Los Angeles Galaxy vs. Vancouver Whitecaps: Live Blog

Apr 19, 2014; Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; Vancouver Whitecaps defender Jordan Harvey (2) controls the ball against Los Angeles Galaxy forward Landon Donovan (10) during the first half at BC Place. The Vancouver Whitecaps and Los Angeles Galaxy tied 2-2. Mandatory Credit: Anne-Marie Sorvin-USA TODAY Sports

Bruce Arena’s Los Angeles Galaxy take on Carl Robinson’s Vancouver Whitecaps in an important MLS Western Conference showdown. Fresh off a 4-3 come-from-behind victory over the Colorado Rapids, the Galaxy are looking to start up a new win streak with two straight games at home, including a midweek tilt with D.C. United. As for Vancouver, a scoreless draw with Chivas USA has given the Caps a lot to think about heading into tonight’s clash.

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 begin at approximately 5:30 p.m. PT/8:30 p.m. ET. Keep it right here on the MLS Multiplex for continuing coverage of the 2014 Major League Soccer season.

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T-120: Welcome to the Live Blog of tonight’s match between the Los Angeles Galaxy and Vancouver Whitecaps, here on the MLS Multiplex. My name is Jo-Ryan Salazar, editor of the Plex along with Will Perry. The farewell tour of Landon continues with a massive showdown in the West between the Galaxy, fourth in the conference, and the fifth-ranked Whitecaps.

The preview, from MLSSoccer.com…

REFEREE: Allen Chapman. AR1 (bench): Jeff Muschik; AR2 (opposite): Felisha Mariscal; 4th: Alejandro Mariscal
MLS Career: 44 games; FC/gm: 22.4; Y/gm: 3.4; R: 11; pens: 14

SUSPENDED: VAN: Matias Laba (caution accumulation; through Aug. 24)
WARNINGS:
SUSPENDED NEXT YELLOW CARD: VAN: Jordan Harvey
SUSPENDED AFTER TWO YELLOW CARDS: LA: Landon Donovan, Dan Gargan, Alan Gordon | VAN: Gershon Koffie, Sebastian Fernandez, Andy O?Brien, Pedro Morales, Nigel Reo-Coker
DISABLED LIST: VAN: Caleb Clarke (season-ending injury)
INTERNATIONAL ABSENCES: none

HEAD-TO-HEAD
ALL-TIME (10 meetings): Galaxy 7 wins, 21 goals ? Whitecaps FC 1 win, 8 goals ? Ties 2
AT LA (5 meetings): Galaxy 5 wins, 11 goals ? Whitecaps 0 wins, 1 goal ? Ties 0

2014 (MLS):
4/12: LA 1, VAN 0 (Keane 47)
4/19: VAN 2, LA 2 (Mattocks 67; Manneh 86 ? Ishizaki 38; Keane 77)

• The teams are meeting for the third time this season. Kekuta Manneh’s 86th-minute goal pulled Whitecaps FC back into a 2-2 draw with the Galaxy on April 19 at BC Place; Robbie Keane scored the game’s only goal for an LA victory the week before at StubHub Center.
• Whitecaps FC have won once in 11 meetings all-time in all competitions between the teams – a 3-1 win May 11, 2013 at BC Place. The teams have played to two draws.
• The Galaxy have won all five meetings in Carson between the teams in league play. The 2-1 Galaxy victory last July 20 marked the only time Whitecaps FC had a scored a regular season goal there.
• Coaches record: Carl Robinson vs. LA: P2 W0 L1 D1 | Bruce Arena vs. VAN: P10 W7 L1 D2

The LA Galaxy returned to their winning ways in impressive fashion, storming back for a 4-3 victory against the Colorado Rapids on Wednesday evening at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park. The Galaxy sit in fourth place in the Western Conference with 37 points from 22 games.

Vancouver Whitecaps FC stretched their undefeated and shutout streaks, reaching a goalless draw with Chivas USA on Saturday evening at StubHub Center. Whitecaps FC sit in fifth place in the Western Conference with 33 points from 23 games.

T-93: Live scores right now…New York Red Bulls 3, Montreal Impact 2…Toronto FC 2, Chicago Fire 1…Columbus Crew 1, Houston Dynamo 0…New England Revolution 0, Chivas USA 0…Sporting Kansas City 0, D.C. United 0.

T-75: Final scores…New York Red Bulls 4, Montreal Impact 2…Toronto FC 2, Chicago Fire 2.

T-73: A key player to watch tonight for the Galaxy is target forward Alan Gordon. What makes Gordon so special? Robbie Keane knows.

“He gives us a different dimension,” Keane said after the win to LAGalaxy.com’s Adam Serrano. “The reason that he’s in the game, regardless of how you play [to start the game], if you’re losing the game, every team in the world simply kicks the ball forward as quick as they can and tries to play off a big man.

“We certainly did that tonight. It’s always good to have different [weapons] that give other teams things to think about.”

T-70: On the other side, Mauro Rosales is now with the Vancouver Whitecaps after Chivas USA traded him for Nigel Reo-Coker,

“[It was] a number of factors really,” Robinson told MLSSoccer.com’s Michael McColl. “We’re in a cap-orientated league, we’re in a trade-orientated league. It was the right move for us as a club because Nigel’s too good a player not to be playing. He started the season in the team, he had one or two unfortunate incidents in the early part of the season and lost his place.

“Since he’s lost his place the emergence of Gershon Koffie, Matias Laba and Russell Teibert have found playing time very hard for him. So it was a decision based on that, the progression of these young players as well as Nigel needing to play.”

T-68: Live scores…Columbus Crew 3, Houston Dynamo 0…New England Revolution 1, Chivas USA 0…Sporting Kansas City 0, D.C. United 3.

T-60: “It’s that nitty-gritty time of the season where everyone is going to be watching everyone else’s results,” Robinson told McColl at training on Thursday. “All we can do is focus on our results. LA, I did fancy them to go and beat Colorado, and at halftime I was kind of questioning myself, so when they come back and won 4-3, I wasn’t really surprised.

“It gives LA three more points and obviously Colorado lost out but they’re still in contention. As long as we focus on ourselves we’ll be OK.”

T-55: Two more final scores. At Crew Stadium in Columbus, Ohio, Gregg Berhalter’s Columbus Crew shut out Dominic Kinnear’s Houston Dynamo 3-0. Meanwhile, Jay Heaps’s New England Revolution are moving in the right direction after a scrappy 1-0 shutout win over Wilmer Cabrera’s Chivas USA at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass.

T-45: 45 minutes to go. Lineups are coming.

T-40: Both teams begin warmups.

T-37: Here are your lineups.

Lineup

Bench

Officials

Officials

T-35: So after a tough match on the road, Jaime Penedo gets the night off and will be replaced by Brian Perk, who is back at it after spending time at LA Galaxy II.

T-30: 30 minutes to kickoff.

“I think we’ve been probably a little naïve in the way we’re going about games,” Donovan told MLSSoccer.com’s Scott French. “We can’t leave our defenders stranded the way we have, but at the same time, just the mentality from everybody and how we defend and how we aggressively get after the ball defensively.

“In the [3-0 win at] Seattle a few weeks back, everybody was tuned in for 90 minutes, getting after the ball consistently. When we don’t do that, which happened in the Columbus game and the first half of the Colorado game, we get scored on. So the blueprint is pretty simple, and now we just have to make sure we do it.”

T-27: If the Galaxy can go after the ball like a pack of ravenous hounds, you will see vintage LA Galaxy soccer like you saw in the second half against Colorado.

T-25: As we have a Canadian team here tonight, fans will be treated to two national anthems. The Santa Monica Oceanaires will be performing “O Canada” and the “Star-Spangled Banner.”

T-16: What I can tell you is that it will be a gamble bringing in Leonardo in the back. If Leonardo is inconsistent and is beaten off the ball, Vancouver will have a field day.

Just had some changes to the lineup, it looks like Penedo will indeed start tonight, so now LA have that safety net. The lineups have been updated accordingly.

T-12: Both teams wrap up warmups.

T-8: Today is a peak power day, according to Southern California Edison. So in essence, I am partially blogging in the dark. The StubHub Center is taking measures to reduce power.

T-0: Both teams return to the pitch to the strains of the MLS Anthem by Audiobrain. It should be noted that A.J. DeLaGarza is starting today in lieu of Dunivant.

Here are the Oceanaires with our national anthems.

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

1′ – The first half begins.

2′ – Restart awarded to the Galaxy. Should be taken short due to distance, and it is. Marcelo Sarvas should have done better. And now, here is former San Jose Earthquakes and new Iran international Steven Beitashour. Throw-in to the Galaxy.

3′ – In Vancouver’s formation, the Caps have five in the back to allow for better organization and the “take-your-pick”. Here come the Caps. Foiled by the LA midfield. Robbie Keane wins a restart.

4′ – Good layoff from Husidic, but LA should have done better. This is A.J. DeLaGarza. the long ball. Sarvas.

5′  – GOAL! Los Angeles Galaxy 10 Landon Donovan

That is #Landon140 right there and LA are in business.

6′ – Pressure is on Vancouver to prevent the floodgates from opening, but now the Caps have to take chances because that early goal will give the Galaxy loads of confidence. Keane was there for the delivery.

7′ – Good idea there from LD of LA, but the Caps backline is there to play cleanup. David Ousted with the goal kick.

8′ – Here’s the Caps’ captain, Pedro Morales. Sarvas concedes a corner to Russell Teibert. No dice for Darren Mattocks.

9′ – Mehdi Ballouchy holds off Donovan there.

10′ – Swing and a miss from Dan Gargan. Omar Gonzalez holds of the Vancouver transition.

11′ – Beitashour with speed. Leonardo wins a throw. A defender under the microscope tonight. Gonzalez again.

12′  – Donovan again. DeLaGarza is double-teamed. Back to Leo.

13′ – Keane gets triple-teamed. Ballouchy wins a restart. No crazy hair from Ballouchy these days. Oh, that’s a bad gift from Donovan. Forced the G’s to get back.

14′ – Corner, Vancouver. Set piece defending will need to be a key focus point for LA. Blistering shot from Manneh just goes over the bar.

15′ – Donovan keeps that inbounds. Juninho, Gonzalez, and the long ball. Donovan to Keane…misses.

16′ – Here is Ousted, back to him and forward. Patience is a virtue for the LA midfield.

17′ – Donovan double-teamed again and he wins a restart. DeLaGarza got tripped up before that. 25 yards out.

18′ – Taken short due to distance. Good composure from Vancouver. Back come the Caps, who have weathered the storm quite well this half.

19′ – Back to Penedo, who has had issues with distribution this season.

20′ – Penedo collects. Well, if Los Angeles are smart, they won’t be satisfied with being a goal up and will have to play like they are a goal down.

21′ – Gyasi Zardes is sandwiched. In his “Kickin’ It With Kelli” interview, he looks like one of those AFL players, i.e. Nic Naitanui. Check it out on YouTube.

Yellow card 33 Dan Gargan
Los Angeles Galaxy

22′ – The punchout from Penedo.

23′ – There’s a mistake from Sarvas. Quick restart.No dice for Mattocks. Poor touch again.

24′ – I think Vancouver are winning the possession battle here. They are pressing the ball and are creating some good chances. Gargan will need to be careful for the rest of the game.

25′ – Here’s Teibert. Manneh to Mattocks. Throw-in to the visitors.

26′ – Good passing here from the backline of Los Angeles. Leo’s getting a lot of touches. No mistakes from him yet.

27′ – Leo again plays it forward. Well.

28′ – Beitashour and Andy O’Brien double-team Zardes. More miscommunication from LA.

29′ – LA are walking the tightrope here. They can’t seem to pierce the attacking third because of Vancouver formation. It’s been effective.

30′ – An off ball from Sarvas to Keane. How will this impact his final player rating tonight in the postmatch wrap-up? Stay tuned.

31′ – Another dangerous cross.

32′  – GOAL! Los Angeles Galaxy 8 Marcelo Sarvas

Sarvas with the cleanup. After the bad miss from Keane.

33′ – And Sarvas with the foul following the goal. Here come the Caps.

34′ – Gonzalez concedes a throw. This time, Leo lays it off for Penedo without incident. Pinpoint passing from LA.

35′ – Baggio Husidic makes a meal of that lay off.

36′ – In this league, proper technique can turn you from an average joe into a world-beater. And Husidic is no world-beater. Juninho now. They’re listless at the moment, Vancouver are.

37′ – Another bad layoff from Zardes. In time, he’ll get it right on a constant basis. Galaxy with organization in the back.

38′ – A speculative shot from Manneh. Now this is the consistent soccer that will help them next week against D.C. United, who have pretty much take Sporting Kansas City to the cleaners on the road.

39′ – Well, the Galaxy are taking their best shots, even if they aren’t good ones. Juninho with the volley.

40′ – Leo loses that argument. Zardes tried to give chase but Ousted reels that in. Gonzalez now. Donovan. Keane with the bender. Just off the mark.

41′ – I believe Los Angeles are fancying a third right now. Keane again. This time collected by Ousted. Sarvas should have done better there.

42′ – Gargan walks the tightrope again.

43′ – Here’s Darren Mattocks. The Galaxy are putting pressure on Vancouver and now they are the ones winning possession. Keane, Sarvas, and Donovan again.

44′  – Jordan Harvey just conceded a corner. Donovan will take this. Scarves are up. Tried to find Gonzalez. Leonardo keeps it alive. Throw-in, LA.

45′ – We may be looking at one minute of injury time, if any. Defending is routine and no nonsense from the Galaxy. No stoppage time. What a half.

HALFTIME

Los Angeles Galaxy 2

Vancouver Whitecaps 0

Team Statistics

Los Angeles Galaxy in gold, Vancouver Whitecaps in light blue

Goals and Assists

Assisted By: Robbie Keane

32′

Marcelo Sarvas

Assisted By: Robbie Keane

Disciplinary

Reason: Foul

In other news, it’s a final from Sporting Park in Kansas City, Kan.: D.C. United 3, Sporting Kansas City 0.

If the Galaxy want to gain an edge in the second half, they have to play like they are at least two goals down and deliver the same second half they had against Colorado. As for Vancouver, winning the ball and finishing will keep them in the hunt. Still anyone’s game.

Robbie Keane has two assists tonight for the Galaxy. A goal in the second half and he is on the fast track to receive the 10 rating should the outcome stand.

SECOND HALF START: 8:40 P.M. PT/11:40 P.M. ET

46′ – The second half begins. More of the same from LA, or is a turnaround in the cards?

Substitution Vancouver Whitecaps
IN 30 Mauro Rosales
OUT 7 Sebastian Fernandez

47′ – Watch Rosales in this half. He is going to bring another dimension to Vancouver’s attack. Penedo will play this forward. Zardes now. Dan Gargan. Zardes is getting pushed around tonight. Now here is Leonardo. Back to Penedo. And now Omar Gonzalez.

48′ – Husidic got stonewalled there and wins a restart. Donovan with the rocket. Too high.

49′ – Caps with possession. Here’s Harvey.

50′ – Pedro Morales now. Rosales with pace. Leonardo meets him.

51′ – Harvey with the throw. Russel Teibert plays it forward.

52′ – Another swing and a miss from Gyasi Zardes. Harvey. Ballouchy’s volley is collected by Penedo. Poorly touched by Zardes.

53′ – Tightrope time for David Ousted. There’s just too much hesitation from Zardes, and they’ll have to try this again on the next sequence.

54′ – Zardes tried to spring the offside trap for Keane but Jeff Muschik says, says “Not so fast, my friend.”

55′ – Gonzalez tried to lay that off for Keane. Not gonna work. Manneh is stopped by Penedo but he almost messed up the collection.

56′ – Corner for Donovan. Shot from Husidic is saved by Morales off the line.

57′ – The Galaxy have left a number of goals on the table and they may add up here.

58′ – Back to Leo. The Galaxy will continue to press. The delivery to Keane is too strong.

59′ – Keane had two bites of the cherry but missed both. Maddening stuff.

60′ – DeLaGarza will wish he had that one back.

Yellow card 8 Mehdi Ballouchy
Vancouver Whitecaps

61′ – Teibert tried to start something up but failed. Galaxy got back.

62′ – Back to David Ousted. And Leonardo wins a restart. 62 minutes in, and still Leo is yet to make a mistake.

63′ – 21,637 in attendance as Husidic loses that duel.

64′ – The backline for LA is being too patient. And a collision. Dan Gargan is up, but Juninho isn’t. This will be a big blow for LA against D.C. United if Juninho is done for the night.

65′ – Kekuta Manneh was also shaken up, but he and Juninho are fine, and play will resume.

66′ – Substitution Vancouver Whitecaps
IN 19 Erik Hurtado
OUT 8 Mehdi Ballouchy

67′ – Almost there for LA. Donovan is wide right of the mark.

68′ – Donovan wins a restart. Taken short. Gargan. The cross. Cleared.

69′ – Tough going for Baggio Husidic tonight, and here come the boo birds.

70′ – The Galaxy are doing a great job taking Rosales out of his game. It’s a battle of aerial duels this minute.

71′ – Good positioning from A.J. DeLaGarza to clear that ball from Teibert. Penedo with the collection.

72′ – Too long a through ball for Keane. Johnny Leveron with touch. First time I called his name. Husidic gives chase. Here’s Teibert again. Penedo with the collection again.

73′ – Rosales is lucky not to get carded after that remonstration.

74′ – Omar Gonzalez is bossing this minute. Zardes is trying to get a break here but Teibert is making life hard for him.

75′ – Substitution Los Angeles Galaxy
IN 9 Alan Gordon
OUT  6 Baggio Husidic

76′ – Ousted with the collection on Keane. Gordon’s role in this match is to close it out and maybe ice it.

77′ – Looks like Zardes is dropping into the midfield, with a three-pronged attack of Donovan, Keane and Gordon.

78′ – Well, at least Gordon stayed onside on that blocked shot.

79′ – Yellow card 20 A.J. AJ De La Garza
Los Angeles Galaxy

Substitution Vancouver Whitecaps
IN 4 Kendall Waston
OUT 23 Kekuta Manneh

80′ – Corner for Los Angeles. Short. And that is cleared. Sarvas doesn’t like that call. And he’ll get cautioned.

Yellow card 8 Marcelo Sarvas
Los Angeles Galaxy

81′ – That looked like a blown save for Penedo but he collects that. Here’s Sarvas. And Donovan wins a throw.

82′ – Dan Gargan nearly cost them there, but Kendall Watson doesn’t have the technique down pat.

83′ – Yellow card 4 Omar Gonzalez
Los Angeles Galaxy

84′ – Substitution Los Angeles Galaxy
IN 2 Todd Dunivant
OUT 33 Dan Gargan

85′ – More textbook defending but the Galaxy waste the transition break.

86′ – Pedro Morales is down late for Vancouver. Alejandro Mariscal may be looking at a generous amount of exte time.

87′ – Yellow card 4 Kendall Waston
Vancouver Whitecaps

88′ – This is strange…Kendall’s last name IS Waston, not Watson. #TheMoreYouKnow Meanwhile, Vancouver win a throw-in.A riveting match full of cards, sloppy play and a few goals to show for it.

89′ – Leveron with the ball. And now it’s Ousted.

90′ – You have to admit: Allen Chapman is calling a tight ship, and there you go.

Red card 16 Johnny Leveron
Vancouver Whitecaps

90′ + 1′ – Four minutes. Another blocked shot by LA.

90′ + 2′ – Zardes and Gonzalez with the clearance.

90′ + 3′ – The transition and that goes off the bar. LA might get the win tonight, but they have been snakebitten by their poor finishing.

90′ + 4′ – Waston was offsides, and that sums up the night for the Caps. That’s it.

FINAL

Los Angeles Galaxy 2

Vancouver Whitecaps 0

Team Statistics

Los Angeles Galaxy in gold, Vancouver Whitecaps in light blue

Goals and Assists

Assisted By: Robbie Keane

32′

Marcelo Sarvas

Assisted By: Robbie Keane

Disciplinary

Reason: Foul

60′

Mehdi Ballouchy

Reason: Foul

78′

A.J. DeLaGarza

Reason: Foul

80′

Marcelo Sarvas

Reason: Foul

83′

Omar González

Reason: Foul

87′

Kendall Waston

Reason: Unsporting behaviour

90′

Johnny Leveron

Reason: Fight

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