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LA Galaxy 2, San Jose Earthquake 2
LOS ANGELES GALAXY: 5-3-2
GK: 1 Donovan Ricketts
CB: 4 Omar Gonzalez
CB: 16 Gregg Berhalter
WB: 2 A.J. DeLaGarza
WB: 20 Todd Dunivant
SW: 11 Chris Berchall
CM: 28 Sean Franklin
CM: 19 Juninho
CM: 10 Landon Donovan
CF: 14 Edson Buddle
CF: 21 Alan Gordon
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES 4-4-2
GK: 18 Jon Busch
CB: 2 Bobby Burling
CB: 6 Ike Opara
FB: 21 Jason Hernandez
FB: 12 Ramiro Corrales
CM: 14 Brandon McDonald
CM: 4 Sam Cronin
LM: 11 Bobby Convey
RM: 17 Joey Gjertsen
FW: 13 Cornell Glen
FW: 8 Chris Wondolowski
Injury Report:
LOS ANGELES GALAXY – OUT: FW Mike Magee (bilateral sports hernia sur- gery)
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES – OUT: MF Andre Luiz (L knee internal derange- ment); FW Eduardo (R hip flexor strain); DF Chris Leitch (L hip strain)
Disciplinary Situation:
none
International Duty:
none
7:30 at the Home Depot Center, TV: ESPN2, ESPN Deportes, Radio: 1330 AM
First it was a game between a green clad LA Galaxy and the San Jose Clash. Then it was decreed that Clash was too nineties (except for The Clash, which are an amazing timeless band) and Galaxies are actually blue, and thus it has been ever since, except for those two years when San Jose didn't have a team.
The rivalry was renewed in 2008, and although the Galaxy have won the Clasico every year since, this year business is looking to pick up.
The Galaxy hold the all-time record in the Clasico: 9-3. The last time the Earthquakes won the cup was in 2006.
Earthquakes-Galaxy Preview - July 21, 2010 - Major League Soccer - CBSSports.com MLS, Champions League
The Los Angeles Galaxy haven't lost when Landon Donovan has been in the lineup this season, and they have done nothing but win when he's contributed to the scoresheet.
LA Galaxy vs SJ Earthquakes - Goal.com
The great news for the Galaxy is the Edson Buddle is still scoring and Landon Donovan is still setting him up. Buddle got his league leading 11th goal last week against DC United, 5 of those goals have been game winners. Landon Donovan leads the league with 10 assists. Per: mlsnet.com/stats
Donovan, who scored the game winner against DC United on a penalty, has scored in the last four editions of the California Clasico, The Galaxy have won each game he's scored in and have not lost any game he's appeared in. Further good news for the Galaxy and Donovan, Commissioner Don Garber said last week that MLS is unwilling to entertain any transfer offers for Landon Donovan, who is arguably the leagues biggest star. This comes as a comfort amid rumors that Manchester City's coach fancies Donovan as an addition to the team.
Meanwhile, Jamaican Donovan Ricketts quietly has the lowest Goals Against Average in the league, only allowing half a goal per game. So all The Galaxy need to worry about is the league changing the rules on half-goals, otherwise they're set. I kid, I kid. He surely glad to have All-Star and last year's ROTY, defender Omar Gonzalez back in the lineup
San Jose has been feeling pretty good after taking Tottenham Hotspur to a nil-nil draw. The clean sheet is something to be proud of, whether it's holding your own against a Premier League team or giving up no goals after flying across an ocean and a continent to play in a college stadium. The Quakes are also excited about the selection of MidfielderBobby Convey to the All-Star team, replacing Jonathan Bornstein.
This is the beginning of a stretch of 5 games plus an All-Star game (featuring Donovan, Buddle, Gonzalez and Rickets)
San Jose is currently 5th place in the West, but holds the last playoff spot at 8th overall.
Galaxy legs are tired, playing a short week with last weeks game on Sunday. However, even on three days rest, the Galaxy should have no problems breaking through San Jose's 4-4-2.
Feel free to check out LA Galaxy insider video on today's match, it's always great to see player interviews, even if it's nothing but rivalry cliches.
Galaxy Tie Earthquakes, Or Disasters And Aliens Make Peace
It was a game much like the ones we saw from the US Men’s National team.
Shirtless Donovan.
Sorry, distracted. Donovan just said “It’s kind of hard to lose a game like that when we’ve had so many chances”
He’s not kidding. The Galaxy had 20 shots on goal, but only seven were on target. That’s as many shots as the Earthquakes had total.
Both Earthquake goals came off rebounds, a quick first goal in the first minute by MLS All-Star Bobby Convey and in the 71st minute Bobby McDonald punched in a corner kick rebound.
All-Star and USMNT member Edson Buddle gave the Galaxy their first goal, off a Donovan corner, tying the game at one just after half time.
But in a game which the Galaxy dominated the possession, corner kicks, and shots, they trailed for all but twenty minutes. Much went wrong for the Galaxy in the back, but given how great Ricketts has been in goal, it doesn’t seem time to sound an alarm yet.
The fact that the Galaxy played hard and from behind shows in the bookings, as three Galaxy members received yellow cards.
There was some scuffling, in the 53rd minute Bobby Burling took down a streaking Juninho who didn’t take to kindly to that, and both teams met in the middle of the pitch for a spell but nothing came of it.
Donovan’s stoppage time rebound goal kept the Galaxy undefeated at home this season, and all in all, it looks like the California Clasico is starting to live up to its billing once again.
Goals:
San Jose:
Bobby Convey 1’
Brandon McDonald 71’
Los Angeles
Edson Buddle 58’
Landon Donovan 90’
Bookings:
San Jose
Bobby Burling 53’
Los Angeles
Landon Donovan 70’
Sean Franklin 88’
Juninho 90’
Jul 22 9:57p by Josie Becker - 2 comments