Los Angeles Galaxy vs. New York Red Bulls: Live Blog

May 19, 2013; Harrison, NJ, USA; New York Red Bulls defender Roy Miller (7) heads the ball away from Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder Landon Donovan (10) during the second half at Red Bulls Arena. Red Bulls won 1-0. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports

Bruce Arena’s Los Angeles Galaxy take on Mike Petke’s New York Red Bulls in a massive inter-conference showdown in Major League Soccer today. The Galaxy are second in the MLS Western Conference with a record of 15-5-9 and are preparing for the 2014 MLS Cup Playoffs. As for the Red Bulls, they can move up to fourth place in the MLS Eastern Conference with a win and inch closer to a return to the postseason.

More from Los Angeles Galaxy

• LA Galaxy Persists in Pursuit of Lozano
• The Return of Lucas Calegari to Fluminense
• Chicharito’s Departure from LA Galaxy
• LA Galaxy faces obstacles in potential signing of striker Álvaro Morata
• The Return of Douglas Costa to Juventus: A Risky Bet or a Shot at Redemption?

Kickoff is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. PT/8:30 p.m. ET and will be televised by ESPN2, WatchESPN, ESPN Deportes and TSN2. The Live Blog is expected to start at approximately 3:30 p.m. PT/6:30 p.m. ET.

Refresh the screen for updates!

T-120: Welcome to the Live Blog between the Los Angeles Galaxy and New York Red Bulls here at StubHub Center in Carson, Calif. My name is Jo-Ryan Salazar, editor of the MLS Multiplex alongside Sean Maslin. This is the final match in what has been an exciting September of matches in Major League Soccer. The stage will be set for an exciting regular season finish in October.

Let’s take a look at the preview from MLSSoccer.com.

REFEREE: Armando Villarreal. SAR (bench): Frank Anderson; JAR (opposite): Ian Anderson; 4th: Kevin Stott
MLS Career: 42 games; FC/gm: 23.1; Y/gm: 2.9; R: 15; pens: 10

SUSPENDED: none
WARNINGS:
SUSPENDED NEXT YELLOW CARD: LA: Omar Gonzalez, Marcelo Sarvas … NY: Armando, Tim Cahill, Jamison Olave
SUSPENDED AFTER TWO YELLOW CARDS: LA: Baggio Husidic, A.J. DeLaGarza, Alan Gordon, Landon Donovan, Juninho … NY: Thierry Henry, Luis Robles, Ibrahim Sekagya
DISABLED LIST: none
INTERNATIONAL ABSENCES: none

HEAD-TO-HEAD
ALL-TIME (39 meetings): Galaxy 15 wins (1 shootout), 53 goals … Red Bulls 18 wins (1 shootout), 56 goals … Ties 6
AT LA (18 meetings): Galaxy 8 wins (0 shootout), 26 goals … Red Bulls 6 wins (0 shootout), 22 goals … Ties 4

LAST YEAR (MLS):
5/19: NY 1, LA 0 (Cahill 91+)

• This is the only league meeting of the season between the two clubs.
• The Red Bulls have won the last three meetings between the teams, all by shutouts and in 1-0 scorelines each of the last two seasons, winning the only meeting last year on May 19 at Red Bull Arena.
• The Red Bulls have come away with victories on their last two league visits to Carson to play the Galaxy. The Galaxy’s last home victory in the series came in 2009; their last victory overall came in 2010, a 1-0 win Aug. 14 at Red Bull Arena.
• Coaches record: Bruce Arena vs. NY: P21 W10 L9 T2 … Mike Petke vs. LA: P1 W1 L0 T0

The LA Galaxy stretched their undefeated run to eight games, coming back for a 2-1 win against FC Dallas on Saturday evening at StubHub Center. The Galaxy sit in a tie for first place in the Western Conference and the MLS overall table with 54 points from 29 games.

The New York Red Bulls won their fifth consecutive game on their home ground in impressive fashion, strolling to a 4-1 win against Seattle Sounders FC on Saturday evening at Red Bull Arena. The Red Bulls are in fourth place in the Eastern Conference with 41 points from 29 matches on the season.

T-100: This is the last match of another solid week in MLS. Standby for a roundup of scores across the league and in CONCACAF Champions League play.

T-80: In CONCACAF Champions League action, Sporting Kansas City shut out Real Esteli 3-0, Portland crushed Alpha United 6-0, D.C. United drubbed Tauro FC 2-0 and Club Deportivo FAS and New York were held to a scoreless draw. The Red Bulls have officially been eliminated from the CONCACAF Champions League, while Portland, D.C. and the Montreal Impact are through to the knockout rounds.

T-75: Time to give you some league scores. Earlier this week, FC Dallas inched closer to the playoffs with a 3-1 win over the Seattle Sounders on Wednesday. On Friday, the New England Revolution defeated Sporting Kansas City 3-2.

Yesterday’s scores…Toronto FC 3, Portland Timbers 2…D.C. United 1, Philadelphia Union 0…Seattle Sounders 4, Chivas USA 2…Vancouver Whitecaps 2, Real Salt Lake 1…Columbus Crew 2, Montreal Impact 0…Colorado Rapids 1, San Jose Earthquakes 1.

Earlier today, the Houston Dynamo kept their slim playoff chances alive with a 2-0 win over the Chicago Fire at BBVA Compass Stadium.

T-74: Could this be the last time Los Angeles Galaxy fans get to see Thierry Henry in person?

“Obviously he’s getting up there in age,” defender A.J. DeLaGarza said, “but he’s still a special player. Not even in this league but around the world. He gets a lot of recognition for what he does and what he’s still doing. He’s scoring some pretty unbelievable goals and dropping dimes, as you would say, to his teammates.

“He’s everything you could think of in ka world-class player. Obviously one of the best in the world.”

T-73: “We’ve only seen him a couple times in the year’s he’s been here and I’m thankful for that,” Bruce Arena said. “But he’s arguably the best player in the league. He’s extremely talented, and I think he’s been magnificent in the way he’s helped grow (MLS goal-scoring leader) Bradley Wright-Phillips. You see over the last six weeks or so he’s been outstanding.“Whatever he decides to do in the future I’m sure it’s going to be his call. Clearly he’s a guy that has plenty left in the tank.”

T-71: “I think sometimes we forget how special his career’s been,” Landon Donovan told MLSSoccer.com’s Scott French. “When you’re caught up in the moment and you’re caught up in the next game, you just see him as an opponent that you’re trying to figure out and stop, but when you think about it historically, it’s pretty special that we get a chance to play against him.

“I’m certainly not in awe of him [while we’re] playing, but when you step back before or after the game and look at what he’s done, it’s pretty amazing. It’s special that we get to play against him.”

T-67: Here are the current MLS Standings heading into this match, just to give you context.

Eastern Conference

Western Conference

TOP FIVE CLUBS IN EACH CONFERENCE REACH PLAYOFFS

PTS: Points, GP: Games Played, PPG: Points Per Game, W: Wins, L: Losses, T: Ties, GF: Goals For, GA: Goals Against, GD:Goal Difference, HG: Home Goals For, HGD: Home Goals Difference, RG: Road Goals For, RGD: Road Goals Difference,

x – Clinched playoff spot
y – Clinched No. 1 playoff seed in Conference
s – Clinched Supporters Shield, and No. 1 playoff seed in Conference

T-60: We are an hour away to kickoff here at StubHub Center. Want to sound off on the match? Head to the comments section below and give us your thoughts.

T-55: A panel of experts on MLSSoccer.com called unanimously for Los Angeles to win.

T-42: Odds from oddschecker:

Los Angeles Galaxy 1/2
Draw 7/2
New York Red Bulls 13/2

T-40:

T-39: Lineups, etc. as both teams warm up.

Lineup

Bench

Officials

T-30: A half-hour to go. I compare Thierry Henry and Bradley Wright-Phillips to the combo of Shaq and Kobe back when they were together at the Los Angeles Lakers. Big names, packing a punch for a big-name team. The difference between these two combos…one has three league championships, the other doesn’t.

T-24:

T-23:

T-21: Another player to watch for on the Red Bulls, besides the combo of Thierry and BWP, is Tim Cahill. He was the hero last year at Red Bull Arena. Can he deliver again?

T-20:

T-14: A final look at the odds from oddschecker:

Los Angeles Galaxy 5/11
Draw 7/2
New York Red Bulls 13/2

T-10: Both teams conclude warmups.

T-8: There are a number of Arsenal fans in attendance, as well as a traveling bastion of New Yorkers.

T-7:

T-4:

T-0: Both teams return to the pitch to the strains of the MLS Anthem by Audiobrain. I don’t think we’ll have a sellout crowd for this one, to be honest with you.

National anthem by Madison Carney. Some swag from Tiffany and Co., along with a trip to the Big Apple, from Mike Petke to Landon.

FIRST HALF START: 5:40 P.M. PT/8:40 P.M. ET

1′ – Is this the final Donovan vs. Henry encounter we will ever see? The first half begins.

2′ – For Los Angeles, they will need to string some passes together and exploit the New York backline with chance after chance after chance.  Keane. Henry marks him. And here come New York, tipped to keep their hotstreak against LA alive. Corner. Henry will look for BWP here.

3′ – Cleared. Bad touch from Gyasi Zardes, who was named to the MLS 24 Under 24 for what may be the last time.

4′ – New York win a restart. This is Ibrahim Sekagya. Donovan…offsides. Trap works for the Red Bulls.

5′ – Baggio Husidic watches that sail across the face of goal.

6′  – Zardes is given the “don’t argue” from Chris Duvall. Double-teamed.

7′ – Jaime Penedo says, “Not so fast, Bradley.”  Donovan just got stood up right there. Duvall concedes a throw.

8′ – GOAL! Los Angeles Galaxy 7 Robbie Keane

What touch! What finish! Keano, you beauty! 1-0 LA.

9′ – What a ripper from Robbie Keane to tear the roof off the Hub. Now New York have to respond or this could get ugly. Zardes nearly makes it 2-0. If this was Aussie Rules, that’s out for a behind.

10′ – Donovan with the sweep. Zardes, and that was not the finest of finishes. Goes over and out for a goal kick.

11′ – Eric Alexander, looking for BWP, wouldn’t he want another goal.

12′  – No Ambrose Oyongo and no Lloyd Sam means that the Galaxy have the possession battle taken care of, at least on paper.

13′ – Donovan tries a shot and it goes over and out for a goal kick. 13 minutes gone on the StubHub Center clock, 1-0 to the good of the Galaxy. Sekagya gets things going again.

14′ – Tenuous touch from A.J. DelaGarza. Duvall on notice again. Rogers with the cross. No one to receive that, Zardes should have done better on the overlap.

15′ – Another chance! That misses, and the Galaxy regroup in the back. New York recover. This is Thierry Henry, and a stop on Bradley Wright-Phillips by Jaime Penedo.

16′  – Marcelo Sarvas moves the ball around, and now it’s Juninho.

17′ – No dice for Tim Cahill, LA”s villain last year. DeLaGarza now. What a crowd we have on hand for you here at the Hub. Kept inbounds by Omar Gonzalez.

18′ – Keane with the dribble and Luis Robles is forced to collect. Sekagya to reset and get the Red Bulls clicking once again.

19′ – Sekagya is getting a lot of touches this minute. And now the Red Bulls go forward.

20′ – DeLaGarza is just going to clear that. Here’s another Thierry Henry corner. Can he find Wright-Phillips this time. No. Donovan sweeps. New York get it back again then lose it.

21′ – So the match has stabilized a bit. The Red Bulls have adjusted to the danger and are countering. They will need to find BWP today.

22′ – Bad giveaway from Donovan, and DeLaGarza and Penedo team up to foil Henry. Heart-in-your-mouth stuff right there.

23′ – Well, the Galaxy are already in the MLS Cup Playoffs, might as well make this a defensive scrimmage. Peguy Luyindula wins another Henry corner. He’s having his lion’s share, Henry is. That’s across the face of goal and out. Insipid. Goal kick.

24′ – Zardes wins that duel, but the Galaxy can’t reel it in. DeLaGarza plays it back. Here’s Marcelo Sarvas.

25′ – Zardes wins a restart to LA. He wants to get involved, Zardes does. Gonzalez now.

26′ – Not a good touch from Baggio Husidic, that was down his alley. Robbie Rogers. Los Angeles concede a restart to New York.

27′ – Here’s Dax McCarty. And Jaime Penedo will take that. Uh oh, Donovan’s away. Keane! Corner.

28′ ‘ – Tried to find Zardes but it’s cleared by Sekagya. And Gargan is shaken up.

29′ – Dan Gargan has had injury problems before, so this is a huge blow for Los Angeles if he can’t see this off.

30′ – Gargan is walking with a limp and he is jogging this off, trying to get the knock off so he can finish this.

31′ – Another save on Bradley Wright-Phillips by Jaime Penedo. We could get used to this.

32′ – Gargan’s back on the pitch. A relief for Galaxy fans. Across the face of goal from Roy Miller.

33′ – Long delivery here for Keane is snuffed out. Predictable drivel, says the Red Bulls backline.

34′ – Juninho slows things down. Donovan and Keane team up. Keane’s away, but it’s called back for offsides.

35′ – Bad move from Gonzalez, Wright-Phillips is away! Side netting. Corner for Henry.

36′ – Across the face of goal and Donovan collects. Keane now. Tried to find Husidic but he is foiled.

37′ – Rogers. Dax McCarty wins a restart. New York are now winning possession but the Galaxy are holding sway on defense.

38′ – Olave gives Zardes the “don’t argue.” And here’s Henry. Can he work his magic? Nope. The Galaxy found him out.

39′ – Luyindula now. Here he goes. A chance. Blocked.

40′ – Back come the Red Bulls. Keane clears. Zardes lays it off to Donovan. The Red Bulls backlin isn’t too shabby, either. Galaxy reset as the Goodyear Blimp hovers.

41′ – Keane watches that go by him. Chris Duvall now. Another save from Jaime Penedo. Acrobatics from the Panamanian.

42′ – Donovan tells Dax McCarty to “slow down, soldier.” And the Galaxy win a restart.

43′ – Emergency defending from Sekagya. Keystone Kops. Rogers! And they made a mess of that the Galaxy. Two, maybe three bites of the cherry, and Robles, by the stroke of luck, concedes a corner.

44′ – Fans on their feet. Headed away. That sequence leading up to the corner was as insipid as they come for Los Angeles.

45′ – Henry plays it forward, as we head into injury time. New York will be lucky to only be down a goal. Two extra minutes.

45′ + 1′ – Couldn’t find Keane there and the Red Bulls backline with their version of tiki-taka.

45′ + 2′ — Zardes, here’ s Keane! Blocked. And the crowd wanted a foul. One last chance here. Sarvas. And Robles will collect that. Not a lot of work from Robles so far. Halftime.

HALFTIME
Los Angeles Galaxy 1
New York Red Bulls 0

Team Statistics

Los Angeles in gold, New York in red

Goals and Assists

Assisted By: Landon Donovan

Based on the volume of chances, New York have this game won, but in order for the scoreline to reflect that, they must be more accurate with the chances and find one past Jaime Penedo. Penedo has made three big saves in the first half. As for Los Angeles, they have to be feeling a bit hard done by the offsides calls against them, but they have also been undone by their lack of finish in the box.

SECOND HALF START: 6:43 P.M. PT/9:43 P.M. ET

46′ – The second half begins. Will we see a certain Alan Gordon close shop here in Carson? Or can BWP and Thierry take over from here?

47′ – Here come the Red Bulls. Luyindula with his mad hairstyle. Jaime Penedo collects and Gyasi Zardes is met by Jamison Olave, the former RSL man. Omar Gonzalez now. Robbie Rogers. Penedo coming off his line, BWP lurking. No dice for Baggio Husidic.

48′ – Henry is away. Too long for Wright-Phillips, but he reels that in. Finally, LA recover. Roy Miller intercepts. Luyindula. and he won’t get the benefit of the doubt. Omar Gonzalez sees that out for a goal kick.

49′ – Wright-Phillips is getting manhandled by the smaller DeLaGarza. There’s the pursuit from BWP and Luyindula.

50′ – New York win a restart, but LA surround. This is trouble!

51′ – GOAL! Los Angeles Galaxy 10 Landon Donovan

What a goal! Unbelievable lack of defending from Sekagya. And that is the issue with the New York back line this year. Landon, you beauty!

52′ – Luyindula wins a free kick, from about 15 yards. And now, you can sense that this match is going to open up. Henry. Headed away, it’s a corner, the danger is still there for the Galaxy.

53′ – Headed away by Gonzalez, and Donovan is away. New York react. Good reaction.

54′ – Zardes is away. Lays it off for Keane and he slows it down. And there’s the collection from Luis Robles. He’s under the pump, Robles is, the big man for New York.

55′ – This will be a restart for New York, it’s a set piece. Same distance but from the other side. Cleared. That was routine.

56′ – Gargan lays it off for Penedo. New York continue to apply pressure.  Luyindula. Gonzalez clears.

57′ – Roy Miller, the Costa Rican, plays it back. Here’s your man, Wright-Phillips…across the face of goal again. May not be his night.

58′  – Juninho. Gargan. And Robles goes off his line to clear. Tightrope defending from Luis.

59′ – Zardes. Here’s the 1-v-1 with Olave and Olave wins. What a lesson well learned for Gyasinho. Old Man 1, Young Whippersnapper 0.

60′ – Substitution New York Red Bulls

IN 2 Richard Eckersley
OUT 25 Chris Duvall

61′ – Sekagya has to wonder, now what? The Galaxy seem to anticipate every move New York is making. This could turn into a glorified training session any moment now.  Keane gets challenged. Armando Villareal calls advantage.

62′ – And now they’re gonna go. Villareal will have to set some order here. Just some final verbal ultimatums from the man in the middle.

63′ – Zardes wins that duel. Similar to a spectacular mark. Back come New York, they reset.

64″ – DeLaGarza sweeps. This is trouble! Donovan is aghast! He thought he won a penalty. No penalty. Good, clean defending.

65′ – If this keeps up, I doubt we’ll see a lot of cards here from Villareal.

66′ – From 30 yards out. Out on the full.  Goal kick, Luis Robles. Stefan Ishizaki will come in shortly and possibly take over on Galaxy set pieces.

67′ — Substitution Los Angeles Galaxy
IN 24 Stefan Ishizaki
OUT 8 Marcelo Sarvas

Here’s Keane. And now we have a card.

Yellow card 4 Jamison Olave
New York Red Bulls

68′ – Here’s Ishizaki’s first set piece. Took a deflection, and that allows Robles to collect. Gonzalez snuffs out the transition.

69′ – GOAL! Los Angeles Galaxy 11 Gyasi Zardes

One-touch passing does the trick. Zardes, you beauty!

70′ – There may be no turning back now for Los Angeles. The bookmakers got this right. And there’s another free oil change from Tire Pros, on the house.

Substitution New York Red Bulls
IN 21 Ruben Bover Izquierdo
OUT 12 Eric Alexnder

71′ – McCarty is denied by the big man, Jaime Penedo, Panama’s No. 1 National Treasure.

72′ – Throw-in, Red Bulls. They can’t believe what’s going on here.

73′ – Substitution Los Angeles Galaxy
IN 22 Leonardo
OUT 14 Robbie Rogers

Given Leo’s history of inconsistency, now would be the time to strike for New York.

74′ – Gonzalez is away. Gonzalez is away. Gonzalez is away! And he wins a corner! A corner! Can you believe this!? Donovan to take.

75′- Nearly a gem. Just misses the bottom right corner. Second bit of the cherry, Omar is denied. They’re full of running, the Galaxy. They want to chase the Rave Green Sound of the Northwest, the Seattle Sounders, for the Supporters’ Shield.

76′ – Gargan to throw. Takes it short. Take two. And that will go out for a goal kick. Sigh of relief for New York, who have been hammered in the midfield by LA.

77′ – Omar says, “I don’t think so, Bradley Wright-Phillips. Thou shalt not pass, says the #OmarSmash!”

78′  – If you’re just joining us, it;s been a cracker of a game, and BWP just moonshot that poor footy for a goal kick.

79′ – Unimpressive sequence from New York there. It’s as if Penedo was scripting this all along. He should work as a director after his playing days are over. Money is money, you know.

80′ – There’s a good sweep for Dan Gargan. Fully fit for a big occasion, Gargs is.

81′ – The chip from Donovan. the touch from Keane! Across the face of goal, out on the full.

Substitution Los Angeles Galaxy
IN 9 Alan Gordon
OUT 11 Gyasi Zardes

82′ – Substitution New York Red Bulls

IN 13 Marius Obekop
OUT 99 Bradley Wright-Phillips

GOAL! Los Angeles Galaxy 7 Robbie Keane

And they’re really, really, REALLY gonna make it hard!

83′ – Remember where you were on the day Donovan and Keane hammered Henry and BWP for the last time.

84′ – Out for throw-in to the Galaxy. They’re not satisfied with four, I don’t think.

85′  – The public is heading to the pubs, their family homes, other establishments. They’ve seen enough, Leonardo with the “don’t argue.”

86′ – Gordon has dropped a sitter. As expected of Alan Gordon and his personal plight with the support of the Galaxy. And that was trouble. Baggio Husidic is asking his compatriots, “hey, why aren’t you bringing me to the party! Help a brother out, lest you forget!”

87′  – Out for a goal kick to Penedo. Well, to be honest, I think Armando Villareal will be missing the plot if he awards stoppage time here.

88′  – Gonzalez with another clearance. This is just like practice now. McCarty is out of ideas. I fancy he’s tapped out of the proceedings and wants to head back East.

89′ – Interesting to note: Tim Cahill has been a non-factor in this match. A lesson well learned. Robles hoofs it forward. Keane, he’s on a hattie. Misses Donovan.

90′ – LA will look for one more, and Robles figures out Keane. Three minutes.

90′ + 1′ – What a save from Luis Robles. Throw-in.

90′ + 2′ – New York are looking for a consolation. And there’s a save from Penedo.

90′ + 3′ – Won’t be long before Villareal blows his whistle. Another clearance from Gonzalez. And another collection from Penedo. That’s it!

FINAL
Los Angeles Galaxy 4
New York Red Bulls 0

Team Statistics

Goals and Assists

Assisted By: Landon Donovan

50′

Landon Donovan

69′

Gyasi Zardes

Assisted By: Landon Donovan

82′

Robbie Keane

Disciplinary

Reason: Foul

Substitutions

Match Information

MLS Regular Season at StubHub Center

Attendance 25102

Thanks for following this Live Blog on MLS Multiplex. Stay tuned later this week for a full match report.