SB Nation Los Angeles - LA Galaxy Defeat Philadelphia Union 1-0https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48949/la-fave.png2011-04-02T22:42:45-07:00http://losangeles.sbnation.com/rss/stream/18510002011-04-02T22:42:45-07:002011-04-02T22:42:45-07:00LA Galaxy Defeat Philadelphia Union 1-0
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<p>While the first half may have been defined by Leonardo's game winning goal, the second half was defined by an abundance of scrappy play, as the teams collected ten cards between them, two of them red. <span>Chris Birchall</span> and <span>Jack McInerney</span> were both sent off for violent conduct, though at different ends of the match. Birchall's red car came in the 53 minute, after making a move from behind that while up for interpretation was certainly inviting the card. The foul resulted in a melee in front of the box, with <span>David Beckham</span> one of the most vocal. McInerney wasn't sent off until stoppage time in the 95 minute, getting into a similar fracas over a foul.</p>
<p>The rest of the cards were quite silly, the Galaxy twice getting marked for delaying a restart after they had gone down to ten men. To the club's credit, despite being short a man they didn't stop attacking, actually taking more shots in the second half than they had the first; although none of them were on target. David Beckham picked up a yellow card after he and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/players/110934/landon-donovan">Landon Donovan</a> tried to get referee Paul Ward to spray a ten yard mark for the free kick, a new MLS policy which has been implemented somewhat at random. Despite Philadelphia having two men about seven yards from the spot the referee refused to spray the mark and eventually gave David the yellow. </p>
<p>The rest of David Beckham's performance on the night was quite brilliant. His thirty third minute free kick from the right corner of the box went over the mob and begged to be headed in by Leonardo, who was happy to oblige. The goal was Leonardo's first in his MLS career and the only real chance of the night. The Galaxy had two other shots on goal, both by David Beckham, but a little dribbler right at the keeper and a free kick from near the corner flag bent in right at <span>Faryd Mondragon</span> provided little drama. <span>Donovan Ricketts</span>, in his first appearance in the 2011 MLS season didn't have to make a save, in fact his toughest touch came from his own defenseman. </p>
<p>Down a man, the Galaxy had to take out Miguel Lopez, offseason acquisition from Quilmes in Argentina, who started tonight after coming in at halftime in Salt Lake. Lopez played fairly aggressive and seemed a good fit with <span>Juan Pablo Angel</span> up top. Angel played a big role in creating Lopez' best chance of the match: a strike from the top of the box that just went over the bar. Angel didn't manage a goal in his second start, having his best chance on a layup from Landon Donovan that he tried to head back across the keeper. The ball sailed wide left, though he might have scored if he didn't outthink himself. </p>
<p>Juninho had the best chance of the second half, a fifty second minute shot that hit the right post. The Brazilian midfielder took a hard foul from behind in the 79' keeping him down for a minute but he was able to walk it off. Though Columbus was able to get three points yesterday, and there is still a Sunday game to be played, with a full slate of games today the Galaxy were the only team to pick up a victory. Seven points in four games may not be all Bruce Arena had dreamed of, but his club showed a lot of spirit coming back from the drubbing against <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.rslsoapbox.com/">Real Salt Lake</a> and giving Philadelphia a taste of their own medicine: "one-nil, one-nil, one-nil, one-nil, one-nil" </p>
https://losangeles.sbnation.com/2011/4/2/2087999/la-galaxy-philadelphia-union-landon-donovan-david-beckhamJosie Becker2011-04-02T20:43:32-07:002011-04-02T20:43:32-07:00LA Galaxy Lead Philadelphia Union At Halftime, 1-0
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<p class="MsoNormal"><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/mls/teams/los-angeles-galaxy">Los Angeles Galaxy</a> 1 - Philadelphia Union 0</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In the 33rd minute, <span>David Beckham</span> lined up to take a free kick from the right side of the box, as he has done so many times before. The ball made it over the critical mass and screamed head me, a request that Leonardo was only too happy to oblige. The goal, Leonardo's first of his MLS career, put the Galaxy up 1-0 in a match that should feel familiar to Galaxy fans. The LA soccer club has completely dominated possession, but has very little to show for it. For all the time they've spent with the ball, they've only managed three shots on goal. Lucky for the Galaxy, the Union haven't shown themselves capable of that goal against the run of play, which so often haunts the LA club. </p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">The other two shots on goal for LA came off the foot of David Beckham. In the 35 minute, David Beckham found the ball rolling toward him on the left corner of the box. His strike was reactionary more than planned, and the ball rolled right to <span>Faryd Mondragon</span>, who bobbled it but was able to bring it in without issue. The second strike came in the 43 minute. With a free kick set up near the corner flag, David tried to bend one in over the keepers head, but again Mondragon anticipated correctly. </p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Faryd Mondragon has been anchoring Philadelphia’s defense, with those two saves but also just in keeping his back four in shape. It’s been slim pickings so far, but hopefully things will open up in the second half. </p>
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https://losangeles.sbnation.com/2011/4/2/2087893/la-galaxy-lead-philadelphia-union-at-halftime-1-0Josie Becker2011-04-02T19:21:36-07:002011-04-02T19:21:36-07:00Rosters For Galaxy v. Philadelphia Union
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<p><strong>LA Galaxy (1-1-1, 4pts)</strong></p>
<p>1 Donovan Ricketts GK</p>
<p>5 Sean Franklin <span class="caps">DEF</span></p>
<p><span class="caps"></span>22 Leonardo <span class="caps">DEF</span></p>
<p>4 Omar Gonzalez <span class="caps">DEF</span></p>
<p>2 Todd Dunivant <span class="caps">DEF</span></p>
<p>23 David Beckham <span class="caps">MID</span></p>
<p>8 Chris Birchall <span class="caps">MID</span></p>
<p><span class="caps"></span>19 Juninho <span class="caps">MID</span></p>
<p>10 Landon Donovan <span class="caps">MID</span> – Captain</p>
<p>9 Juan Pablo Angel <span class="caps">FWD</span></p>
<p>25 Miguel Lopez FWD</p>
<p>Subs: Saunders, DeLaGarza, Hejduk, Jordan, Kirovski, Barrett, Magee</p>
<p>Notes: Gonzalez and (surprisingly) Ricketts start tonight, coming off the injured list. Miguel Lopez replaces Chad Barrett, Lopez played the second half last Saturday in Salt Lake, coming in for Barrett. The 23 year old was signed this offseason from Quilmes in Argentina. <br> 25 Miguel Lopez <span class="caps">FWD</span></p>
<p><strong>Philadelphia Union (2-0-0, 6pts)</strong></p>
<p>1 Faryd Mondragon GK</p>
<p>2 Jordan Harvey <span class="caps">DEF</span></p>
<p><span class="caps"></span> 5 Carlos Valdes <span class="caps">DEF</span></p>
<p>4 Danny Califf <span class="caps">DEF</span></p>
<p>25 Sheanon Williams <span class="caps">DEF</span></p>
<p>9 Sebastian Le Toux <span class="caps">MID</span></p>
<p><span class="caps"></span>7 Brian Caroll <span class="caps">MID</span></p>
<p><span class="caps"></span>6 Stefani Miglioranzi <span class="caps">MID</span></p>
<p>13 Kyle Nakazawa <span class="caps">MID</span></p>
<p>10 Danny Mwanga <span class="caps">FWD</span></p>
<p>20 Carlos Ruiz <span class="caps">FWD</span></p>
<p>Subs: Holder, Farfan, Farfan, Torres, Agorsor, Daniel, McInerney</p>
https://losangeles.sbnation.com/2011/4/2/2087789/rosters-galaxy-philadelphia-union-landon-donovan-faryd-mondragonJosie Becker2011-04-02T11:27:50-07:002011-04-02T11:27:50-07:00LA Galaxy Host Philadelphia Union
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<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px;"><i>Home Depot Center, 7:30 pm</i></p>
<p><span style="line-height: 9px;">It's a familiar chant in the soccer world, "one-nil, one-nil, one-nil". The Philadelphia Union have been living that taunt so far this season, winning both of their first matches one-nil. In one of the biggest weekends of their brief history, Philadelphia travel to the Home Depot Center to take on the </span><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/mls/teams/los-angeles-galaxy"><font color="#000000"><span style="line-height: 9px;">Los Angeles Galaxy</span></font></a><span style="line-height: 9px;">. Undefeated and unscored upon, sitting atop the Eastern Conference, the Union have possibly their best chance to score their first victory over Los Angeles. The Galaxy are coming off one of their worst defeats in years, losing to </span><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.rslsoapbox.com/"><font color="#000000"><span style="line-height: 9px;">Real Salt Lake</span></font></a><span style="line-height: 9px;"> 4-1. The Galaxy will have back Captain </span><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/players/110934/landon-donovan"><font color="#000000"><span style="line-height: 9px;">Landon Donovan</span></font></a><span style="line-height: 9px;">, and should finally get back defender </span><span><font color="#000000"><span style="line-height: 9px;">Omar Gonzalez</span></font></span><span style="line-height: 9px;">. Gonzalez can't come back fast enough, as much of last week's result comes from a howler by Leonardo in the back. </span></p>
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<p><span style="line-height: 9px;">"We know we’re better than that," </span><span><font color="#000000"><span style="line-height: 9px;">Juan Pablo Angel</span></font></span><span style="line-height: 9px;"> said. "But we have to prove it on the field. … We put ourselves in a very difficult position right from the beginning...It was good [getting my first goal], but I wish it would have been under different circumstances," Angel said. "But it is always important to get off the mark, especially on a new team. I have a mix of emotions because it wasn’t a good game for us."</span></p>
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<p><span style="line-height: 9px;">While the Galaxy have only managed to get four points out of three matches, the Union are rolling with six points in two matches. The Union found their goal against Vancouver Whitecaps FC last week playing a man up. Sebastian LeToux picked up a deflection in the box and slotted it over to </span><span><font color="#000000"><span style="line-height: 9px;">Carlos Ruiz</span></font></span><span style="line-height: 9px;">. It was Ruiz' first goal with Philadelphia. Goalkeeper </span><span><font color="#000000"><span style="line-height: 9px;">Faryd Mondragon</span></font></span><span style="line-height: 9px;"> made six saves over these first two games to keep the clean sheets. With two shutouts in two games to begin the season, the Union have tied their club record for shutouts.</span></p>
<p><span style="line-height: 9px;">There's another subplot to this game involving </span><span><font color="#000000"><span style="line-height: 9px;">David Beckham</span></font></span><span style="line-height: 9px;"> and Faryd Mondragon. This is the third game the two players will face each other in, but the first in MLS play. The first two were international matches between England and Columbia. Back on June 26, 1998 the two faced each other for the first time, during the World Cup in France. David Beckham bent in a free kick, his first World Cup goal in his World Cup debut. </span></p>
https://losangeles.sbnation.com/2011/4/2/2332616/la-galaxy-host-philadelphia-unionJosie Becker