Los Angeles Galaxy vs. Colorado Rapids: Analysis, Reaction and More

Bruce Arena’s Los Angeles Galaxy continue their 2012 Major League Soccer season on April 21 when they travel to Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, CO to take on the Colorado Rapids. The Galaxy are 2-3 (six points) and are near the bottom of the MLS Western Conference, while Oscar Pareja’s Rapids are 3-3 (nine points) and are sixth in the MLS Western Conference standings. Los Angeles got back on the winning trail after a 3-1 victory over the Portland Timbers at the Home Depot Center last weekend, while Colorado lost 1-0 to the Seattle Sounders at CenturyLink Field in Seattle last Saturday. Can the Galaxy go on a tear, or will the Rapids bounce back at home? Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. PT/9 p.m. ET and will be locally televised by KDOC and KWHY. 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 vs. Colorado Rapids: 10 Bold Predictions

Bruce Arena's Los Angeles Galaxy continue their 2011 Major League Soccer season on the road against the Colorado Rapids at Dick's Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, Colo.Kickoff is scheduled for Saturday, Apr. 21 at 6 p.m. PT/9 p.m. ET and will be televised locally by KDOC and KWHY.With every match there are bold predictions to go with it. Here are 10 such predictions for Saturday's tilt between the Galaxy and Rapids.Begin Slideshow

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

The Los Angeles Galaxy's David Beckham had a solid outing against the Portland Timbers on Saturday at the Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif. Well, let's be honest here, folks, it was the Portland Timbers after all. They aren't Real Salt Lake, and sure as heck aren't Sporting Kansas City. (By the way, aren't they still unbeaten?) But any time you get back on the winning trail and you are a part of a team's success, it's a great feeling that adds fresh wind to your sails. The set pieces from Beckham weren't exactly the best free kicks I have seen from him, although there was one chance in the second half that nearly found David Junior Lopes, who is my man of the match for making a splash in his debut. However, the real reason why I gave Beckham a high rating is that he did what is paid millions of dollars in sponsorships and ticket sales and merchandise sales and all other types of Galaxy-related sales to do, and that is...to score with authority. And this goal, which didn't change the outcome of the match, is completely on Portland and John Spencer's tactical decision-making. There's no one in a green ...

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

Where has this been, everybody? It's a victory for Bruce Arena's Los Angeles Galaxy, who left it late and ran it up on the Portland Timbers 3-1 at the Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif. A solid victory means good player ratings. So, here they are.  Josh Saunders 7 Only had to make two saves all contest, but he made them count when it mattered most, and he also made his routine collections. The goal suffered by Chicken Thief Kris Boyd was unfortunate, as replays show he was possibly offsides. Saunders nearly gave up two more goals to Portland, but aside from that, it was smooth sailing.  Sean Franklin 7.5 This was the first time in a while that I actually saw Sean Franklin test Troy Perkins with a couple of strikes. You can see from the look in his face that he, like the rest of the team, were simply sick and tired of their lack of form. Sometimes that can cause you to play up to the level you are capable of, and Franklin's mojo returned with a vengeance. This was a nice effort defensively from Franklin, and it could have been even better.  David Junior Lopes 8.5 ...

Los Angeles Galaxy vs. Portland Timbers: 6 Things We Learned from L.A.’s 3-1 Win

Well, would you believe this: Bruce Arena's Los Angeles Galaxy still have a pulse.As in, they still know how to win games. In all honesty, this was a pillow fight between the G's and John Spencer's Portland Timbers, but after going down a goal early, Los Angeles left it late and won by an unsurprising scoreline: 3-1.Hasn't that scoreline been like an old friend? And with every outcome, there are lessons to be learned and conclusions to be written.With that said, here are six things we learned from Saturday's contest between the Galaxy and Timbers at the Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif.Begin Slideshow

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

Bruce Arena's Los Angeles Galaxy continue their 2012 Major League Soccer campaign when they host John Spencer's Portland Timbers at the Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif.The Galaxy are 1-3 (three points) and are in the cellar of the Western Conference.A victory on Saturday at Victoria Street will work wonders for their chances at rediscovering their form from last year.However, Portland are also struggling to get results, and a win for the Timbers will be just what the fans in Oregon need.Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. PT/10:30 p.m. ET. A live blog of this contest will begin at approximately 5:45 p.m. PT/8:45 p.m. ET.Keep it right here on Bleacher Report for continuing coverage of the 2012 MLS season and all things World Football.Read more MLS news on BleacherReport.com

This Is the Los Angeles Galaxy: David Junior Lopes

This is Part 15 in a series of players who will play for the Los Angeles Galaxy in 2012. A primary reason for the Los Angeles Galaxy's lack of winning form comes from the fact that their defense is not exactly one of the best in all of Major League Soccer. So how do you try to fix this ongoing issue? It's simple. Just bring in another central defender like David Junior Lopes, formerly of Chivas USA, to plug the hole left by Omar Gonzalez's injury. A Brazilian with years of experience, Lopes joins fellow countrymen Juninho and Marcelo Sarvas Fazzio as members of the Galaxy for the 2012 season. David Junior Lopes was born on July 19, 1982, in Maringa, a city located in the state of Parana, Brazil. Maringa is home to two local teams, Grêmio Maringá and Alvorada Clube. After beginning his career as a youth player for Adap Galo Maringa FC, Lopes broke through the ranks of Clube Atletico Paranaense and made his debut for the team in 2002. His skills playing for the Hurricane were noticed by FC Porto, who assigned him to the reserve side for the 2003-04 season. Lopes was unable to make ...

Los Angeles Galaxy vs. Portland Timbers: 10 Bold Predictions

Bruce Arena's Los Angeles Galaxy are finding their 2012 MLS Cup defense to be more and more challenging with every match, and it doesn't get any easier when they host the Portland Timbers on Saturday at the Home Depot Center (kickoff: 7:30 p.m. PT/10:30 p.m. ET, KDOC-TV and KWHY-TV). With just a paltry 1-3 record, the Galaxy have the worst record in the MLS Western Conference and take on a Portland Timbers side that is having similar issues with gaining results. Here are 10 bold predictions for Saturday's tilt between Los Angeles and Portland on Bleacher Report.  1. LA...simply snaps At some point in time, the Los Angeles Galaxy reach a point where they are simply fed up with their recent lack of form that they control the game early and actually play the type of soccer that defined them last year. In the first half, I see the Galaxy finally hearing the alarm clock and scoring early to break the game open.  2. Introducing...David Junior Lopes This match should debut the new guy: David Junior Lopes, formerly of Chivas USA. Traded to the Galaxy for Paolo Cardozo, Lopes should match well with Tommy Meyer and finally move A.J. DeLaGarza ...

Los Angeles Galaxy: Ins and Outs, April 11, 2012

A New Face Joins the GalaxyThis week, Bruce Arena's Los Angeles Galaxy acquired the services of David Junior Lopes in exchange for Paolo Cardozo, who was traded after a poor early-season outing.Lopes will look to add some muscle in central defense, alongside Tommy Meyer and Andrew Boyens. "Lopes is a big strong center back, left-footed with good athletic ability and it gives us physicality in that position that we haven't had, and experience," Arena told reporters in a conference call on Tuesday, according to Luis Bueno of MLSSoccer.com. With Lopes in the lineup, a combination of him with Meyer could potentially move A.J. DeLaGarza  to his natural position of right-back. Alternatively, a three-man rotation of Lopes, Meyer and Boyens could be utilized if DeLaGarza remains in central defense. Arena has kept the details of the trade under wraps. "It's a discussion that we've had with Chivas for a while and gives us the ability to strengthen ourselves in that position,” Arena remarked. “It doesn't say anything. It's a move that we're making to make our team stronger." A special on David Junior Lopes as part of the "This Is The Los Angeles Galaxy" series will be posted later this week. 'We ...

Los Angeles Galaxy vs. Sporting Kansas City: Rating the Galaxy Players

The lack of David Beckham played a major factor in the Los Angeles Galaxy's 1-0 defeat to Sporting Kansas City, although to their credit, they held their own on defense. This time, it was the offensive punch that went AWOL, as the Galaxy failed to get a shot on goal. So, how did the players do? It wasn't that bad of a defeat, but a loss is still a loss. Here are the player ratings.  Josh Saunders: 7 If it weren't for the 41st-minute header by Kei Kamara (and the pretentiously slow-motion celebration that ensued), Josh Saunders would have recorded his first shutout of the season. Saunders made three saves, but that goal allowed lowers his grade.  A.J. DeLaGarza: 6 Normal performance from DeLaGarza, who I have conceded will have to stay in the center. To my surprise, save for once, LA weren't killed down the middle. Can DeLaGarza keep it up?  Sean Franklin: 3 The goat of the match. Was responsible for giving up the Kei Kamara goal that gift-wrapped another three points for Sporting Kansas City. Do I smell a possible trade soon?  Todd Dunivant: 6Good outing from the Iron Man, made some clearances but needs to do ...