Los Angeles Galaxy vs. Real Salt Lake: 10 Bold Predictions

Fresh off a 1-0 win over the Portland Timbers, Bruce Arena's Los Angeles Galaxy continue their gauntlet of matches on Wednesday, June 20 against Jason Kries's Real Salt Lake at Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy, Utah. The Los Angeles Galaxy are currently 4-8-2 (14 points) and will need every point they can get to get back in the MLS Western Conference race.Kickoff is scheduled for 6 PM PST/9 PM EST and will be televised locally by KDOC and KWHY. Here are 10 bold predictions for Wednesday night's tilt.Begin Slideshow

Los Angeles Galaxy vs. Portland Timbers: Rating David Beckham’s Performance

All right, Stuart Pearce, you win. I was fool to think you would actually have any sanity, let alone common sense and exclude the Los Angeles Galaxy's David Beckham from the roster of Team Great Britain at the 2012 London Olympic Games. But I will warn you, good sir: you're not winning a medal. That is the curse I put on your team these Olympics. You are getting someone whose best days are behind him, and let me tell you: your Olympic journey is over before it even begins thanks your decision to not consider the reality laid before you, that David Beckham is not that good of a player. Let that be on your head heading into July. Cue the evil laughter. Now then, on to Beckham. And now, fellow readers, these matches in Major League Soccer now become training for Becks heading into the Olympics. The objective for LA's No. 23 is to work on becoming a provider that the young Brits can rely on when they face Senegal, the United Arab Emirates and Uruguay, the latter which I am pegging to take Group A...with authority. Todd Dunivant is not going to be suiting up for Team GB ...

Los Angeles Galaxy vs. Portland Timbers: Rating the Galaxy Players

Hmmm, now this is going to make for some rather, how should I say it...Oh yes, positive ratings.Bruce Arena's Los Angeles Galaxy have won a game. Yes, that's right, the Galaxy have won a game, defeating the Portland Timbers 1-0 in a Sunday match at the Home Depot Center that should have seen more production from both sides of the scorer's table. Todd Dunivant's 61st minute header was all the difference for a Galaxy side that played some pretty good defense and took advantage of the long international break.It's a perfect confidence booster heading into a midweek crunch match with Real Salt Lake at Rio Tinto Stadium. Time for some player ratings. Here we go. Josh Saunders: 9 Here, ladies and gentlemen, is your man of the match. Saunders is paying dividends after going through some counseling to get his whole mind, body and soul in order. Saunders made four saves, but was helped up by an inspired performance from the Galaxy back line. Sean Franklin: 5.5 Didn't have to do too much in the back. Made some stops, did some clearance work, but didn't have to do too much. David Junior Lopes: 4 Along with Chad Barrett and Bryan ...

Portland Timbers vs. Los Angeles Galaxy: 6 Things We Learned

Let me get this straight: the Galaxy actually won a game? Bruce Arena's Los Angeles Galaxy actually won a game!? Has the world ended or something? I blame the Kings. And I just had to say that.Regardless of whatever conspiracy you theorize, the Galaxy started the second half of the season on the right track with a 1-0 victory over John Spencer's Portland Timbers at the Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif.With the win, Los Angeles improved to 4-8-2 (14 points) and will look to stay out of the Western Conference cellar this Wednesday against Real Salt Lake.Let's take a look at six things we learned from this match.Begin Slideshow

Sporting Kansas City Returns to League Play, Defeats Toronto FC 2-0

Sporting Kansas City used two first-half goals—including a world-class strike from Julio Cesar—and a stingy defense to defeat Toronto FC in front of a season-high crowd of 20,488 fans at LIVESTRONG Sporting Park.The match was the first in 11 days and is also the first of five in 14 days.Sporting KC started attacking from the starting whistle. In the third minute, Seth Sinovic broke loose on the counterattack and fed the ball ahead for Teal Bunbury. Bunbury put a good move on defender Doneil Henry and fed the ball back to Sinovic in the box, but Sinovic's first touch was lacking and he turned the ball over.Sporting KC opened the scoring in the 18th minute. Defender Chance Myers fed the ball up the right wing to Jacob Peterson. Peterson crossed the ball in, and Henry went for the clearance and missed. The ball reached C.J. Sapong, who one-timed the ball into the back of the net.The goal was Sapong's fifth of the season, tying him with Kei Kamara for the team lead. Sporting KC is now 11-0-0 when Sapong scores.Toronto missed a golden opportunity in the 30th minute. Torsten Frings played the ball over the top and found Eric Avila ...

Los Angeles Galaxy vs. Portland Timbers Live Blog: Play-by-Play Analysis

After a long layoff due to the FIFA International Calendar, it's back to work for Bruce Arena's Los Angeles Galaxy, who take on John Spencer's Portland Timbers on Jun. 17 at the Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif.With a record of 3-8-2 (11 points), the Galaxy sport the worst record in the MLS Western Conference and the third-worst record overall in all of Major League Soccer. Portland aren't faring any better, as they have a record of 3-5-4 (13 points). Both teams will aim to get out of the conference cellar this weekend.Kickoff is scheduled for 4 p.m. PT/7 p.m. ET. The Live Blog will begin at approximately 2:15 p.m. PT/5:15 p.m. ET. Keep it right here on Bleacher Report for continuing coverage of the 2012 Major League Soccer season and all things world football.Read more MLS news on BleacherReport.com

Los Angeles Galaxy: Ins and Outs, June 13, 2012

The Return of Josh Saunders For Bruce Arena's Los Angeles Galaxy, a surprising wave of good news came when it was revealed that goalkeeper John Saunders would be available to start against the Portland Timbers on Sunday (kickoff: 4 p.m. PT/7 p.m. ET, KDOC and KWHY). Saunders had gone through substance abuse training and was clean and sober heading into this week. He was in action on June 2 against the Portland Timbers reserves. "It felt natural," Saunders told MLSSoccer.com's Luis Bueno. "It felt like what I'm supposed to be doing. “Whenever your team’s not winning, you're always thinking about it. You’ve got to look at the positives. There’s a lot of guys who are healthy. We are a good group of people, and we know we can win games.” For Arena, it was refreshing to know that Saunders was ready to do some work for once. "He's done a good job, he's fit, he's mentally right," Arena remarked. "And obviously playing in the reserve game last weekend helped him." More Reserve League Fun Speaking of Reserve League, the Los Angeles Galaxy reserves blew past the Vancouver Whitecaps, 3-1. Jose Villareal, who rebounded from his injury earlier this season, scored a brace in ...

Los Angeles Galaxy vs. Portland Timbers: 10 Bold Predictions

With a lot of time to think about what exactly went wrong for Bruce Arena's Los Angeles Galaxy, the defending MLS Cup Champions will be out to salvage their season starting on Jun. 17 against the Portland Timbers at the Home Depot Center.It has been a sorry season of all sorts for the Galaxy, who possess Major League Soccer's third-worst record, a paltry 3-8-2 (11 points). Injuries, national team duty, and suspensions have made life miserable for Los Angeles.However, these are bold predictions for a reason. Sometimes they bow to conventional wisdom. Other times, conventional wisdom takes a back seat. For this match, I am going with the latter.Here are 10 bold predictions for the match between the Los Angeles Galaxy and the Portland Timbers.Begin Slideshow

Thierry Henry Exclusive: New York Red Bulls Striker Talks MLS, Arsenal and More

Thierry Henry's glittering resume boasts 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000 success with France, two Premier League titles won at Arsenal and a Champions League triumph with Barcelona.The striker, now 34 but still going strong, can now be found playing in the MLS with New York Red Bulls—for whom he's scored nine goals in nine appearances so far this season.Here's what Henry had to say when I caught up with him on the phone.WILL TIDEY: Hi Thierry, thanks for taking the time to talk today. Let's start with life at New York Red Bulls. Is it everything you expected it to be? What have been the biggest surprises so far?THIERRY HENRY: When I first arrived I had no expectations. I didn't know what the league was about or anything. I just wanted the guys to accept me. Now it's different. Now I know about the MLS and I'm ready to perform. I know my teammates better and it's going really well.WT: How does the regime and training schedule at the Red Bulls compare to those you experienced at Arsenal and Barcelona?TH: It's difficult to compare. I used to play at teams who had three games a week. When you play ...

Los Angeles Galaxy: Ins and Outs, June 9, 2012

Youth Academy Update As Bruce Arena's Los Angeles Galaxy continued their long break ahead of their June 17 match with the Portland Timbers, the youth academies were doing the business, wrapping up the regular season with SoCal Division crowns in U.S. Soccer Development Academy play. The Under-16s head into the U.S. Soccer Development Academy playoffs on an 18-game unbeaten streak after shutting out Nomads SC 2-0. Chris Constantini opened the scoring just two minutes into the contest while Steve Martinez doubled the Young G's advantage in the 61st minute of play. As for the Under-18s, they crushed Nomads to the tune of 5-0. Rolando Munoz opened the scoring in the 26th minute. Justin Dhillon added a brace in the 45th and 76th minutes. Other goalscorers for the U-18s include Jose Rivera and Pedro Lugo. The Under-12s side also has some playoff action to attend to. On June 18, they will compete in the US Youth Far West Regionals in Phoenix, Ariz. The winner of that tournament will advance to the US Youth Soccer National Championships, scheduled for July 25-29 in Rock Hill, S.C. Ease up on Leonardo As for Arena, he breathed a sigh of relief when he found out that ...