Oct 12, 2014; Dallas, TX, USA; Los Angeles Galaxy defender A.J. DeLaGarza (20) controls the ball in the second half against FC Dallas at Toyota Stadium. FC Dallas beat Los Angeles 2-1. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports
Defender A.J. DeLaGarza was a scratch for the second leg of the 2014 MLS Western Conference Championship between Bruce Arena’s Los Angeles Galaxy and Sigi Schmid’s Seattle Sounders. However, DeLaGarza is expected to be in good fitness heading into MLS Cup. The Galaxy are taking on the New England Revolution on Dec. 7 at StubHub Center in Carson, Calif. Kickoff is scheduled for 12 p.m. PT/3 p.m, ET and will be televised by ESPN.
“I feel a lot better, will be ready to play this weekend,” DeLaGarza told MLSSoccer.com’s Scott French. “It was just a factor of turf and the weather was not good to go out there.
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“You saw Ozzie Alonso had two weeks to prepare for that, and he was still struggling with his hamstring. I thought it was smart on our behalf just to get a guy in there who’s fresh and ready, and it paid off at the end, and we won.”
DeLaGarza’s return takes some slack off Dan Gargan, who paid the price early in the first half in conceding a goal to Brad Evans alongside Omar Gonzalez. DeLaGarza won the Galaxy’s Defender of the Year honor for showing his versatility in playing all four positions: left back, right back, left center back and right center back.
“I’m a defender, not an attacker, so if I was someone that needed to play and score goals, then maybe,” DeLaGarza said. “But as a defender, I think you need someone back there who’s ready and 100 percent or close to it.”
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Meanwhile, the Professional Referee Organization has named Mark Geiger to officiate MLS Cup 2014. Geiger won the MLS Referee of the Year award and had previously officiated the 2008 final in Carson as the fourth official.
Geiger officiated three games at the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, including the Round of 16 match between France and Nigeria, and also served as a fourth official during the tournament. In the last year, he has also worked games at the FIFA Club World Cup and in the CONCACAF Champions League. Geiger’s other playoff appearance this year was the Oct. 29 Knockout Round match between FC Dallas and the Vancouver Whitecaps.
Here is the official list of officials for Sunday’s MLS Cup Final.
DECEMBER 7, 2014
MLS Cup Final
LA Galaxy vs. New England Revolution
StubHub Center (3 pm ET)
REFEREE: MARK GEIGER
AR1: Peter Manikowski
AR2: Joe Fletcher
4TH: Armando Villarreal
Alternate AR: Chris Strickland
Galaxy Training Schedule (All times Pacific)
Date |
|---|
Start Time
Location
Monday, Dec. 111 a.m.StubHub Center – University Field #1Tuesday, Dec. 210 a.m.StubHub Center – University Field #1Wednesday, Dec. 3TEAM OFFThursday, Dec. 410 a.m.StubHub Center – University Field #1Friday, Dec. 59 a.m.StubHub Center – University Field #1Saturday, Dec. 610 a.m.StubHub Center – University Field #1Sunday, Dec. 712 p.m.MLS Cup Final: LA Galaxy vs. New England Revolution (ESPN, ESPN UniMás)
*Following the team’s training on Friday, Dec. 5, there will be a joint press conference at 11:30 a.m. PT with LA Galaxy Head Coach and General Manager Bruce Arena and New England Revolution Head Coach Jay Heaps in addition to players from the Galaxy and Revolution. The conference will be held in the TV Studio at StubHub Center.