7Jul/120
Los Angeles Galaxy vs. Chicago Fire: Play-by-Play Analysis, Reaction and More
Bruce Arena’s Los Angeles Galaxy hit the road for a July 8 Major League Soccer match with Frank Klopas’s Chicago Fire at Toyota Park in Bridgeview, Ill. The Galaxy sport a very dismal 6-10-2 record (20 points) and have been struggling to post victories, managing just two shutouts all season. As for the Fire, they have had a much better year in MLS, earning a record of 8-5-4 (28 points) and are currently fourth in the MLS Eastern Conference. For this match, midfielder David Beckham will be out due to suspension. However, the flip side is that defender Omar Gonzalez returned to play on Wednesday night against the Philadelphia Union and is expected to play a full match on Sunday afternoon in Chi-Town. Kickoff is scheduled for 12 p.m. PT/3 p.m. ET and will be televised by ESPN and ESPN Deportes. 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.com5Jul/120
Los Angeles Galaxy vs. Chicago Fire: 10 Bold Predictions
It's back to the road for the Los Angeles Galaxy when they head to Bridgeview, Ill. to take on the Chicago Fire on Sunday, July 8. The Galaxy have a very disappointing 6-10-2 (20 points) record and are in desperate need of a result.As for the Chicago Fire, they are 8-5-4 (28 points) and are currently fourth in the MLS Eastern Conference.Kickoff for this match is scheduled for 12 p.m. PT/3 p.m. ET and will be televised by ESPN and ESPN Deportes. Here are 10 bold predictions for Sunday's contest.Begin Slideshow5Jul/120
Los Angeles Galaxy vs. Philadelphia Union: Rating the Galaxy Players
Bruce Arena's Los Angeles Galaxy are not getting the job done this year. They simply don't have the fire to win games. There were no fireworks in LA's 2-1 defeat to the Philadelphia Union—just poor finishing, errant passing and a bunch of frustrated players who are left searching for answers heading into their next road trip. Given that this was the Union they faced, you should not be surprised at how harsh these ratings are going to be. Well, I just gave it away right there. Here we go. Josh Saunders: 4 He didn't make a lot of saves, but he didn't make enough of them, either. Saunders isn't the man I'm calling out defensively for this match, though. There are two of them, as you will see in these ratings. A.J. DeLaGarza: 5.5 He could only do so much to help the team defensively. DeLaGarza had a decent match all around but couldn't get any help in the extra-time segments of the match. Omar Gonzalez: 7 Man of the Match. Not very often do I give someone a Man of the Match Award for playing just one half of football before being subbed out. But given that this was ...5Jul/120
Los Angeles Galaxy vs. Philadelphia Union: 6 Things We Learned
Two losses on the trot—that is the sorry truth facing the sorry team that is Bruce Arena's Los Angeles Galaxy, who lost their 10th game of the season on Independence Day in a 2-1 stinker to John Hackworth's Philadelphia Union at the Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif.With a 6-10-2 record (20 points), there could be some personnel changes on the way. At this stage, any change would be good for this team, because otherwise the Galaxy sure won't be changing their losing ways any time soon.Here are six things we learned from the Independence Day snafu that took place.Begin Slideshow3Jul/120
Los Angeles Galaxy vs. Philadelphia Union Live Blog: Play-by-Play Analysis
Bruce Arena's Los Angeles Galaxy play host to the Philadelphia Union on Independence Day at the Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif. The Galaxy are 6-9-2 (20 points) and need to earn points to stay alive in the race for a postseason spot. As for John Hackworth's Union, a 3-9-2 (11 points) record is not what they had in mind, and they will look to pull off the upset on the Fourth of July.Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. PT/10:30 p.m. ET and will be televised locally by KDOC and KWHY. The live blog 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 Major League Soccer season and all things world football.Read more MLS news on BleacherReport.com2Jul/120
Los Angeles Galaxy vs. Philadelphia Union: 10 Bold Predictions
With its three-game win streak now history, Bruce Arena's Los Angeles Galaxy will aim to stop the bleeding on July 4 when they take on the Philadelphia Union at the Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif.The Galaxy are 6-9-2 (20 points) and need more points to stay alive in the race for a postseason spot. As for John Hackworth's Union, a 3-9-2 (11 points) record was the price they had to pay for Peter Nowak's decision to go with young players to steer the ship.Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. PT and will be televised locally by KDOC and KWHY.Here are 10 bold predictions for this Independence Day showdown.Begin Slideshow1Jul/120
Los Angeles Galaxy vs. San Jose Earthquakes: Rating David Beckham’s Performance
First off, I want to say this to Stuart Pearce: thank you. Thank you, from the very bottom of my sportswriting heart, for doing the right thing and cutting David Beckham from Team Great Britain. With your rightful decision, I now affirm my belief in your side, and wish you all the best. I must note, however, that I will leave it to the footballing gods to determine whether or not Team GB medals in London later this summer. Now, with that out of the way, on to David Beckham's performance against the San Jose Earthquakes. Or, as it can also be interpreted, the lack thereof. Beckham did get on the scoresheet in the 31st minute with a free kick that hit the near post corner with pinpoint accuracy. Jon Busch, the Quakes goalkeeper who had to be subbed midway through the match due to an injury with one of his own players, was not going to touch that bending ball that defined Becks throughout his playing career. However, it also takes some professionalism and class to be considered for Team Great Britain, and he got carded for dissent late in the match. In addition, Beckham got into a verbal ...1Jul/120
Los Angeles Galaxy vs. San Jose Earthquakes: Rating the Galaxy Players
Big offenses were more than offset by no defense whatsoever, in any shape or form, as Bruce Arena's Los Angeles Galaxy lost a 4-3 barnburner to Frank Yallop's San Jose Earthquakes at Stanford Stadium in Palo Alto, Calif. With the loss, the Galaxy can kiss their three-game win streak goodbye as they drop to an abysmal 6-9-2 (20 points). You probably have an idea of what these ratings are going to be for the players, so there should be no surprises here. But let's have at it. Josh Saunders 3 What a horrid night for Josh Saunders, who was facing the Black and Blue Firing Squad of the Earthquakes. Saunders was forced to make four saves as the defensive back line (which I will get to in a moment) failed to bail him out. Four saves are not going to be enough against a team as talented as San Jose. At least Saunders didn't do enough to get himself sent off, like the last meeting at Buck Shaw. Sean Franklin 3 Bad touch, too many giveaways. Not sure if Sean Franklin wanted to bother competing in this match. It did not look like it tonight. A.J. DeLaGarza 3 This was ...1Jul/120
Los Angeles Galaxy vs. San Jose Earthquakes: 6 Things We Learned
It was a night of great football, but also of poor defending as Bruce Arena's Los Angeles Galaxy lost a 4-3 shootout to the class of the MLS Western Conference, Frank Yallop's San Jose Earthquakes, on Saturday night at Stanford Stadium in Palo Alto, Calif.With the defeat, the Galaxy drop to 6-9-2 (20 points) and are staring down at a return to the Western Conference cellar. Here are six things we learned from Saturday night's wild match.Begin Slideshow24Jun/120