Los Angeles Galaxy vs. Real Salt Lake: Live Blog

Mar 22, 2014; Sandy, UT, USA; Real Salt Lake forward Olmes Garcia (13) dribbles the ball during the second half against the Los Angeles Galaxy at Rio Tinto Stadium. The match ended in a 1-1 tie. Mandatory Credit: Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports

Bruce Arena’s Los Angeles Galaxy and Jeff Cassar’s Real Salt Lake clash in a key MLS Western Conference encounter at StubHub Center in Carson, Calif. today. The Galaxy are in search of a statement win to keep their season afloat, while RSL are looking to consolidate their place in the West and chase the Seattle Sounders for the top team in the conference.

Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. PT/10:30 p.m. ET and will be televised by MLS LIVE. The Live Blog will start at 5:35 p.m. PT/8:35 p.m. ET. Keep it right here on the MLS Multiplex for continuing coverage of the 2014 Major League Soccer season.

Refresh the page for updates!

T-115: Welcome to the Live Blog for the match between the Los Angeles Galaxy and Real Salt Lake. My name is Jo-Ryan Salazar, an editor for the MLS Multiplex along with Chase Ruttig. Let’s start by taking a preview of the match, from MLSSoccer.com.

REFEREE: Silviu Petrescu. AR1 (bench): Kermit Quisenberry; AR2 (opposite): Craig Lowry; 4th: Daniel Radford
MLS Career: 83 games; FC/gm: 27.4; Y/gm: 3.5; R: 10; pens: 13

SUSPENDED: none
WARNINGS:
SUSPENDED NEXT YELLOW CARD: LA: Dan Gargan … RSL: Javier Morales
SUSPENDED AFTER TWO YELLOW CARDS: RSL: Nat Borchers, Alvaro Saborio, Chris Schuler, Tony Beltran, Luke Mulholland
DISABLED LIST: none
INTERNATIONAL ABSENCES: none

HEAD-TO-HEAD
ALL-TIME (27 meetings): Galaxy 10 wins, 41 goals … Real 11 wins, 45 goals … Ties 6
AT LA (14 meetings): Galaxy 7 wins, 22 goals … Real 6 wins, 22 goals … Ties 1

2014 (MLS)
3/8: LA 0, RSL 1 (Plata 80)
3/22: RSL 1, LA 1 (Saborio 19 – Keane 34)

 The LA Galaxy stretched their undefeated streak to six matches, coming back for a 2-2 draw with the Portland Timbers on July 4 at StubHub Center. The Galaxy sit in a tie for sixth place in the Western Conference with 21 points from 14 games.

Real Salt Lake put an end to their winless streak after five matches, defeating the New England Revolution 2-1 on July 4 at Rio Tinto Stadium. RSL are in second place in the Western Conference with 28 points from 17 matches.

T-112: Yesterday, D.C. United defeated the San Jose Earthquakes through Bill Hamid, 2-1.

Live scores right now…Philadelphia Union 2, Colorado Rapids 1…New York Red Bulls 3, Columbus Crew 1…Toronto FC 3, Houston Dynamo 2…Montreal Impact 1, Sporting Kansas City 1…Chicago Fire 1, New England Revolution 0.

At 10 p.m. ET tonight, the Vancouver Whitecaps host Chivas USA. Chase Ruttig will give you the lowdown on Toronto-Houston, Montreal-Sporting and Vancouver-Chivas.

T-77: Some final scores here on the Plex…Philadelphia Union 3, Colorado Rapids 3…New York Red Bulls 4, Columbus Crew 1…Toronto FC 4, Houston Dynamo 2. In the second half, Montreal Impact and Sporting Kansas City are tied 1-1, while the Chicago Fire lead the New England Revolution 1-0.

T-67: In World Cup action, Brazil put on one of its finest [sic] performances in World Cup history, a 3-0 loss to the Netherlands. Now THAT’S how you finish…if you want the fans to turn on you.

T-65: News from the Galaxy is that Samuel is on his way out after a disappointing showing for the G’s this year.

T-38: Final scores…Chicago Fire 1, New England Revolution 0…Sporting Kansas City 2, Montreal Impact 1.

T-35: “[Samuel]’s a player that got better,” Galaxy head coach Bruce Arena said Friday, one day after the team announced the move. “Our style of play, our league, everything’s different [than in Brazil]. He’s a young player [and this is a] new experience. It would have taken some time. …

“We thought since the loan arrangement was only for one year, you know, I think it would have taken him a year to make the adjustment, so at this point, it was probably in everybody’s best interest that he return to Fluminense.”

T-30: We have a half hour to go to kickoff. Lineups coming in a bit.

T-28: And here are the lineups and bench.

Lineup

Bench

Officials

T-21: OptaJack@OptaJack

T-12: Both teams wrap up their warmups.

T-10: If you have something to say about the game, sound off in the comments section below!

T-6: If you ask me, I don’t think we will see a sellout here. But we could see at least 21,000 in this one.

T-0: Both teams enter the pitch to the strains of the MLS Anthem.

National anthem by Ashlee Keating.

FIRST HALF START: 7:39 P.M. PT/10:39 P.M. ET

1′ – We’re underway in this final regular season meeting between the Los Angeles Galaxy and Real Salt Lake.

2′ – So let’s see if Real Salt Lake can build on their last result and get back in form. Tony Beltran now.  Devon Sandoval with the ball. Javier Morales with possession. Now here’s Gyasi Zardes. Plays it back. A.J. DeLaGarza now. Nat Borchers closes space. Dan Gargan with a speculative clearance.

3′  – A.J. DeLaGarza on the attack. Silviu Petrescu awards a restart. Now here’s Nick Rimando. Last time Nick was here, he was in a zone. Will we see it again?

4′ – Sandoval won’t get to that. Watch out for Joao Plata this game, he’s got speed and he can shoot. DeLaGarza can match Plata in terms of speed, that’s why he’s a center-back.

5′ – Robbie Rogers is double-teamed. Free kick awarded to Los Angeles. Beltran clears. Gargan again. Through ball to Landon Donovan doesn’t work out.

6′ – Another misread by Zardes. He’ll have a lot of that tonight, methinks. Here’s RSL with a chance. Kyle Beckerman. Corner now for the visitors, first of the match.

7′ – Morales to take. His country is in the final tomorrow, Argentina. Nope, Petrescu sees something he doesn’t like and it’s a goal kick to Jaime Penedo.

8′ – Zardes and Donovan gets manhandled in their attacking third. Good defending from Real Salt Lake.

9′ – Rogers plays it back. A long ball to Robbie Keane is picked off by Chris Wingert.

10′ – Out for a Real Salt Lake throw. Here’s Plata. RSL whistled again. Back to Penedo.

11′ – Keane with the cross. And there’s a clearance. Beckerman resets and Petrescu awards a restart to the visitors. Good action so far.

12′  – The rookie, John Stertzer, plays it forward. Los Angeles win it back.  It’s a match of point vs. counterpoint, and the aforementioned Stertzer skies that shot.

13′  – Wingert concedes a corner for Landon Donovan. Northwest end. Zardes didn’t head that well, and it’s an easy collect for Rimando.

14′ – Good pursuit in containing the Galaxy attack by RSL.

15′ – Offsides, Los Angeles. That looked dangerous right there for Real Salt Lake, who dodge a major bullet. Keane was called for offsides.

16′ – The Galaxy win a throw. They’ve looked the hungrier of the bunch this game.

17′ – Real Salt Lake are winning their duels this minute but as mentioned before, this is point vs. counterpoint.

18′ – LA win a few throws but have been unable to create much from it. Finally RSL get the ball back. Looked tempting for Stertzer but no dice.

19′ – Beckerman now. Here’s a throw for the visitors…

20′ – GOAL! Los Angeles Galaxy 11 Gyasi Zardes

Off the post and in. Good touch. No oil change, unfortunately.

21′ – Well, this will be a fun, wide-open game. Enjoy.

22′ – Beckerman now. What can he do? Oops, that was a laugher from Gargan. Back come the visitors. Keane with the touch. Rogers. Zardes whiffs on that. Oh my, that would have been 2-0.

23′ – We have a man down for Los Angeles. It’s Juninho. As if his country getting schooled by the Dutch was lixo enough…

24′ – If you’re just joining us, Los Angeles lead Real Salt Lake 1-0.

25′ – No quick restart for Beckerman, says Petrescu.

26′ – Beltran plays it forward. Luis Gil now. Nope, that will be a throw.

27′ – A bad touch from Beckerman. Goal kick, Jimmy P. Tommy Meyer wins that duel. Here’s the other 21. Gil.

28′ – Tempo now picking up for both sides. Beltran now. Rogers marks Morales. And throw for LA.

29′ – A save from Penedo and a clearance from Rogers. Corner, Javier Morales.

30′ – Zardes with the clearance off the Morales corner. Here’s Rogers. Beckerman loses that argument.

31′ – Hint, hint, hint for L.A.: STOP KYLE BECKERMAN. The end. And Donovan gets shaken up.

32′ – Dan Gargan is the next to face the music from Real Salt Lake. Tough sletting for this journeyman.

33′ – Rimando hasn’t had to do a lot this game, but we have a half and change to go.

34′ – Some good ball movement from the Galaxy, but they need to get a sequence going.

35′ – A pass from Marcelo Sarvas to Landon Donovan misses the mark. Back come the visitors. Nat Borchers to the rescue.

36′ – Chris Schuler now.  Good read from Sarvas. Keane.  Stertzer concedes a Galaxy throw. This rookie has been on it.

37′ – A wishful volley from Keano. Goal kick, Rimando.

38′ – Nice backheel from Borchers. Has he had his Wheaties this morning or what?

39′ – Gil now. Schuler. Good midfield battle this minute.

40′ – Another bad volley from Keane. This might be the usual uninspiring effort in terms of the finish.

41′ – Baggio Husidic…schooled by Morales. Throw-in for Real Salt Lake.

42′ – Beltran should have done better. Here’s Rogers. Zardes is double-teamed.

43′ – Well, when you don’t have Leonardo on the back line, things get a bit more straightforward if you’re LA. Goal kick, Penedo.

44′ – Now it’s Gil’s turn to try a backheel. Nope, try again. Back come LA. Keane is robbed. Rogers. There’s a collection from Rimando.

45′ – And a sweeping collection by Rimando. Now he’s doing work. Thought he’d never get going. Better late than never? Morales sent that right into Penedo’s hands. Not creative at all. One minute.

45′ + 1′ – This minute should go by quickly. Beltran. Sandoval won’t get to that one. And there goes the additional minute.

HALF TIME

Los Angeles Galaxy 1

Gyasi Zardes 20′

Real Salt Lake 0

Team Statistics

Los Angeles Galaxy in yellow, Real Salt Lake in red

Real Salt Lake are not out of this, although they should consider themselves lucky to be down a goal. Now, in the Bold Predictions, the Plex did say it will be a 2-1 RSL win, so the onus is on Jeff Cassar’s men to prove it and spark a second half rally. Otherwise…do I smell a free oil change? I think so…

SECOND HALF START: 8:41 P.M. PT/11:41 P.M. ET

46′ – The second half begins. Real Salt Lake are no stranger to comeback wins. Can they do it?

Substitution Real Salt Lake

IN 20 Ned Grabavoy

OUT 21 Luis Gil

47′ – Nope, that will be a goal kick to Nick Rimando. But this is what Los Angeles need to do, pressure Rimando this half. Zardes nearly was there  but Borchers bailed Rimando out. Sarvas is shaken up. This is Dan Gargan with the restart. Chris Wingert concedes a throw.

48′ – RSL are giving up a few throw-ins here. Tense defending. Now here is a free kick, from 15 yards out, it looks like.

49′ – Not a good free kick from Donovan. So, Real Salt Lake get back on the attack, but there goes that chance, and Keane is denied by Rimando. Corner, Donovan.

50′ – Petrescu once again calls a tight ship. Restart to RSL. Wingert now. Nope, that’s a foul in the box on Sandoval.

51′ – In other action, Vancouver and Chivas USA are tied, 1-1.

52′ – Robbie Rogers prays for a white shirt to receive that long ball. Keane? Nope! It’s Rimando to play the role of worst nightmare…Pinoy–style. Yes…

53′ – Here’s a throw-in for Los Angeles, but the Galaxy are forced to draw numbers back.

54′ – Stertzer takes his lumps, like a true rookie should. Here’s a free kick for Real Salt Lake. Morales time.

55′ – Spill, Aisle 6…Beckerman didn’t miss by much. Just wide right. Like I said, stop Beckerman, L.A., and you have a puncher’s chance. See?

56′ – Once again, Keano denied by Rimando. And, scene.

57′ – Gargan. Blocked.  Los Angeles will need to show patience next time.

58′ – Readers, news flash: the moon is out tonight, in full. Another free kick for Real Salt Lake. Sooner or later, Petrescu will need to issue some cards.

59′ – Penedo with the collection, Keane with the whistle. Rinse, lather, repeat. And Rogers is hurt. Must have been just a cut.

60′ – Hour mark, and now Chivas leads Vancouver, 2-1. Chupacabra’s Revenge or something.

61′ – And another free kick, this time from the left side, for Real Salt Lake. Morales. Penedo. Rinse, lather, repeat. And Keane does a little too much.

62′ – There’s a stop on Sandoval by Penedo. Okay, this can also be a keeper’s duel, too. All part of the package. Corner.

63′ – Substitution Real Salt Lake

IN 19 Luke Mulholland

OUT 27 John Stertzer

The corner from Morales…collected by Penedo.

64′ – A.J. DeLaGarza with the read.

65′ – Keane double-teamed. Ned Grabavoy, the first sub for RSL, making an impact. Donovan gets tangled up.

66′- All right, Jurgen Klinsmann knew what he was doing when he gave Donovan the ol’ heave-ho. And Chivas is on their way to a 3-1 victory over Vancouver. Good lord, this Goats team is playing like a real team in this league right about now.

67′ – Dan Gargan, feeling the love from Real Salt Lake’s attack tonight.

68′ – Luke Mulholland with the “don’t argue.” Gargan with the cross to Zardes. A poor deflection. Throw-in, LA.

69′ – The crowd doesn’t like that call by Petrescu. Restart to Real Salt Lake. Four up top, the visitors invoking a high line.

70′ – Good idea from Beckerman, but Plata makes a meal of it. Keane is shaken up.

71′ – Sarvas. DeLaGarza is denied by Schuler.

72′ – Here is where Olmes Garcia will need to add some punch and make this match wide open like Miami. In the meantime, Sarvas wins a restart.

73′ – Substitution Real Salt Lake

IN 13 Olmes Garcia

OUT 49 Devon Sandoval

74′ – Petrescu calls that back for a foul. And Petrescu awards a restart to LA. Wishful clearance from Schuler. Baggio Husidic’s header is wide left. Goal kick, Nick Rimando, who has had an average night. Not like the first game he had this season here against the Galaxy.

75′ –  Plata. Penedo figures him out. Handball, says Petrescu.

76′ – 20 yards out, dead center for Morales. Nope. That’s an easy collection for Penedo.

77′ – Real Salt Lake have plenty of time, but they need to hurry. Stefan Ishizaki will come in soon.

78′ – Another solid read from Chris Schuler.

79′ – Substitution Los Angeles Galaxy

IN 24 Stefan Ishizaki

OUT 6 Baggio Husidic

80′ – Ishizaki couldn’t get to that ball, and so he wins a throw for Gargan. No dice for the sub, it will be a goal kick to Rimando. Chris WIngert now. A cross from Plata is cleared.

81′ – Wingert with the throw. Zardes heads that away. Well, once again, when Leonardo is not starting, the Galaxy have hope.

82′ – A cross from Donovan is collected by Penedo. Nat alum to Nat member. Conspiracy. Wingert now. Ooooh, what a collision.

83′ – And another miss from Beckerman. Well, actually the Galaxy are not stopping Kyle Beckerman; Kyle Beckerman is stopping Kyle Beckerman. Yes, it is possible.

84′ – Luke Mulholland now. Corner for Real Salt Lake. Morales time.

85′ – Collected by Penedo. And we have a player shaken up for Real Salt Lake.

86′ – Wingert. He’s been having a lot of touches during this part of the contest.

87′ – A corner now for Los Angeles. Corners have come at a premium for the Galaxy, and that is whiffed.

88′ – And another player is shaken up for Real Salt Lake. Do you see a pattern here, Mr. Petrescu? Please say yes…

89′ – By the way, that was Morales that was doing some time-wasting, at least from this vantage point.

90′ – Ned Grabavoy is the next to miss. Well, sometimes, those nights happen.

Substitution Los Angeles Galaxy

IN 34 Kenney Walker

OUT 19 Juninho

90 ‘ + 1’ – Five minutes of additional time. Plenty of time for Real to get a late equalizer.

90′ + 2′ – And Landon Donovan and Robbie Keane have a little bit of the Keystone Kops there. Penedo with the collection.
90′ + 3′ – Rimando comes way off his line. This is wide-open football right here. It’s off to the races.

90′ + 4′ – And we have a bit of a delay here. Some afters here. This is getting out of hand.

Yellow card 13 Olmes Garcia

Real Salt Lake

IN 22 Leonardo

OUT 7 Robbie Keane

Well, this is a gamble.

90′ + 5′ – Yellow card 8 Marcelo Sarvas

Los Angeles Galaxy

One last shot here for Real Salt Lake for an equalizer. Pinballed out. Penalty.
90′ + 6′ –  Yellow card 18 Nick  Rimando

Real Salt Lake

90′ + 7′ – Marcelo Sarvas will take this. Saved. But that will not matter, the Galaxy take this.

FINAL

Los Angeles Galaxy 1

Real Salt Lake 0

Goals and Assists

Assisted By: Marcelo Sarvas

Disciplinary

Reason: Dissent

90’+7′

Nick Rimando

Reason: Foul

Substitutions

Match Information

MLS Regular Season at StubHub Center

Attendance 19882

Weather Partly Cloudy

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