SB Nation Los Angeles - 2011 MLS Playoffs: Galaxy Beat Red Bulls In Quarterfinal First Leghttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48949/la-fave.png2011-10-30T14:34:03-07:00http://losangeles.sbnation.com/rss/stream/22819802011-10-30T14:34:03-07:002011-10-30T14:34:03-07:00LA Galaxy Vs. Red Bulls: Galaxy Pull It Out In New York
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<p>The New York Red Bulls vs LA Galaxy ended much the way it started, with intensity that threatened to boil off the pitch. The Galaxy win 0-1, even though they were outshot 17-8. The Galaxy were the more efficient team with almost half their shots on goal (NY 5 – LA 3).</p>
<p>The Galaxy only had one corner all match, while the Red Bulls had six. They were also outdone in pass completion and possession. LA finished first where it mattered most, however, the scoreline.</p>
<p>After Mike Magee’s goal and Robbie Keane hitting the woodwork were the best chances of the first half, the Galaxy tried a few more. Landon Donovan had only the keeper to beat in the 56’, but Frank Rost was able to show off his Bundesliga skills. Mike Magee and David Beckham also had second half chances, but they were blocked on the way to the goal.</p>
<p>The teams will now fly back to Los Angeles, but Juninho and Rafa Marquez may not be available for the second leg. After the final whistle, Marquez threw the ball at Landon Donovan, while upset Juninho. Juninho and Marquez had to be separated by Sean Franklin, and two red cards were shown. It’s up to the <span class="caps">MLS</span> disciplinary committee now.</p>
https://losangeles.sbnation.com/2011/10/30/2525418/la-galaxy-vs-red-bulls-galaxy-new-yorkJosie Becker2011-10-30T13:29:00-07:002011-10-30T13:29:00-07:00LA Galaxy Vs. Red Bulls: David Beckham Gets Galaxy Up Early
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<p>The LA Galaxy have taken the lead into halftime on a battered pitch in Harrison, NJ. Snow fall and the subsequent cleanup has left Red Bull Arena with a hard and slick pitch with tire marks dividing it in thirds. Still, that didn’t stop David Beckham from sending in a lovely ball on a set piece, which Mike Magee found and tapped into the back of the net to put the Galaxy up 1-0 at halftime.</p>
<p>New York started hot early, with the Galaxy doing most of the defending. Still, it was LA that ended up with the best early chance, when Robbie Keane found himself with the ball in the left corner of the 18 yard box, and smashed it with his right foot. The ball smacked the inside of the right post and Mike Magee was unable to kick in the rebound.</p>
<p>On the goal, David Beckham set up ten yards from midfield to take a direct kick after Robbie Keane was fouled. Beckham didn’t take the kick directly, but passed it to his right then sent the cross in. Mike Magee ended up with it on the left side of the goal, all by himself. The 16’ tap in goal put the Galaxy into defending mode for the rest of the half.</p>
<p>The Galaxy showed their ability to score at any point of the match, and their continued deadliness of set pieces. However, the Red Bulls are going to push hard in the second half, and it won’t be enough to sit back and defend for 45 minutes.</p>
https://losangeles.sbnation.com/2011/10/30/2525273/la-galaxy-vs-red-bulls-david-beckham-score-assistJosie Becker2011-10-30T10:04:15-07:002011-10-30T10:04:15-07:00LA Galaxy Vs. Red Bulls: Champions League Is A Killer
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<p>When the LA Galaxy take the pitch against the New York Red Bulls this afternoon, they’ll have to try and reverse a negative trend in <span class="caps">MLS</span>. Since the <span class="caps">CONCACAF</span> Champions League expanded their format in 2008 to include group stages, those team which qualify four the group stages haven’t fared well in <span class="caps">MLS</span> Cup play. In seven <span class="caps">MLS</span> Cup playoff ties featuring a team that made the Champions League group stage, only once did the Champions League team win.</p>
<p>So far in 2011, FC Dallas, Colorado Rapids, and Seattle Sounders have all played a playoff game after playing the Champions League group stage. FC Dallas lost 0-2, the Rapids won 1-0, and the Sounders lost the first leg of their quarterfinal tie 3-0.</p>
<p><strong><span class="caps">MLS</span> Cup Quarterfinals (home and home aggregate):</strong></p>
<p><strong>2010 Group Stage: </strong>Real Salt Lake, Columbus Crew, Seattle Sounders</p>
<p>Colorado Rapids 2 – Columbus Crew 2 (Rapids win 5-4 on <span class="caps">PSO</span>)<br>
LA Galaxy 3 – Seattle Sounders 1 <br>
FC Dallas 3 – Real Salt Lake 2</p>
<p><strong>2009 Group Stage</strong>: Columbus Crew, Houston Dynamo, DC United</p>
<p>Real Salt Lake 4 – Columbus Crew 2<br>
Houston Dynamo 1 – Sounders 0<br>
DC United didn’t make playoffs</p>
<p><strong>2008 Group Stage:</strong> Houston Dynamo, DC United</p>
<p>New York Red Bulls 4 – Houston Dynamo 1<br>
DC United didn’t make playoffs</p>
<p><strong><span class="caps">MLS</span> Cup Semifinals: </strong></p>
<p>2009: LA Galaxy 2 – Houston Dynamo 0</p>
<p>Were the Galaxy to make it through this tie with New York, they’d be just the second team since 2008 to make it through to the semifinals while also playing in the Champions League group stage. Were they to make it to the <span class="caps">MLS</span> Cup final, they’d be the first such team to do so.</p>
https://losangeles.sbnation.com/2011/10/30/2524878/la-galaxy-vs-red-bulls-champions-league-is-a-killerJosie Becker2011-10-30T09:35:12-07:002011-10-30T09:35:12-07:00LA Galaxy Vs. Red Bulls: Kickoff Time, TV Coverage, Radio, And More
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<p>Last night, Real Salt Lake got an early leg up on the Seattle Sounders to the tune of 3-0. It’s a big deficit for the league’s second ranked team to make up on their home leg. The LA Galaxy will hope to avoid a similar trap when things kick off in New Jersey.</p>
<p>Seattle follows a trend in <span class="caps">MLS</span>. Since Champions League expanded its format in 2008, teams in the group stage have been beaten by those not in the group stage at a 10-12 clip. The Galaxy will need to show their depth if they’re gonna make it through this tie.</p>
<p><strong>Kickoff: </strong> 12:00pm, <span class="caps">PDT</span></p>
<p><strong>Weather Forcast:</strong> Incase you haven’t heard by now, the Northeast has been hit with a rare October snowstorm. The <a href="http://www.weather.com/weather/today/Harrison+NJ+USNJ0201" target="new">weather.com</a> prediction is for sunny skies, but 42 degrees. It’ll feel like 34 degrees.</p>
<p><strong>TV Coverage: </strong> The match is slated to be broadcast on ESPN2 and <span class="caps">ESPN</span> Deportes.</p>
<p><strong>Radio: </strong> <span class="caps">KTLK</span> 1150 has to call.</p>
<p><strong>Opening Line: </strong> Galaxy are the undergods, currently at a high of +220.</p>
<p>For more on the Galaxy, get your tush over to <a href="http://www.lagconfidential.com" target="new"><span class="caps">LAG</span> Confidential.</a></p>
https://losangeles.sbnation.com/2011/10/30/2524825/la-galaxy-vs-red-bulls-kickoff-time-tv-coverage-radio-and-moreJosie Becker2011-10-30T09:17:25-07:002011-10-30T09:17:25-07:00LA Galaxy Vs. Red Bulls: New York Favored In First Leg
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<p>The LA Galaxy had to make a cross country flight to face the New York Red Bulls in New Jersey this afternoon. Despite a talented squad, the Red Bulls were the lowest seeded wildcard, and per <span class="caps">MLS</span> playoff rules have to face the Supporters’ Shield Winner. The strange effect this has on the odds, is a top seeded team is the underdog against the lowest seed in the postseason.</p>
<p>According to <a href="http://www.sportspunter.com/betting?competitionid=14&matchnumber=2293126&function=topodds2&websiteid=0&o=&oddsType=&swif=&whitelabel=" target="new">Bet365.com</a>, a favorite betting site of English Premier League fans, the New York Red Bulls are +130 (so if you bet $100, you’d get $230 with a NY win) and the LA Galaxy are +220 (so if you bet $100, you’d get $320 with an LA win). A draw (after 90 minutes for betting purposes) is listed at +210.</p>
<p>It’s not hard to see why. The Red Bulls are talented, they’re at home, and they haven’t lost to the Galaxy this year. NY played to a 1-1 draw at the Home Depot Center, then beat the Galaxy 2-0 when the club flew to New Jersey without Landon Donvan or Robbie Keane.</p>
<p>On top of that, a state of emergency has been declared in the area do to an unexpected snowstorm. Things should be cleared on the pitch, but fans are being advised to bring a coat and hat with temperatures around 45 degrees.</p>
https://losangeles.sbnation.com/2011/10/30/2524792/la-galaxy-vs-red-bulls-new-york-favored-in-first-legJosie Becker2011-10-24T19:44:26-07:002011-10-24T19:44:26-07:002011 MLS Playoffs: Field Is Set, Galaxy Wait
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<p>With the new playoff format, all the Galaxy can do is wait. They'll begin post-season competition on Sunday. </p> <p>After the LA Galaxy lost in Houston 3-1 on Sunday to close out the MLS 2011 season, the field was set. With the new playoff format, all the Galaxy can do is wait. They'll begin post-season competition on Sunday. </p>
<p>Under the rules of last year, eight teams made the MLS playoffs. There were two autobids from each conference, and then four wildcards placed in match-ups based on seeding. The lower seeds would be placed in the opposite conference if there were no more spots in their, own. This led to events like the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.burgundywave.com/">Colorado Rapids</a> winning the Eastern Conference last year on the way to their first MLS Cup championship.</p>
<p>This year an attempt was made to fix both problems, admitting ten teams to the post-season instead of eight. While this means that once again in MLS, more teams make the post-season than don't; it also means that fewer wildcards get into the quarterfinals. So it's still, truly, an eight team tournament with a play in game for the last two spots.</p>
<p>When Houston defeated LA on Sunday, they clinched the second spot in the east. This means the four wild card teams are:</p>
<p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bigdsoccer.com/">FC Dallas</a>, Colorado Rapids, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.massivereport.com/">Columbus Crew</a>, NY Red Bulls </p>
<p>One plays four and two plays three, with the high seeds hosting. The lowest remaining seed after the play in round will play the Supporters' Shield winner (the LA Galaxy) and the other seed will play the winner of the Eastern conference. </p>
<p>This means the Galaxy will open their post-season play on the road, on Sunday October 30th, for a home and home series with the lowest seeded wildcard. The return leg of that series will be played Thursday, November 3rd, 8:00pm at the Home Depot Center. Both games will shown on ESPN or ESPN2. The game on Thursday, due to an agreement with Cal State Dominguez Hills was capped at 15,000 attending. </p>
<p>If the Galaxy are able to advance to the Western Conference Championship, that will be held on November 6th at full capacity. The Home Depot Center has already been designated the site of the MLS Cup final. This is the fourth time the HDC has hosted the MLS Cup. </p>
<p><b>Notes: </b></p>
<p>-The LA Galaxy played a reserve squad on Sunday, and reportedly sent home eight players to Los Angeles to begin recuperation early. </p>
<p>-David Beckham went the full 90 mins in the Galaxy's CCL match Wednesday that sent them through to the knockout stage. Landon Donovan came in with half an hour to go. </p>
<p>-Robbie Keane is likely out until the MLS Cup, but also has to captain the Irish team in a Euro playoff play in game, the week before the Cup game. </p>
<p>-In the last year of his five year contract, this may be David Beckham's last chance to win a championship in MLS. </p>
https://losangeles.sbnation.com/2011/10/24/2512112/2011-mls-playoffs-la-galaxyJosie Becker