currently leads MLS with seven goals, one more than the Galaxy’s Mike Magee.  Aside from McInerney, the Union also has players such as Conor Casey and Sebastian Le Toux, who have been helping their attacking end.

THIS IS LA!

LA Galaxy:

14 points, 13 GF, 8 GA

4-3-2, 5th in Western Conference

Home Record: 3-1-1

Away Record: 1-2-1

Previous Games:

(5/11) Vancouver Whitecaps 3-1 LA Galaxy

(5/5) LA Galaxy 0-1 Houston Dynamo

(4/27) Real Salt Lake 0-2 LA Galaxy

(4/20) LA Galaxy 2-0 Sporting KC

(4/13) FC Dallas 1-0 LA Galaxy

Philadelphia Union:

15 points, 13 GF, 14 GA

4-3-3, 5th in Eastern Conference

Home Record: 1-1-2

Away Record: 3-2-1

Previous Games:

(5/11) Chicago Fire 0-1 Philadelphia Union

(5/4) Philadelphia Union 2-2 Seattle Sounders

(4/27) NE Revolution 2-0 Philadelphia Union

(4/21) DC United 2-3 Philadelphia Union

(4/13) Philadelphia Union 1-1 Toronto FC

@acosta19LA

LA Galaxy @ Vancouver Whitecaps FC (5/11)

Posted on May 9th, 2013 by in Game Preview. (View Comments)

LA Galaxy @ Vancouver Whitecaps

Saturday, May 11, 2013

BC Place

Kick-off: 4:00 p.m

The longest road trip of the season begins this Saturday when the LA Galaxy visits the Vancouver Whitecaps at BC Place. In only their second visit to BC Place, the Galaxy will look to remain unbeaten against the Whitecaps, who are currently second-to-last in the Western Conference.

In their first of three consecutive games away from home the Galaxy will look to bounce back from the 1-0 defeat against Houston this past weekend. Landon Donovan once again had a penalty kick blocked, his second of the season. Coincidently, both Galaxy losses have been by a 1-0 score, and in both Donovan has failed to convert from the spot. There have been hints that someone may overtake penalty kick duties from him.

The Galaxy attack suffered this past weekend, and one can only wonder how the Galaxy would be doing without Mike Magee. Magee has scored half of the Galaxy’s goals so far, six of twelve, with no other player tallying more than one goal. Robbie Keane has been absent from five of the Galaxy’s eight games this season, and has not scored since his goal in the home opener on March 3rd. After Thursday’s practice, the Irishman said he was targeting the game against Philadelphia next Wednesday for his return.

The Whitecaps started the 2013 MLS campaign with two consecutive victories, but it has all gone downhill from there. Vancouver’s last victory came on March 9th against Columbus, and has now gone seven straight games without a win.  With nine points out of twenty-seven, Vancouver is tied with Seattle at the bottom of the Western Conference.

The past couple of meetings between the Whitecaps and the Galaxy have been memorable. Last season, in the Galaxy’s first visit to BC Place, it looked like Vancouver was close to recording the club’s first victory against LA after going up 2-0. Late goals from David Beckham and Jose Villarreal (the first of his MLS career) allowed the Galaxy to escape with a point. The next meeting between the two came in the knockout round of the 2012 playoffs, played at the Home Depot Center. The Whitecaps went up 1-0 in the early minutes of the game, threatening to end the Galaxy’s quest for back-to-back championships early. In the 69th minute Magee tied the game with a volley, and less than five minutes later Landon Donovan put the Galaxy ahead after earning a penalty kick. In about five minutes the Galaxy was able to turn things around and begin the push for what would turn out to be the club’s second consecutive MLS Cup.

LA Galaxy:

14 points, 12 GF, 5 GA

4-2-2, 4th in Western Conference

Home Record: 3-1-1

Away Record: 1-1-1

Previous Games:

(5/5) LA Galaxy 0-1 Houston Dynamo

(4/27) Real Salt Lake 0-2 LA Galaxy

(4/20) LA Galaxy 2-0 Sporting KC

(4/13) FC Dallas 1-0 LA Galaxy

(3/30) Toronto FC 2-2 LA Galaxy

Vancouver Whitecaps:

9 points, 9 GF, 13 GA

2-4-3, 8th in Western Conference

Home Record: 2-0-2

Away Record: 0-4-1

Previous Games:

(5/4) Real Salt Lake 2-0 Vancouver Whitecaps

(4/27) Vancouver Whitecaps 2-2 FC Dallas

(4/20) FC Dallas 2-0 Vancouver Whitecaps

(4/13) Vancouver Whitecaps 1-0 Real Salt Lake

(4/6) San Jose 1-1 Vancouver Whitecaps

THIS IS LA!

Join the Discussion Here

@acosta19LA

Give Us Five Years

Posted on May 6th, 2013 by in Misc. (View Comments)

It’s a bit saddening as well as frustrating that many of the new faces and some already seasoned members can’t tell you the history of the Angel City Brigade, let alone where it started. It is an issue that hits close to home for me. I’ll break it down a little bit so you can understand fully or not understand at all. Talk of a new supporter group began in the mess that is known as Big Soccer, HERE. Already receiving shit from the other group(s) I felt more ready then ever to take on the mission.

2088

The first meeting of the group took place at a In n Out in Buena Park. Six fans sat outside sharing each others views, opinions and ideas of what LA is missing and should be. Names were thrown around and thank god we ended up choosing Angel City Brigade or we could’ve been the LA Firm or Ol Yellow Boys. Off the bat I knew this would not be easy and this would be the greatest thing I’ve done yet. After the name had been chosen we had several other meetings in the same area and in the IE to bring everyone together and lay the ground work down for the group.

You could have not wished for better core to the group. Everyone instantly gelled and the ideas started to pour out. We made our début at Soccer Fest 2008 at HDC where we picked up a couple more important members. We needed 20 season ticket holders as stated by the Galaxy FO to be recognized and receive the “perks” of a SG and it came do to the final couple of weeks before season started that we would reach that number. With a single banner and white shirts that had lawsuit printed on them the ACB made it’s first game appearance in 2008 against the shit scum bag Smurfs. I can’t be described, sorry. We won 2-0.The drama and BS we had to go through to be where we are today isn’t something to be looked over and forgotten. In fact, everyone old and new should revisit those times and remember what we had to do to make ACB come true. Ignite the fire and fight we had that may have dwindled a bit over the years. Not the fire for the team or the group, but to be better, bigger, louder and crazier each and every game.

ACB
It’s true ACB is a new culture that isn’t for everyone but it is what LA needs and has been waiting for. I you feel that urge right now for the ACB then you understand just a bit of what it means and you’re well on your way. To fully understand then ask the older members for stories and lessons and do your part to make ACB better. Only then will you know how much this group means to a lot of us and how it’s changed the lives of many. The original mission statement and the doubts people had. Thanks for finding this article John.