David Beckham, LA Galaxy Wake Up from Slow Start, Grill FC Dallas 3-1

So, is anybody up for some grilled Angus tri-tip this weekend? At least this Bleacher Report featured columnist is. 100 minutes of beer league football, as Mike Magee likes to say, combined with 80 minutes of Major League Soccer defined the week for Bruce Arena's Los Angeles Galaxy. Not very often are the Galaxy able to rally back from a goal deficit and win, but after a ninth-minute strike from Chicken Thief Marvin Chavez, goals in the 32nd minute from Omar Gonzalez, the 62nd minute from Juninho and the 81st from Magee (which, some may argue, is Bradley Cooper's stage name, a la Chad Ochocinco) gave LA a badly-needed 3-1 victory over Schellas Hyndman's FC Dallas on Saturday night at the Home Depot Center in Carson, California. Arena probably figured out already that Chris Birchall and Juan Pablo Angel are two overrated posers fit for the bench. Angel did get some garbage time minutes, but it was pretty clear that the manager understood that Angel is a liability to the team. Now do you see what happens when you listen to your fans? Cha-ching! “We beat a good team tonight," Arena told reporters after the contest. "I think both teams ...

Los Angeles Galaxy vs. FC Dallas Live Blog: Play-by-Play Analysis, Reaction

Bruce Arena's Los Angeles Galaxy face their toughest test to date this season: a match with the second place FC Dallas at the Home Depot Center in Carson, California on Saturday, Aug. 6, 2011.The Galaxy are currently 12-3-9 (45 points) and coming off an embarrassing 3-0 defeat to the Portland Timbers.As for FC Dallas, they are on a three-game win streak in all the competitions they are participating in and fresh off a 1-0 win over Alianza FC in the CONCACAF Champions League.Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. PT/10:30 p.m. ET and will be televised by Fox Sports Prime Ticket and Fox Sports Southwest Plus.Read more MLS news on BleacherReport.com

Los Angeles Galaxy Ins and Outs, August 4, 2011

Galaxy still smarting from road loss to PortlandBruce Arena's Los Angeles Galaxy made no effort to hide their frustrations in what could arguably be their worst effort of the season, a 3-0 defeat to the Portland Timbers.“We were dominated in the first half and it was the story of the game,” Arena told MLSSoccer.com's Luis Bueno. “I don't think we made adjustments for the size of the field and the surface, and we were really outplayed in every position on the field. We were dominated, we were beat. I don't think there's anything sophisticated about the analysis of this game. We were beat all over the field."“They looked like a good team. At the end of the day, they looked like a team that was passionate about winning,” Galaxy midfielder David Beckham said. “They want to win in front of their own fans and they did them proud tonight and the fans did the team proud because it's a good atmosphere to play in.“The first half is what killed us. We were outworked, outplayed, out-hustled, and for a team as good as us, that should never happen.”Before the match, Portland hadn't won at Jeld-Wen Field since May 21.“We made it ...

Los Angeles Galaxy vs. FC Dallas: Picking Up The Pieces

Now what?Bruce Arena's Los Angeles Galaxy dropped stinkbombs earlier this season, but nothing left as decomposing a stench as their 3-0 defeat to the Portland Timbers earlier this week.Time to pick up the pieces, maybe?The loss sets the stage for a must-win situation when the Galaxy take on a team they have yet to earn a point against this year: FC Dallas. That's right, the same FC Dallas team that LA lost to on May 1 before their 14-game unbeaten streak that ended on Wednesday against Portland.The match is the final tune-up game before CONCACAF Champions League group play begins on Aug. 16 against either Motagua of Honduras or Municipal of Guatemala. Motagua leads the Preliminary Round tie 4-0 on aggregate leading up to the second leg on Aug. 4.Schellas Hyndman's FC Dallas are on a tear, defeating El Salvador's Alianza FC 1-0 in 104-degree heat at Pizza Hut Park in Frisco, Texas, to progress to the group stage of the CONCACAF Champions League.The Hoops are on a seven-game unbeaten streak and a three-game win streak in all competitions and defeated the Galaxy 2-1 earlier this season.Los Angeles will have their crosshairs set on Brek Shea and Marvin Chavez. Shea ...

Los Angeles Galaxy vs Portland Timbers: Play-by-Analysis, Reaction and More

Bruce Arena’s Los Angeles Galaxy will look to complete a Pacific Northwest sweep when they take on the Portland Timbers at Jeld-Wen Field on Wednesday, Aug. 3 at 7:30 p.m. PT/10:30 p.m. ET. David Beckham and Chris Birchall return from suspension to help bring in key reinforcements for Landon Donovan and the Galaxy, who are riding a 14-game unbeaten streak and sport a 12-2-9 record (45 points), good for the best record in Major League Soccer. As for John Spencer’s Portland Timbers, a promising start has turned sour, leading to a 6-10-4 record (22 points), but they do possess one of the most intimidating crowd environments in Jeld-Wen Field, fueled by the ever-vocal Timbers Army. A victory for the Galaxy will be an excellent setup to another important match this weekend at home against FC Dallas. Keep it here on Bleacher Report for continuing coverage of the 2011 Major League Soccer season, as well as all things world football.Read more MLS news on BleacherReport.com

Los Angeles Galaxy vs Portland Timbers: The Northwest Expedition Concludes

Bruce Arena's Los Angeles Galaxy, fresh off a 4-0 whitewash of the Vancouver Whitecaps, will look to complete a Northwest Expedition clean sweep when they travel to Jeld-Wen Field in Portland, OR to take on John Spencer's Portland Timbers on Wednesday, August 3.Los Angeles are currently 12-2-9 (45 points) and have the best record in Major League Soccer.“I thought our team played very well for 90 minutes [against Vancouver]. The first half, both teams created chances, but we took control around the 30 minute mark and had a very good second half,” Arena told MLSSoccer.com's Luis Bueno. “Landon’s goal broke Vancouver’s backs. It was a very good day for the Galaxy.“I thought our ball movement was better. Defensively we were solid, but the ball movement was the key to the game. We passed better and we got out of pressure better.”For the Galaxy, playing a complete 90 minutes will be important against a side that has one of the most challenging environments to get a road result at.“The game was pretty even until the first goal,” said Galaxy midfielder and team captain Landon Donovan. “Vancouver did a good job of attacking, but I think we also did a good job ...

MLS: Los Angeles Galaxy Flex Muscles in 4-0 Win over Vancouver Whitecaps

No Beckham? No Birchall? No problem.It took them an average first half and change, but Bruce Arena's Los Angeles Galaxy got the job done, shutting out the Vancouver Whitecaps 4-0 on Saturday afternoon at Empire Field in Vancouver, British Columbia.The problem for Vancouver coming into the match was that a certain No. 10 in blue was suiting up for the Galaxy. That No. 10 happens to be Landon Donovan, who continues to set the pace with 11 goals this season.A game-winner in the 61st minute off the transition combined with a penalty conversion in the 75th minute of play from Donovan was all the Galaxy really needed, as the goals from Sean Franklin in the 80th minute and Adam Cristman in the 90th minute were mere insurance.This was a statement win by the Galaxy that was several weeks in the making. They have put the Portland Timbers on notice ahead of their Wednesday night tilt at Jeld-Wen Field.A little side note: bench Juan Pablo Angel. I have fallen out of favor with one of the most overrated players in Major League Soccer. He was nonexistent in a clear-cut mismatch that should have seen him record at least one past the ...

Los Angeles Galaxy vs. Vancouver Whitecaps: Play-by-Play Analysis and Reaction

Bruce Arena’s Los Angeles Galaxy will look to end July with a bang when they begin the first of two road games in the Pacific Northwest against Tom Soehn’s Vancouver Whitecaps FC on Saturday, July 30. The Galaxy currently sport a 11-2-9 record (42 points, first in MLS Western Conference) and, with the best record in the league, face a Vancouver Whitecaps outfit that is down on their luck with a record of 2-10-9 (15 points), good enough for the worst record in the league. It’s a David vs. Goliath matchupat Empire Field in Vancouver, British Columbia—except that Goliath will come in undermanned. David Beckham and Chris Birchall will be sitting one out due to suspension. Meanwhile, Vancouver’s Eric Hassli and Camilo are two players that could deliver a potential upset for the ages. Kickoff is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. PT/7:30 p.m. ET and will be televised by Fox Soccer Channel and TSN. Keep it here on Bleacher Report for continuing coverage of the 2011 Major League Soccer season.Read more MLS news on BleacherReport.com

Los Angeles Galaxy Ins and Outs: July 28, 2011

Ready for the Northwest TurnaroundTwo big road matches in five days await Bruce Arena's Los Angeles Galaxy. On Saturday, the G's will travel to Vancouver to take on the Whitecaps on Saturday, July 30 (kickoff: 4:30 p.m. PT/7:30 p.m. ET, Fox Soccer Channel and TSN).Then, on Wednesday, August 3, the Galaxy face the Portland Timbers at the ever-intimidating Jeld-Wen Field. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. PT/10:30 p.m. ET and will be televised by ESPN2 and ESPN Deportes.Galaxy goalkeeper Josh Saunders, a former Portland Timber, is fully aware of the atmosphere both the Southsiders and Timbers Army bring to their respective home matches.“[Portland and Vancouver] have some of the greatest fans in the U.S.,” Saunders told LAGalaxy.com's Larry Morgan. “Even though it was a USL team, they still had crazy fans. There’s probably going to be some interesting posters and signs up there, but I think we’ll be prepared for a bit of a raucous crowd.”Midfielder Chris Birchall, who will be available for Wednesday's match with Portland, recalled the home opener at Jeld-Wen Field, which saw the Timbers destroy the Chicago Fire, 4-2.“It was great. They had chants like they do in Europe,” Birchall said. “It was one of those ...

Los Angeles Galaxy Ins and Outs, July 27, 2011

Ready Aye Ready for Frankie HejdukAfter riding the pine for the start of the season, right back Frankie Hejduk is ready for some heavy lifting these next few months for Bruce Arena's Los Angeles Galaxy."It was just good to get out there and have a run about," Hejduk told MLSSoccer.com's Luis Bueno this week.Hejduk took part in the 2011 Herbalife World Football Challenge against Manchester City. The Galaxy held the Citizens to a 1-1 draw but fell 7-6 on penalties.Of course, that was just a friendly. Now, it's all about getting down to business."We've been winning," Hejduk said. "We haven't lost in 13 games, so the frustration is nothing at all. As a player, you want to play as much as you can but there will be a time for that. Right now, we have a good rhythm going."I want to get back on the field and help the team out wherever I can. If anything, that's been the frustrating thing — not being able to be available the last few weeks."Hejduk expected to get the nod from Arena to finally get some work done on the backline, alongside MLS All-Star selection Sean Franklin, Todd Dunivant, Gregg Berhalter, A.J. DeLaGarza, ...