SB Nation Los Angeles - Puerto Rico Destroys Galaxy 4 -1https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48949/la-fave.png2010-07-27T23:06:09-07:00http://losangeles.sbnation.com/rss/stream/13545222010-07-27T23:06:09-07:002010-07-27T23:06:09-07:00Puerto Rico Destroys Galaxy
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<p>A headline which seems ripped from an episode of Doctor Who feels appropriate to describe just what happened at the Home Depot Center tonight. After the game Gregg Berhalter said that the game was a nightmare, but that these unexplainable things happen in soccer. Again, change a word or two, and you've got dialogue fit for a Londoner what just saw a snowflake shaped spaceship invade Earth. </p>
<p>It's hard to know what the Galaxy expected out of this game, but certainly it wasn't a 4 - 1 defeat at the hands of The Puerto Rico Islanders of Division 2 fame. It wasn't that Puerto Rico had more chances, the Galaxy had 23 shots on goal to Puerto Rico's 9. But all 9 of the Galaxy's shots on target were saved by Islander goalkeeper Bill Gaudette, including a fantastic fingertip save on a Landon Donovan free kick headed toward the upper left corner. The only Galaxy goal this game came on an own goal, where a clearance attempt ricochetted back into the Islander net. Time will tell if this game serves as a showcase for Pennsylvania born Gaudette, who has spent time in the MLS with the Columbus Crew.</p>
<p>Edson Buddle, the MLS goal leader, didn't have a shot, despite playing all 90 minutes. No forward had a shot on goal, which Chris Berchall leading the Galaxy in attempts with 5, and all four starting midfielders had 2 shots on goal. </p>
<p>Meanwhile, Puerto Rico just couldn't miss, with 7 of their 9 shots ending up on target. Josh Saunders let in more goals than he saved this game, but in his post game press conference, Bruce Arena stood by his keeper, saying "We didn't lose this game because of Josh". Certainly the two first half goals were preventable, both came from positions where the keeper can't do much and is reliant upon his backfield to keep the ball out of the box. </p>
<p>Coach Colin Clarke of Puerto Rico was humble after the game saying, "I don't think we were ever in charge" and certainly the shot chart would agree. Puerto Rico was certainly the more aggressive team, picking up 15 fouls, most of them in the first half. When forward Nick Addley was asked what his teammates saw in the Galaxy that allowed them to go through so many times, his coach jokingly told him as an aside "don't tell them anything". It may have been a moment in jest, but obviously these Islanders saw a weakness in the "big boys" of Los Angeles and attacked with precision.</p>
<p><span style="line-height: 9px;">When asked about the problems in the defense Berhalter said that they have to simply stop giving up so many goals, </span><span style="line-height: 9px;">but also mentioned that set pieces have been the Galaxy's nemesis, and that it's possible</span> that they started to believe their own hype about just how good this defense is. </p>
<p>Attendance for the game was less than a quarter to capacity, with several Puerto Rico supporters. When it comes down to it, of course the Galaxy always want to win, but it seems this tournament just means something more to those on smaller, foreign teams with something to prove.</p>
<p>After the All-Star break (where Ricketts and Gonzalez will definitely see time as they didn't play today, but Donovan and Buddle are questionable, according to All-Star coach Arena) the Galaxy host the Chicago Fire on Sunday at 4:30 pm. </p>
https://losangeles.sbnation.com/2010/7/27/1591703/Puerto-Rico-Destroys-GalaxyJosie Becker2010-07-27T20:04:02-07:002010-07-27T20:04:02-07:00Galaxy Trail 2-0 At Half
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<p>So far, this game has felt much like last week's game. The Galaxy are dominating the possession, getting fouls and corners, and doing everything to push forward. Yet they have nothing to show for it on the scoreboard. The Galaxy have 11 shots to Puerto Rico’s 6, but only 3 have been on goal. All but one of Puerto Rico’s shots have been on target. Saunders has saved more than he’s let in, barely, but maybe it wasn’t the best idea to sit Donovan Ricketts for this one.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, Puerto Rico has managed to scored two goals where guys were given room to work in the box: The first, an unassisted goal when a corner kick rebounded landed right in front of an unmarked David Foley, and the second just before half when Nicolas Addlery received a long pass from Scott Jones in the box.</p>
<p>Hopefully things turn around in the second half, but so far this looks like a Galaxy team playing in front of a half capacity crowd, and a Puerto Rican team which came from the Caribbean for this.</p>
https://losangeles.sbnation.com/2010/7/27/1591617/Galaxy-Trail-2---0-At-HalfJosie Becker2010-07-27T18:49:24-07:002010-07-27T18:49:24-07:00Galaxy Set To Take On Islanders
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<p><b>Tonight's Lineups:</b></p>
<p> </p>
<p><b>Los Angeles Galaxy</b></p>
<p> </p>
<p>12 Josh Saunders GK</p>
<p>20 AJ DeLaGarza DEF</p>
<p>22 Leonardo DEF</p>
<p>16 Gregg Berhalter DEF</p>
<p> 6 Eddie Lewis DEF</p>
<p>28 Sean Franklin MID</p>
<p>11 Chris Birchall MID</p>
<p>19 Juninho MID</p>
<p>10 Landon Donovan MID - Captain</p>
<p>14 Edson Buddle FWD</p>
<p>21 Alan Gordon FWD</p>
<p> </p>
<p><b>Puerto Rico Islanders</b></p>
<p> </p>
<p> 1 Bill Gaudette GK </p>
<p> 2 Scott Jones DEF </p>
<p> 4 Marco Velez DEF</p>
<p>13 David Horst DEF</p>
<p> 3 Richard Martinez DEF</p>
<p> 5 Noah Delgado MID - Captain</p>
<p>20 Josh Hansen MID</p>
<p> 8 Christopher Nurse MID</p>
<p>18 Osei Telesford MID</p>
<p> 7 David Foley FWD</p>
<p>11 Nicolas Addlery FWD</p>
<p> </p>
<p><b>Available Subs:</b></p>
<p> </p>
<p><b>Los Angeles Galaxy</b></p>
<p> </p>
<p> 1 Donovan Ricketts GK</p>
<p> 4 Omar Gonzalez DEF</p>
<p>88 Alex Cazumba DEF</p>
<p> 9 Jovan Kirovski MID</p>
<p> 8 Dema Kovalenko MID</p>
<p>26 Michael Stephens MID</p>
<p>17 Tristan Bowen FWD</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Coach: Bruce Arena</p>
<p> </p>
<p><b>Puerto Rico Islanders</b></p>
<p> </p>
<p>23 Cody Laurendi GK</p>
<p> 6 Alexis Rivera DEF</p>
<p>19 Kevon Villaroel DEF</p>
<p>21 Logan Emory DEF</p>
<p>15 Sandy Gbandi MID</p>
<p> 9 Jonathan Fana FWD</p>
<p>10 Kendall Jagdeosingh FWD</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Coach: Colin Clarke</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Referee: Raymond Bogle</p>
https://losangeles.sbnation.com/2010/7/27/1591503/galaxy-set-to-take-on-islandersJosie Becker2010-07-27T10:53:20-07:002010-07-27T10:53:20-07:00Galaxy Go For CONCACAF Gold
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<p><i>7:00 pm, Home Depot Center TV: Fox Soccer Channel Radio: Spanish 1330AM</i></p>
<p>In the first of three matches this week involving Galaxy players, Los Angeles shall face Puerto Rico Islanders of the USSF<i> </i>Division 2 Pro League in the first leg of the preliminary round. A return leg shall be player in Puerto Rico next week, with the winner moving on to the Champions League group stages.</p>
<p>This is only the third year of the CONCACAF Champions League tournament, and the Galaxy's first appearance under the new name and rules. The previous tournament, known as CONCACAF Champions Cup, ran from 1962 to 2008. The LA Galaxy won this small, 8 team tournament in 2000 with a victory over CD Olympia of Honduras, qualifying them for the 2001 FIFA Club World Championship. The tournament was never played due to financial constraints. The tournament resumed play in 2005. CONCACAF rebranded and expanded their tournament in 2008 after the model of the UEFA Champions League. </p>
<p>The Galaxy's last appearance in the tournament was in 2006, where they lost an aggregate goal series to Saprissa of Costa Rica.</p>
<p>Should the Galaxy advance past Puerto Rico, winners of the 2010 Caribbean Football Union Club Championship, they will be placed in Group D, along with Mexican champion Toluca, CD Olympia, and the winner between FAS of El Salvador and Xelaju of Guatemala. </p>
https://losangeles.sbnation.com/2010/7/27/2318449/galaxy-go-for-concacaf-goldJosie Becker