Aug 24, 2013; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; LA Galaxy head coach Bruce Arena greets forward Robbie Keane (7) following a 1-0 victory over Vancouver Whitecaps FC at BC Place. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports
Bruce Arena’s Los Angeles Galaxy and Carl Robinson’s Vancouver Whitecaps take on each other in the first of a home-and-home series. This week’s match takes place at the StubHub Center in Carson, Calif. The Galaxy are coming off a 3-0 shutout win over Chivas USA at the Huib, while the Whitecaps were edged by the Colorado Whitecaps, 2-1, at B.C. Place Stadium in Vancouver, B.C.
Kickoff for the Galaxy and Whitecaps is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. PT/10:30 p.m. ET and will be televised by TSN and MLS LIVE. The Live Blog is scheduled for 6 p.m. PT/9 p.m. ET. Keep it right here on the FanSided Network for continuing coverage of the 2014 Major League Soccer season.
Refresh the screen for updates!
T-90: Welcome to the Live Blog between the Los Angeles Galaxy and Vancouver Whitecaps, live from the StubHub Center in Carson, Calif. My name is Jo-Ryan Salazar, the editor of the MLS Multiplex on the FanSided Network.
Match preview, from MLSSoccer.com…
REFEREE: Jair Marrufo. AR1 (bench): Adam Garner; AR2 (opposite): Mark Cahen; 4th: Ricardo Salazar
MLS Career: 159 games; FC/gm: 23.9; Y/gm: 3.0; R: 32; pens: 46
SUSPENDED: VAN: Matias Laba (through April 13)
DISABLED LIST: none
INTERNATIONAL ABSENCES: none
HEAD-TO-HEAD
ALL-TIME (8 meetings): Galaxy 6 wins, 18 goals … Whitecaps 1 win, 6 goals … Ties 1
AT LA (4 meetings): Galaxy 4 wins, 10 goals … Whitecaps 0 wins, 1 goal … Ties 0
RETURN MATCHES: 4/19: Vancouver Whitecaps FC vs. LA Galaxy, 4 p.m. PT; 8/23: LA Galaxy vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC, 7:30 p.m. PT
LAST YEAR (MLS):
5/11: VAN 3, LA 1 (Teibert 63, 76; Mattocks 92+ — Zardes 86)
7/20: LA 2, VAN 1 (Villarreal 29; Zardes 57 – Sanvezzo 19)
8/24: VAN 0, LA 1 (Donovan 3)
- Whitecaps FC have won once in nine meetings all-time in all competitions between the teams – a 3-1 win last May 11 at BC Place. The teams have played to one draw, in 2012 in Vancouver.
- The Galaxy have won all four meetings in Carson between the teams in league play. The 2-1 Galaxy victory last July 20 marked the first time Whitecaps FC had a scored a regular season goal there.
- Coaches record: Bruce Arena vs. VAN: P8 W6 L1 D1 … Carl Robinson vs. LA: first game
T-89: The LA Galaxy returned to action after a weekend off and strolled to their first league win of 2014, cruising to a 3-0 win against Chivas USA on Sunday afternoon at StubHub Center. The Galaxy sit in seventh place in the Western Conference with 4 points from 3 games.
Vancouver Whitecaps FC saw their undefeated start to the young season come to an end, the Colorado Rapids hitting for two late goals in a 2-1 come-from-behind win on Saturday afternoon at BC Place. Whitecaps FC sit in third place in the Western Conference with 8 points from 5 games.
Score updates coming up from a busy weekend of sports…
T-83: Final scores…Philadelphia Union drew 2-2 with Real Salt Lake, Montreal Impact drew 1-1 with the Chicago Fire, the Colorado Rapids shut out Toronto FC 1-0, the New England Revolution shut out the Houston Dynamo 2-0 and D.C. United upset the New York Red Bulls 1-0. Live score…FC Dallas and Seattle Sounders are tied 1-1 after 29 minutes.
T-82: 10 Bold Predictions from the Plex. Add Bold Prediction #11: the Galaxy will win the last 15 and stoppage. If this doesn’t happen, the odds of LA losing the game are pretty awesome.
T-55: Going on at the same time will be a match between the Portland Timbers and Chivas USA. The Multiplex’s very own Adam Golembiewski will be covering that contest.
T-50: Here’s some fresh news from the LA Galaxy Academy. The Under-16 and Under-18 sides will be taking part in the Dallas Cup next week.
LA GALAXY U-18 DALLAS CUP ROSTER BY POSITION:
GOALKEEPERS (2): Cesar Jerez, Max Watkin
DEFENDERS (8): Malcolm Jones, Elan Koenig, Michael Lopez, Manuel Padilla, Jeffrey Quezada, Justin Shottenhammer, Oscar Sorto, Sebastian Velasco
MIDFIELDERS (5): Andrew Benitez, Ryo Fujii, Hugo Gutierrez, Elijah Martin, Axel Mendez
FORWARDS (7): Adonis Amaya, Christian Chavez, Mark Hernandez, Bradford Jamieson IV, Steve Martinez, Jack McBean, Jaime Villarreal
LA GALAXY U-18 DALLAS CUP SCHEDULE:
Sunday, April 13 vs. Anderlecht (BEL) – 9:30 a.m. PT – Richland College
Monday, April 14 vs. Fluminese (BRA) – 10:00 a.m. PT – Richland College
Wednesday, April 16 vs. Chivas Guadalajara (MEX) – TBD
LA GALAXY U-16 GENERATION ADIDAS CUP ROSTER BY POSITION:
GOALKEEPERS (2): Bennett Sneddon, Max Watkin
DEFENDERS (8): Bilal Abdallah, Danny Huizar, Tyson Griffin, Elan Koenig, Michael Lopez, Brian Ohara, Christian Onalfo, Alex Ramos
MIDFIELDERS (6): Jose Bustamante, Juan Orozco, Rey Ortiz, Andrew Perez, Jonathon Ramirez, Chris Segovia
FORWARDS (5): Marc Calderon, Jorgie Ruiz, Dylan Smith, Adrian Vera, Ethan Zubak
LA GALAXY U-16 GENERATION ADIDAS CUP SCHEDULE:
Monday, April 14 vs. Stoke City (ENG) – 2 p.m. PT – Toyota Soccer Center’s Field 4
Tuesday, April 15 vs. Toronto FC – 2 p.m. PT – Toyota Soccer Center’s Field 8
Thursday, April 17 vs. RSL – 4 p.m. – Toyota Soccer Center’s Field 8
T-47: And now, a preview…
At halftime, FC Dallas leads the Seattle Sounders 2-1.
T-45: Both teams begin team warmups.
T-23: Lineups.
LOS ANGELES GALAXY
Manager: Bruce Arena
Record: 1-1-1 (four points)
18 Jaime Penedo
33 Dan Gargan —- 20 A.J. DeLaGarza —- 22 Leonardo —- 4 Omar Gonzalez
19 Juninho —- 8 Marcelo Sarvas —- 6 Baggio Husidic —- 24 Stefan Ishizaki
7 Robbie Keane (C) —- 10 Landon Donovan
Substitutes:
11 Gyasi Zardes
9 Samuel
1 Brian Perk
16 Rob Friend
34 Kenney Walker
21 Tommy Meyer
28 Kofi Opare
VANCOUVER WHITECAPS
Manager: Carl Robinson
Record: 2-1-2 (Eight points)
Formation: 4-4-2
1 David Ousted
2 Jordan Harvey —- 6 Jay DeMerit (C) —- 40 Andy O’Brien —- 33 Steve Beitashour
31 Russell Teibert —- 28 Gershon Koffie —- 7 Sebastian Fernandez —- 77 Pedro Morales
23 Kekuta Manneh —- 11 Darren Mattocks
Substitutes:
9 Kenny Miller
29 Nicolas Mezquida
20 Nigel Reo-Coker
16 Johnny Leveron
27 Ethen Sampson
70 Paolo Tornaghi
19 Erik Hurtado
T-15: Both teams wrap up warmups.
T-12: Dallas and Seattle are now tied, 2-2.
T-8: There’s a few Southsiders in attendance. Better than nothing.
T-5: Seattle lead, 3-2.
T-0: Both teams enter the pitch to the strains of Audiobrain’s MLS Anthem.
We have a Canadian team in the house, so we have a choir doing “O Canada” and “The Star-Spangled Banner.” This chorus is called The Inland Master Chorale.
FIRST HALF START: 7:39 P.M. PT/10:39 P.M. ET
1′ – The first half begins.
2′ – Here’s Leonardo, playing it back. Vancouver have elected to rest their big aces for later in the match, relaying on the new folks and young veterans to give the Caps some elbow room. Here is their first big break: a corner, just two minutes in. This is Russell Teibert. Punched away by Jaime Penedo. Long ball from Robbie Keane is too long.
3′ – A bad touch from Darren Mattocks. Now here is A.J. DeLaGarza. He wins a throw. Baggio Husidic now. Cross is deflected.
4′ – LA are now padding their possession percentage as they move forward. Stefan Ishizaki failed to read that pass.
5′ – Husidic. A shot from Keane is deflected. And now, a corner for Ishizaki.
6′ – Leonardo’s header goes over the crossbar. Juninho was in a jam on the transition. Landon Donovan loses that argument. Goal kick.
7′ – Ishizaki and Husidic fail to connect on that pass.
8′ – Carl Robinson is decked in a simple sweater vest and black slacks a Jim Tressel. As for Arena, it’s back to the suit. Now here’s Keane. David Ousted with the save. A chest save.
9′ – Gershon Koffie for Vancouver. Caps now with possession. Pedro Morales, and now a throw-in to former San Jose Earthquake Steven Beitashour, also an Iran international.
10′ – Landon Donovan can’t reel that in. Jair Marrufo awards a restart to LA. Husidic. Ishizaki, The cross. Saved by Ousted, cleared by Jay DeMerit. Leonardo reads that through ball.
11′ – And that transition play fizzles out.
12′ – DeLaGarza, back to Leonardo. Now it’s Gonzalez.
13′ – DeLaGarza gets challenge by either Teibert or Sebastien Fernandez. And a corner.
14′ – Good footwork there from Keano to win the corner. Ishizaki. Headed over the bag again. That’s twice already.
15′ – Seattle defeated Dallas 3-2, and right now, Portland lead Chivas USA 1-0.
16′ – Penedo asks for player to go forward. A throw-in to Vancouver. Here’s Andy O’Brien.
17′ – LA continue to press, but Vancouver are holding firm early. Marcelo Sarvas from Juninho. Omar Gonzalez plays it back. Leonardo now.
18′ – Communication is apparently a work in progress, as Vancouver snuff that one out and win their second corner of the game. Correction on the corners; Pedro Morales does that for Vancouver. A shot from O’Brien is high and over the bar. Chaos in the box.
19′ – Vancouver need to exploit Leonardo and unravel him or this will be a contest.
20′ – Here come the Caps. A shot from Mattocks did not have enough power. It’s saved by Penedo.
21′ – Landon Donovan in a jam. He won’t reach that.
22′ – Kekuta Manneh wins a corner for Morales.
23′ – A demerit for DeMerit on that header. Husidic wins the challenge.
24′ – Throw-in now for Beitashour. And another.
25′ – Los Angeles seem to be a bit frustrated with their ball movement, and rightfully so.
26′ – Vancouver happens to be a bit more organized in the midfield, but will it pay off?
27′ – Back come the Caps on the break. They win a throw-in. Mattocks was offsides.
28′ – That nearly was an own goal from Omar Gonzalez. Can you believe that?
29′ – Really compact football from Vancouver. The Galaxy have not been able to break the shell of the Caps.
30′ – Speculative shot from Juninho as we hit the half-hour mark of this contest.
31′ – Throw-in, Beitashour, and now it’s a restart awarded to LA.
32′ – Seems to be that the news faces for Vancouver want to be in Vancouver. They are playing inspired football right now. A shot is saved by Penedo. DeLaGarza concedes a free.
33′ – Take two. Long ball from Morales. LA clear…
34′ – DeMerit concedes a throw. Los Angeles have not been winning the possession as of late. Ousted will clear that cross from Keane.
35′ – Sebastian Fernandez is helped back to his feet.
36′ – Too much indecision from Keane. LA win a throw.
37′ – Boy, Vancouver caught a big break there. Goal kick, Whitecaps. LA being very wasteful in the box.
38′ – LA on the attack. Bad pass from Marcelo Sarvas. Penedo to collect.
39′ – Galaxy now with possession. DeLaGarza. And he wins a throw. Not a good dribble from Juninho.
40′ – Donovan heads that wide left.
41′ – All signs are pointing to a scoreless first half, but Vancouver may have other plans.
42′ – Galaxy need to show a bit more patience in the midfield. It seems they want to get to the ball but their reaction is not fast enough. Ousted plays it forward.
43′ – A speculative shot from Landon Donovan. Yeah, this game may have left him, big time.
44′ – Ishizaki should have done better there.
45′ – Penedo is there for the save. Another corner for the Caps. Taken short.
No stoppage time.
HALFTIME
Los Angeles Galaxy 0
Vancouver Whitecaps 0
LA Galaxy | Vancouver Whitecaps | |
---|---|---|
7 | Attempts on Goal | 6 |
1 | Shots on Target | 3 |
5 | Shots off Target | 2 |
1 | Blocked Shots | 1 |
2 | Corner Kicks | 5 |
4 | Fouls | 3 |
7 | Open Play Crosses | 8 |
0 | Offsides | 3 |
0 | First Yellow Cards | 0 |
0 | Second Yellow Cards | 0 |
0 | Red Cards | 0 |
21 | Duels Won | 22 |
50% | Duels Won % | 51% |
292 | Total Pass | 160 |
84% | Passing Accuracy % | 76% |
63.8% | Possession | 36.2% |
Well, Robbie Keane is pulling his weight, but so are Russell Teibert, Kekuta Manneh and Darren Mattock. If Vancouver can stay compact, they will get one through in the second half. As for Los Angeles, they need to finish the job and score. No shots over the bar. The positioning has to be on point. Otherwise, they will lose this game big.
SECOND HALF START: 8:41 P.M. PT/11:41 P.M. ET
46′ – The second half begins.
47′ – Already the Caps are pressing and forcing Penedo’s feet. Here’s Dan Gargan. First time I called him.
GOAL! Los Angeles Galaxy 7 Robbie Keane
A solid cross, and Keane gets on goal to put the Galaxy ahead.
48′ – This is where the Caps need to make it a game, and here they come. Kekuta Manneh with agility. Darren Mattock recovers.
49′ – A one-timer from Donovan. No dice.
50′ – Omar Gonzalez plays it back. Vancouver with the high line.
51′ – Jordan Harvey to Manneh, Leonardo clears. In the midfield battle, this will go down to the 1-v-1s. Offsides, Manneh.
52′ – Stefan Ishizaki failed to keep that inbounds. Back come the Caps. Still anyone’s game.
53′ – Gershon Koffie’s had a great game so far. Good dispossession. Penedo to collect that ball. Now here is Omar Gonzalez. Marcelo Sarvas in a bind.
54′ – Sarvas concedes a corner. Pedro Morales to take. Take…two. Long ball from Morales. Too long and too wide.
55′ – Robbie Keane runs out of space.
56′ – Jair Marrufo plays advantage. Keane again. Marcelo Sarvas. Juninho now.
57′ – Dan Gargan wins a free kick. Average performance from Gargan so far. Ishizaki to take. Played forward by Penedo.
58′ – So Stefan Ishizaki gets the assist on the Keane goal, as Los Angeles snuff out that sequence.
59′ – Jay DeMerit wins another duel. Gargan thought that was a handball. It isn’t, but it’s still a throw-in won. Good collection by David Ousted.
60′ – It’s the hour mark, and Los Angeles lead 1-0. Bad communication up front. And Marcelo Sarvas ran out of space and concedes a goal kick.
61′ – Off to the races for Russell Teibert but Los Angeles figure him out.
62′ – Keystone Kops dribbling from Keane, and Marrufo plays advantage. Some game.
63′ – Teibert with the strip. Vancouver win a restart.
64′ – Harvey is forced to play it forward. Gonzalez, meanwhile, concedes a throw. Actually, someone was offsides, so it will be a goal kick.
65′ – DeLaGarza gets challenged. That cross won’t reach Ishizaki. DeMerit with the mark.
66′ – Not sure why Gargan ball-watched there. Bit of indecision on his part.
67′ – Free kick, Los Angeles. Ishizaki to take.
68′ – Collected by Ousted. DeLaGarza plays it back to Penedo. Galaxy reset.
69′ – LA back on the attack. Gonzalez, now Gargan. Husidic now. And he loses the ball. Speculative shot from Keane.
70′ – Substitutions Vancouver Whitecaps
IN
19 Erik Hurtado
9 Kenny Miller
OUT
77 Pedro Morales
7 Sebastian Fernandez
71′ – Let’s see if the ice-cold Scotsman, Kenny Miller, can give the away fans something to drink about.
72′ – Here comes Hurtado. Throw-in, Whitecaps. Southsiders standing.
73′ – Sarvas with indecision. What a poor cross from Ishizaki. He’ll want that one back, I’m sure.
74′ – 20,847 in attendance for this one. Speculative clearance work. Caps reset.
75′ – Well, that backfired for the road team. Throw-in, Sarvas. Take…two.
76′ – Here comes Miller, and the Galaxy deny that chance. It would be nice for LA to add to this lead, but Vancouver have other ideas.
Substitution Vancouver Whitecaps
IN 29 Nicolas Mezquida
OUT 23 Kekuta Manneh
77′ – Punched out by Penedo, and Vancouver are getting a bit chippy here.
78′ – Substitutions Los Angeles Galaxy
IN
16 Rob Friend
11 Gyasi Zardes
OUT
8 Marcelo Sarvas
24 Stefan Ishizaki
79′ – If there was ever a time for Zardes to show that he’s back, now is the time.
80′ – Remember what I said about Bold Prediction #11? Looks like this will be put to the test.
81′ – Galaxy win a throw-in. These are tense moments. One Vancouver goal and this match will be wide-open.
82′ – A shocker from Rob Friend. Wide left. That may be costly. Gonzalez clears.
83′ – Now Gonzalez concedes a corner. Cleared…
84′ – No one is there to receive Jaime Penedo’s long balls. Everybody is sitting back for Vancouver. Predictable.
85′ – Another throw-in conceded by LA. Gargan can’t reach out to that one.
86′ – Los Angeles seem to be happy to melt the clock here.
87′ – Donovan’s touches seem to be limited as the match progresses. Not a good sign if you’re a G’s fan.
88′ – Rob Friend makes a meal of that.
89′ – And so does Robbie Keane. The Galaxy are making a meal of themselves with their shots over the bar. Free kick, Donovan.
90′ – Taken short, perhaps to waste time. Not smart.
90 + 1′ – Two minutes extra time.
90′ + 2′ – Poorly headed by Donovan. And that is it. A scrappy victory.
FINAL
Los Angeles Galaxy 1
Robbie Keane 47′
Vancouver Whitecaps 0
LA Galaxy | Vancouver Whitecaps | |
---|---|---|
13 | Attempts on Goal | 10 |
3 | Shots on Target | 4 |
9 | Shots off Target | 2 |
1 | Blocked Shots | 4 |
2 | Corner Kicks | 9 |
7 | Fouls | 7 |
15 | Open Play Crosses | 21 |
0 | Offsides | 6 |
0 | First Yellow Cards | 0 |
0 | Second Yellow Cards | 0 |
0 | Red Cards | 0 |
37 | Duels Won | 43 |
46% | Duels Won % | 54% |
550 | Total Pass | 340 |
84% | Passing Accuracy % | 78% |
60.5% | Possession | 39.5% |
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