15May/110
Los Angeles Galaxy vs. Sporting Kansas City: Live Blog, Play-by-Play Analysis
Bruce Arena's Los Angeles Galaxy continue their 2011 Major League Soccer season when they take on Peter Vermes's Kansas City Wizards tonight at the Home Depot Center in Carson, California.The Galaxy are currently 4-2-5 (17 points), while Sporting are 1-4-1 (four points) and are at the bottom of the MLS standings.Both teams are riding three-game winless streaks and are in need of a pick-me-up.Keep it here on Bleacher Report for continuing coverage of the 2011 Major League Soccer season. Read more MLS news on BleacherReport.com12May/110
Los Angeles Galaxy vs. Sporting Kansas City: In Search of Form
Bruce Arena's Los Angeles Galaxy are struggling this season.They are in need of a return to scoring form as they take on Peter Vermes' Sporting Kansas City on Saturday, May 14, 2011 at the Home Depot Center in Carson, California."The result [on Wednesday against Philadelphia] is very disappointing," Arena told reporters this week. " We should have won this game by two or three goals. We missed a bunch of chances, the referee missed the penalty on the goalkeeper, we had plenty of chances to get to 2-0. We made a mistake at the end and it cost us a goal, but having said that, we were certainly in position to score two or three goals. But it is disappointing."The Galaxy are on a three-game winless streak, with a 2-1 defeat to FC Dallas and 1-1 draws against the top two teams in the MLS Eastern Conference: the New York Red Bulls and Philadelphia Union.For Arena, a victory against the Union would have brought fresh wind in the sails of the G's."This is a game where we controlled the game and played pretty well, so there was no carry over," Arena said. "It was a game where we should have ...12May/110
Los Angeles Galaxy Blow Lead Again, Settle for 1-1 Draw with Philadelphia Union
Sometimes there are hard habits to break. In soccer, one of them is the habit of squandering precarious one-goal leads.Just like at RFK Stadium in Washington D.C., Bruce Arena's Los Angeles Galaxy have made it a habit of blowing 1-0 leads.At PPL Park in Chester, Penn. Wednesday night, the Galaxy let Philadelphia Union halftime substitute Danny Mwanga score an equalizer in the 84th minute to force another 1-1 draw, this time on the road.At least one positive can be taken from this: unlike the match with the Red Bulls, the split was determined by the players, not the referee.Carlos Ruiz did have a point in saying that the Galaxy are not the dominant team they were last season. Is Ruiz the second coming of Nostradamus? To a degree, of course he is.Why? Because the Galaxy lacked the skill consistency to neutralize the pressure of Union attackers late in the contest. Never mind that in terms of finishing, Juan Pablo Angel can't score his way out of a wet paper bag.Angel was denied his chances by Union goalkeeper Faryd Mondragon, who had to battle a groin injury in the second half. Stopping your fellow countryman at your age can do that ...11May/110
Los Angeles Galaxy vs. Philadelphia Union: Play-by-Play Analysis, Reaction
Bruce Arena’s Los Angeles Galaxy travel to Chester, Pennsylvania and PPL Park for a match with Peter Nowak’s Philadelphia Union in Major League Soccer action. The Galaxy are currently 4-2-4 (16 points) and are first in both the league and the MLS Western Conference, while the Union are 4-2-1 (13 points) and have three games in hand over the visitors. Los Angeles is coming off a 1-1 draw at home to the New York Red Bulls, while Philly is looking to bounce back from a 1-0 defeat away to the Portland Timbers. The Galaxy will be without the services of David Beckham, who will be given some time to recuperate after a demanding draw at Victoria Street. You can keep up to date on continuing coverage of action from Major League Soccer and World Football on your open-source sports network, Bleacher Report. Read more MLS news on BleacherReport.com9May/110
Los Angeles Galaxy vs. Philadelphia Union: A Taste of Their Own Doop?
In Philadelphia Union circles, the phrase Beat L.A. has replaced by "Doop L.A." The word "Doop," which has its origins in the German techno band Scooter, has been embraced as a tradition of some sorts by Philadelphia Union supporters, notably the Sons of Ben.Of course, the verb can be a noun, and on Wednesday, May 11, Bruce Arena's Los Angeles Galaxy will aim to give Peter Nowak's Union a taste of their own doop when they do battle at PPL Park in Chester, Pa.The Galaxy are still first overall in the league with a 4-2-4 record (16 points) but are winless in their last two matches. LA is coming off a 1-1 draw with the New York Red Bulls.As for the Union, they are 4-2-1 (13 points) and have won just two out of their last five contests. Philly will aim to bounce back from a 1-0 defeat on the road to the Portland Timbers on Friday.The Union will need to increase their scoring production and test the volatile Galaxy back line. Carlos Ruiz leads the team with two goals, while Danny Mwanga and Sebastien Le Toux each have an assist to their credit.With defender Jordan Harvey back in action ...9May/110
2011 MLS Power Rankings: Week 8
Week 8 of the 2011 Major League Soccer season was, to say the least, a disappointing one. Little production and plenty of draws to go around.That's doesn't mean that there aren't some movers and shakers in this week's MLS Power Rankings. Toronto FC make a jump, while Real Salt Lake—get this—are back at the top. Again. The resurrection is complete.Didn't take them long, did it? Anyway, as the church bells ring in Sandy, here we go again with this week's MLS Power Rankings.Begin Slideshow8May/110
Edvin Jurisevic Steals Victory from LA Galaxy, New York Red Bulls
I'll be honest with you: Edvin Jurisevic is not qualified enough to make calls on the field.The fact that Jurisevic and other whistle-blowing buffoons like Hilario Grajeda, Jair Marrufo, Abbey Okulaja and Baldomero Toledo will be officiating many a Major League Soccer match to come will only further damage the quality and relevancy of this league. I kid you not.Case in point: the 1-1 draw on Saturday night between the Los Angeles Galaxy and New York Red Bulls, and the 44th minute in particular.Red Bulls goalkeeper Bouna Coundoul should have paid the price for coming off his line, and Landon Donovan should have completed a first-half brace. But the would-be goal was said to have been cleared, when in fact it was over the line.Even a Red Bull fan will have to admit that this had a defeat wrapped up for them as a result of their inability to add to their early goal in the first half.Instead, a slob like Edvin Jurisevic has done something that should be reserved for the players only: determine the outcome of a game and also force a draw. Disgraceful, no question.If you were to ask me what my three wishes are right now, ...8May/110
Los Angeles Galaxy vs. Red Bull New York: Live Blog, Play-by-Play Analysis
Bruce Arena's Los Angeles Galaxy take on Hans Backe's New York Red Bulls in a mouth-watering showdown in Major League Soccer between conference leaders. The match features some of the famous names in football: David Beckham, Landon Donovan, Juan Pablo Angel, Thierry Henry, Rafa Marquez, Dwayne De Rosario and Juan Agudelo. Keep up to date on continuing coverage of MLS here on Bleacher Report, the open source sports network.Read more MLS news on BleacherReport.com4May/110
Los Angeles Galaxy vs. Red Bull New York: Highway to the Danger Zone
New York vs. Los Angeles is always an exciting rivalry. It's akin to a certain Kenny Loggins chart-topper..."Revvin' up your engineListen to her howlin' roarMetal under tensionBeggin' you to touch and goHighway to the Danger ZoneRide into the Danger Zone..."After struggling to find their footing or their scoring touch in the heavy rain against FC Dallas, Bruce Arena will hope that there will be no rain and better play from his Los Angeles Galaxy when they host Hans Backe's New York Red Bulls on Saturday, May 7 at the Home Depot Center in Carson, California.Although the Galaxy still have Major League Soccer's best overall record at 4-2-3 (15 points), Los Angeles blew a golden opportunity to gain momentum ahead of one of the most significant contests of the season.The match is certain to be star-studded, with the Galaxy's Landon Donovan, David Beckham and Juan Pablo Angel taking on New York's Thierry Henry, Rafa Marquez and rising young up-and-comer Juan Agudelo.The Red Bulls come into the contest as the leaders of the MLS Eastern Conference with a 4-1-2 record (14 points).Offensively, New York is a scoring juggernaut, with a league-leading goal differential of plus-8. A major component of this offense for ...2May/110