LA Galaxy vs FC Dallas
Saturday April 28, 2012

The Home Depot Center

Kick-off: 7:30 p.m.

It seems like the sleeping giant has been awakened. The LA Galaxy recorded their first consecutive wins of the season this past Saturday defeating the Colorado Rapids at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park, winning a game away from home for the first time in the process. Captain Landon Donovan scored for the second game in a row, again with an assist from Robbie Keane. Late in the game David Junior Lopes committed a foul inside the box- at least, according to referee Ramon Hernandez- and Omar Cummings had a chance to tie the game at 2. Josh Saunders ensured the Galaxy would return to LA with three points by saving the penalty kick attempt in stoppage time.

The Galaxy will try to keep their winning streak alive when they play host to FC Dallas at the Home Depot Center this Saturday. The defending MLS Cup Champions will look to win back-to-back games at home for the first time this season. After six games LA has nine points, while Dallas has eleven points after playing eight games. The hoops currently stand two spots above the Galaxy in the Western Conference. LA is yet to record a shutout this season, although the team has not given up more than one goal in each of the last three games. FC Dallas, yet to gain a single point on the road, will visit the HDC after falling to Vancouver on Saturday and hosting Real Salt Lake on Wednesday.

LA Galaxy
9 points, 10 GF, 10 GA

3-3-0, 6th in Western Conference

Home Record: 2-2-0

Away Record: 1-1-0

FC Dallas
11 points, 9 GF, 11 GA

3-3-2, 4th in Western Conference

Home Record: 3-0-2

Away Record: 0-3-0

THIS IS LA!

Join the discussion:

http://angelcitybrigade.net/forum/showthread.php?1020-LA-Galaxy-vs-FC-Dallas-(4-28)&p=19335#post19335

  @acosta19LA

LA Galaxy @ Colorado Rapids

Saturday, April 21st, 2012

Dick’s Sporting Goods Park

Kick-off: 6:00 p.m

ACB Viewing Party: The Royal Falconer

This past Saturday the LA Galaxy snapped a two-game losing streak after defeating the Portland Timbers 3-1. Landon Donovan, Juninho, and David Beckham scored in the come from behind victory, all three getting their first goals of the season. Not only did we see great goals from Juninho and Beckham, but we also witnessed the debut of David Junior Lopes in a Galaxy uniform. The newly-acquired defender replaced AJ DeLaGarza, who missed the game due to injury (R adductor strain). Lopes impressed his teammates in his first game. Beckham considered Lopes to be man of the match, and when Donovan was asked about the Brazilian he said “We’re glad to have him. Hopefully as they say, one man’s trash is another man’s treasure. For us, he was fantastic.”

There were more positive vibes around the Galaxy locker room following the game on Saturday. When asked about his thoughts on the team’s performance, head coach Bruce Arena said “I think inside the team they have probably what they did individually, as a group as a team it was better. I think at the end of the day you have to be a good team and we haven’t been a good team in the early goings. Tonight we were a good team.” He’s right, the Galaxy played a much better game than they had a couple of weeks ago against Sporting KC, where they were unable to get a single shot on goal. Todd Dunivant added “The mood of the team felt a lot different than it has. We can build on that. [If] we come to play like that, we’re not going to lose many games.”

LA hits the road for the second time this season to visit the Colorado Rapids. The Rapids, undefeated at home, will be looking to take advantage of the altitude and snap their two-game losing streak. The Galaxy, on the other hand, will try to get its first back-to-back wins of the current MLS campaign as well as the first victory away from home. Through 5 games so far, the Galaxy has been unable to maintain a clean sheet. Connor Casey- who tore his Achilles last July- is on day-to-day recovery, even though he had targeted his return for this Saturday’s game.

LA Galaxy:

6 points, 8 GF, 9 GA

2-3-0, 8th in Western

Home Record: 2-2-0

Away Record: 0-1-0

Colorado Rapids:

9 points, 7 GF, 8 GA

3-3-0, 6th in Western

Home Record: 2-0-0

Away Record: 1-3-0

THIS IS LA!

Join the ACB at The Royal Falconer for this weekend’s Viewing Party!

http://www.facebook.com/#!/events/364042546952839/

Join the discussion here:

http://angelcitybrigade.net/forum/showthread.php?1012-LA-Galaxy-Colorado-Rapids-(4-21)&p=19033#post19033

@acosta19LA

LA Galaxy vs Portland Timbers

Saturday, April 14th, 2012

The Home Depot Center

Kick-off: 7:30 p.m

“Well obviously I’m pretty sure they’re not popping champagne in there” said Bruce Arena of the locker room morale after another defeat this past Saturday. This time, the Galaxy was defeated by Sporting KC, falling to a 1-3-0 record. Though the team is a game behind most of the Western Conference, the LA Galaxy is currently in last place with only three points after four games. It’s been a tough start for the 2011 MLS Cup Champions, who are currently in the second worst start to a season in the team’s history. For the first time this season, LA was unable to score. Not only that, but the Galaxy left Kansas City without a single shot on goal. Going into that game, the LA was averaging 5.33 shots on goal per game. Since Bruce Arena took over the Galaxy in 2008, the team has never lost three games in a row.

On Saturday the Galaxy hosts the Portland Timbers at the Home Depot Center. Neither club has been performing as well as they were expected to before the season got underway. Portland was also defeated this past Saturday, losing at home to Chivas USA. After five games, the Timbers have four points, recording a draw, a win, and three defeats. The Timbers, winless in their last four, head to Southern California to try to get their first three points on the road, while the LA Galaxy look to snatch their own two-game losing streak. Since becoming part of MLS last season, Portland has been one of the worst teams away from home, getting two victories in nineteen games. Last April they fell 3-0 to LA at the HDC. Undefeated at home all throughout last year, the Galaxy has fallen twice so far this season.

LA Galaxy:

3 points, 5 GF, 8 GA

1-3-0, 8th in Western Conference

Home Record: 1-2-0

Away Record: 0-1-0

Portland Timbers:

4 points, 7 GF, 8 GA

1-3-1, 7th in Western Conference

Home Record: 1-2-0

Away Record: 0-1-1

THIS IS LA!

Join us: LA Galaxy vs Portland Timbers Weekend Activities http://www.facebook.com/#!/events/379963085377928/

Join the discussion here:

 http://angelcitybrigade.net/forum/showthread.php?997-LA-Galaxy-vs-Portland-Timbers-(4-14)&p=18754#post18754

@acosta19LA

LA Galaxy @ Sporting KC

Saturday, April 7^th, 2012

LIVESTRONG Sporting Park

Kick-off: 1 p.m

ACB Viewing Party: Dillon’s Irish Pub

No one expected the Galaxy to be struggling this early in the season. Can it be called a struggle after only 3 league games or are fans overreacting? There are those who can create an argument for either side.  Many expected LA to represent MLS in what was left of the CONCACAF Champions League, but the Galaxy was eliminated by Toronto FC in Quarterfinals.  Some are even considering the Galaxy’s season to be a failure due to LA’s performance in the regional tournament, which was said to be the team’s primary objective.  In that series, LA had to fight hard in final minutes of first leg to get a 2-2 draw. A draw in Toronto seemed like a good result, because all the Galaxy needed was a draw in the second leg to advance.  The Galaxy failed to do so, as the team fell at home for the second time in a few days. Days before, the Galaxy lost the home/season opener to Real Salt Lake, marking LA’s first defeat at home since November 2010.

Probably the part that worries LA Galaxy fans the most is the defensive troubles the team has been having.  During preseason, the team gave up 17 goals in 9 games.  The absence of Omar Gonzalez might be a factor for the Galaxy’s lack of positive results, but 4 out of the 5 members of last season’s backline are still playing.  So far, seven goals have been given up in three league games.  LA has lost 3 out of 4 games at home in all competitions so far, winning only 1 out of 5 games.

There has been a lot of talk surrounding the Galaxy after the disappointing loss to the Revolution.  Rumors of a confrontation between Beckham/Sarvas at halftime began to make their way around the internet. Neither one of them came out for the second half.  Different versions about what happened have been told, so in the end everything’s a rumor.  When asked why Beckham didn’t come out for the second half, Arena stated subs were purely “tactical” and a “coach’s decision”. Then, rumors of Beckham not attending this Saturday’s game surfaced online on Monday.  Several articles had him attending Sir Tom Finney’s birthday celebrations, but it looks like the information was false (at least, the rumors/speculation seemed to slow down after Alexi Lalas tweeted the Galaxy told him “Beckham will not be in England this weekend. However he recorded a video salute to Sir Tom Finney”).

The Galaxy’s most difficult test so far in this young season will be on Saturday, when the team plays on the road for the first time this year in league play.  The opponent? Eastern Conference-leading Sporting KC, one of two teams still undefeated.   LA lost to New England 1-3 this past weekend.  Robbie Keane scored his third goal in two games, with Buddle assisting in LA’s lone goal against the Revolution.  The Galaxy backline will be tested throughout the game, as Sapong, Kamara, and the rest of SKC are aware of LA’s defensive troubles as of late. If the Galaxy wants to turn things around, this is the game in which the team needs to show up and put on a good performance.

LA Galaxy:

3 points, 5 GF, 7 GA

1-2-0, 8^th in Western Conference

Home Record: 1-2-0

Away Record: 0-0-0

Sporting KC:

12 points, 7 GF, 1 GA

4-0-0, 1^st in Eastern Conference

Home Record: 2-0-0

Away Record: 2-0-0

THIS IS LA!

Don’t forget to head over to ACB’s Viewing Party at Dillon’s and pick up your 5^th Anniversary ACB scarf.

Full Menu, All Ages, Lots of TV’s! Game is at 1pm! $3 Pints ALL DAY -tons of different beers on tap.

Join the discussion here -> http://angelcitybrigade.net/forum/showthread.php?983-LA-Galaxy-Sporting-KC-(4-7)&p=18507#post18507
@acosta19LA