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Los Angeles Galaxy Ins and Outs, September 22, 2011
Youth Academy Update The Los Angeles Galaxy Youth Academy were in action this past week for a series of matches. On Saturday, Sept. 17, the Galaxy U-12's defeated Pateadores 1-0 thanks to Jake Mitch. The U-12's then destroyed the South Bay Force 7-1 thanks to five goals from Salvador Segura.Ian Lonergan and Jesus Nunez also scored for the U-13's. The U-14's demolished Legends FC 6-0 thanks to goals from Fernando Robledo, Dylan Bielanski, Kousuke Ide, Andrew Sady Kennedy, Rapha Diago and Sebastian Navarez. A couple of matches awaited the Under-15s. On Saturday, the Galaxy shut down the force 6-2 thanks to braces from Coliin Hossum and Juan Orozco, as well as goals from Milano Sanchez-Johnson and Rolando Munoz. Alejandro Vergara Jr. recorded four assists. On Sunday, Sept. 18, the U-15's rolled past CZ Elite 4-1. Hossum scored another brace to go with goals from Munoz and Vergara. The Under-16s, who had a banner year last season, opened their 2011-12 campaign against the De Anza Force and fought to a 4-4 draw. Justin Dhillon opened the scoring before Jaime Villareal recorded a hat trick to preserve the draw. On Sunday, the Young G's shut out the Santa Cruz Breakers 2-0 thanks to ...22Sep/110
Rafa Marquez at Center of New York Red Bulls’ Problems
Many things have plagued the New York Red Bulls this season. They finished first in the East in 2010 and are 7-7-15 on the brink of missing the playoffs this season, despite the fact that the postseason was expanded to include 10 teams (out of the 18 in the league). One of those things is the play, attitude and salary of center back Rafa Marquez.Don’t tell him that though. The Red Bulls lost to Real Salt Lake on Wednesday 3-1, seemingly reaching their lowest point of the season. Dragging the team down with him was Marquez, who was responsible for the third goal when he did not stop the ball, letting Fabian Espindola dribble down the middle of the field. “I'm focusing on really performing at my highest level. That doesn't mean that the whole back line can perform at that same level, so that's a problem,” Marquez told reporters after the game. “I think this is a team game, and unfortunately there isn't an equal level between my teammates and I.” Someone should tell him the boos from the Red Bulls fans every time he touched the ball were indeed for the captain of the Mexican National Team, not ...22Sep/110
Ex-Barcelona & Mexico Star Rafa Marquez: NY Red Bulls Teammates Not on My Level
During New York Red Bulls' Wednesday night match against Real Salt Lake, every time former Barcelona star Rafael Marquez touched the ball, a chorus of boos filled Red Bull Arena.The fan reaction was warranted: as the New Jersey-based Red Bulls (who also boast former Arsenal and Barcelona star Thierry Henry in their ranks) were trailing 3-1 at home to a Salt Lake who have hit a purple patch of form, winning their last five.New York Red Bulls' home record for the past five games makes for horrific reading for their passionate support.With this humiliating defeat denting their playoff hopes, Red Bulls have endured a 0-2-3 record in their last five games. However, the criticism seemed exclusive to Marquez, who was the only solid performer in a Red Bulls defense that leaves much to be desired.Tim Ream, the 18th pick of last year's MLS SuperDraft, gifted Salt Lake a crucial second goal, after a series of suicidal defensive play left Real Salt Lake's Fabian Espindola with the easy task of slotting the ball home.None of the above defensive errors included Marquez, the Mexico captain who has over 100 appearances for his country.Yet The Designated Player, Marquez, bore the brunt of the torrents of ...22Sep/110
New York Red Bulls Stumble at Home to Real Salt Lake in 3-1 Loss
Harrison, NJ - Real Salt Lake (15-7-6, 51 points) needed only 21 minutes to produce three goals while literally sapping the energy from the New York Red Bulls (7-7-15, 36 points) and home team supporters, the South Ward in their 3-1 road victory at Red Bull Arena on Wednesday night. Needing to win their final matches in the regular season, the Red Bulls came out on all cylinders and attempted to attack the net. Unfortunately for the home team, it wasn't enough as Real Salt Lake demonstrated why they're indeed one of the best teams in MLS as they weathered the early Red Bulls onslaught. In the seventh minute of the match, Real Salt Lake took a 1-0 lead when Alvaro Saborio scored his ninth goal of the season when he accepted Andy Williams' corner kick to head the ball past Red Bulls GK Frank Rost. Four minutes later, Salt Lake took a 2-0 lead when Fabian Espindola intercepted Tim Ream's pass in the penalty area and shaked and baked his way around Frank Rost so he could score his eighth goal of the season at the eleventh minute. With Real Salt Lake leading 2-0, the Red Bulls weren't able to recover and make ...22Sep/110
Los Angeles Galaxy vs. Columbus Crew: Hard Times on the Way for L.A.?
Bruce Arena's Los Angeles Galaxy are left wondering why they recorded another ghastly performance in the CONCACAF Champions League against Alajuelense. The issue for L.A. is that they have the best team in the MLS Eastern Conference up next in the form of the Columbus Crew. Tired legs? Questionable match fitness? Bad luck and poor defending?Poppycock. Great teams know how to win on the road regardless of the levels of adversity, and faltering away in matches against decent opposition like La Liga is something Los Angeles can ill afford to make a habit of as they travel to Crew Stadium in Columbus, Ohio, for an important match that is an indicator of the fate regarding the MLS Supporters' Shield. Los Angeles come into this contest with a record of 16-3-10 (58 points) and have won four out of their last five league matches. Columbus are struggling, having dropped three out of their last five league matches. They are also coming off a tough 1-0 defeat to the Philadelphia Union. A better outing is needed from Landon Donovan and David Beckham, who were literally missing in action in Costa Rica. Donovan leads the team in goals with 12, while Beckham paces ...22Sep/110
CONCACAF Champions League: Are the Los Angeles Galaxy finished?
In the defense of Bruce Arena's Los Angeles Galaxy, it was a match day to forget for Major League Soccer. Real Espana defeated the Colorado Rapids, 2-1; FC Dallas got shut out by Pumas UNAM, 2-0; the Seattle Sounders saw their house broken by Herediano, 1-0; and the Galaxy dropped an important contest against Liga Deportiva Alajuelense by the same scoreline, with Pablo Antonio Gabas tying the season series at one victory and one defeat. The only winner from MLS was Toronto FC. Toronto, of all teams! They swept Tauro with a 1-0 victory at BMO Field, but paled in comparison to the USA, getting shutout this week in the CONCACAF Champions League. This brings up the question for Los Angeles: is it finished in terms of progressing? Sure, Los Angeles has one more chance to salvage some pride on the road when it faces C.D. Motagua, but it has to put up with Monarcas Morelia at the Home Depot Center, and that will not be an easy state of affairs. But, as everyone knows by now, the best teams in the CONCACAF Champions League are able to defend against class strike like that from Gabas or even Miguel Sabah ...22Sep/110
Real Salt Lake Wins Fifth Straight Match on the Road Against the Red Bulls
One would think that a team that boasts players such as Thierry Henry, Rafael Marquez and U.S. National Team players Tim Ream and Juan Agudelo would be a difficult midweek matchup for a visiting team, and they would put together a dominating performance. Instead, it took all of 21 minutes in the first half for Real Salt Lake to score three times en route to a 3-1 victory over the struggling Red Bulls. Playing without League MVP candidate Kyle Beckerman who was out due to yellow card accumulation, Real Salt Lake scored early and often to take a dominating lead into the second half. Forward Alvaro Saborio opened the scoring in the seventh minute by getting around and in front of a defender to get to a corner kick service that glanced off his head, kissed off the near post and found the back of the net. A stunned Red Bull team tried to counter, but Real Salt Lake struck twice more in the next few minutes. The second goal came on what looked like a youth league mistake by Tim Ream who had a very unlucky touch that was pushed just far enough in front of his own goal for Real Salt Lake ...21Sep/110
David Beckham: Reunion with Leonardo Would Be Fitting End to Beckham’s Career
David Beckham is in the twilight of his career. It's not his fault, it is just a fact of life. The 36-year-old is no longer a young man by an athlete's standard and he does not have a lot of time left playing at such a high level.So what better way to end his soccer career than to reunite with former manager Leonardo Araujo? The possibility certainly exists, at least if you believe Araujo. In an interview with the Daily Mail, Araujo said that he would welcome the English soccer star to his Paris Saint-Germain squad if a deal could be made with the L.A. Galaxy, Beckham's current squad. 'I coached him at AC Milan (where Beckham was loaned from MLS side LA Galaxy) and we created a good relationship. 'He is more than a football player—he’s a brand, a pop star. I would always consider him. 'He respects the rules, listens to you and wants the best for the team. That’s why for me he is a big example. I worked with him and that’s why I talk about his name,' Araujo said. When Beckham decides that he wants to call it a career, he is going to want to go out ...20Sep/110
Five American MLS Prodigies Who Will Make It Big in Europe
There is no doubting that Major League Soccer's standard of football has sharply risen over the last five years.With this evolution of the league, the USA has produced some exciting soccer prospects who are already good enough to shine in the big leagues of Europe.And with MLS's new Youth Designated Player rules coming into place, there will be more young naturalized football talent coming from the land of the free.Here I will tip five fledgling American prospects who are set to emulate USA football hero Landon Donovan and impress on the biggest stages of the beautiful game.Begin Slideshow20Sep/110