The Supporters Shield-winning LA Galaxy will try to move a step closer to the MLS Cup Final with a win (or draw) at Home Depot Center against the New York Red Bulls tonight (11pm, ESPN2) in their Western Conference semifinal second leg.
The Red Bulls have other plans, trying to continue a surprising run from last team in the playoffs to MLS Cup Final.
The Galaxy posted a 1-0 victory in the first leg at Red Bull Arena, but the Red Bulls definitely pushed LA to the brink, creating several quality chances that forced Galaxy goalkeeper Josh Saunders into some truly stunning saves.
There will be some lineup changes from the first leg after the post-game scuffle in the first leg led to suspensions for Rafa Marquez and Juninho. The return from suspension of Red Bulls right back Jan Gunnar Solli should also play a factor tonight.
SBi will be providing commentary on tonight's match, so please feel free to follow the match here. As always, you are welcome to share your thoughts and opinions in the comments section below.
Enjoy the action (Commentary is after the jump):
Red Bulls bringing back the Emirate’s Cup yellow shorts…sign of things to come?(hope not)
Wow… ease up on the Gatorade Thierry
In just 2 minutes two poor plays by birchall.
Wow!
DAMmmm luke rodgers Mr. Clean aint gott nothin on you!!!!!!!! U IS A HERO
Who is luke rodgers?????
Mas sucios! Anybody got a stream in English?
Just when I want to like Luke Rodgers, the terd emerges…
So far Marquez’s master plan is working
www firstrowsports tv/
Yet another night off for Landon Donovan. Why don’t they pull him for someone who actually wants to play instead of letting him do nothing but shoot his mouth off?
espn3.com….
HATE the yellow trunks… erspecialy with the keeper wearing a gold jersey… WTF?
How drunk do you have to be to not catch that?
Auvrey ahead of Mehdi?
Gonzalez has so far justified his omission… I think the clamor for him has been due to comparison to Orozco and Ream. May just be that neither Ream or Gonzalez are ready for this cycle or at least not yet. Hope he gets his shot though, no way Orozco Fiscal should be back
Harkes is so tough to listen to. He’s watching the replay yet clearly not seeing what’s in front of his face. How is Keanebsupposed to lay that ball off? The passing lane was clearly closed. He is soooo annoying.
Didn’t seem like Omar’s fault. Midfield has to close down Henri.
There is no denying that the Galaxy have been the best team in MLS the last two seasons, and had the league been in the same format as the rest of the world they would have been champions two years in a row. That having been said, they are completely lacking as a playoff team. There is no way this team will win MLS Cup this year. Even if they get past NYRB they couldn’t beat Sporting or RSL.
double save. what does it mean?
Helluva a game for Magee already
It’s sad when Mike Magee makes Donovan look like a chump.
Beckham and the other Galaxy player didn’t seem to think so…
Is it just me or has Ream looked like his old self tonight? Maybe he’s finding his form once again?
He’s just been bad all around. Distribution has been turrible. On the goal it was a great ball by Henry but he shouldn’t have been beaten that badly. Rodgers does not have that kind of speed to make it that easy
He hurt himself kicking Donovan?
I hate to defend Donovan, but he didn’t even touch the goalkeeper.
Does anyone have the official count of giveaways in the first half for super passing accuracy ream?
Yes ….he looks like the giveaway machine of old.
The game changed when tainio left for sure…dam it
Tapped him right on the chest, or attempted to. For someone complaining about being cheap, I’d say he can hop off his high horse.
John Harkes is the worst
Okay, I haven’t seen him give the ball away too much. Maybe I’ve just missed a couple passes.
Attempted to TAP him?
Yes, you are right about Donovan, Donovan should ride a Shetland Pony.
+1
Ream has been awesome today, far better than Omar. Stop haTing
This game is getting me really agitated.
Needed a d-mid.
John Harkes actually said “Shimmy-shimmy-cocoa-puffs.” Embarrassing.
Yep.
Uh… it looked like he tried to punch him in the face.
Ream has been an imposing figure in the box today, by far the best defender on the pitch. I don’t know what match primoone is watching.
Seriously? Ream has been great. And I’m no fan of Roy Miller, but he has also. Keel also solid, if not much help on starting an attack. Is Solli the right back? He’s sort of lost, it seems.
My prediction (like, who cares?):
Backe makes no changes at half? RBNY loses.
Agudelo in for Redcardgers? RBNY win. (In PKs)
Obviously the act wasn’t murder, but the intent is where it annoys me. You can’t complain about someone else being “cheap” and then attempt to cheat an opportunity. What would’ve happened if he influenced the GK to drop it for an easy goal? Just saying… can’t have it both ways.
Holy ßhit. Alexi Lalas suggesting Agudelo for Rodgers; at least it wasn’t Harkes.
+1. That was excruciating.
Glad it’s not just me then. He’s been a rock in the back so far and I honestly cannot remember more than maybe one ball that he’s played out of the back that hasn’t found his team.
I’m guessing fairly low considering his passes have all been on target.
Looking at the replay: How does a $$DP goalkeeper not block a header RIGHT AT HIS HANDS?
He’s looked calm and composed but also for once has established a strong physical presence. Honestly if the Arsenal scouts are here tonight they can only be impressed
Landon with a terrible giveaway in the final third…..what is wrong with this guy? It seems like its been years since he has been in form.
OK, maybe I need to see it again. I don’t even like Donovan so I’m not biased.
I keep hearing that he hasn’t fully recovered from an injury?
I love Donovan for all he’s done for the nats and will always support him but I almost wonder if he’s just racking up too many miles right now and needs to be left to rest for a while after MLS rather than jumping back into US games.
Fortunately for him he isn’t actually required to play. Everyone will just keep saying how great he is anyway.
Oh, look at that, he just shot. Now if he could shoot on the goal.
I think Donovan was motivated to make that great defensive play by the fact that it was going to Rogers!
His defensive clearance was admirable. I was shocked he actually shot the ball….
Beckham is obviously a great passer but I think the best man won this year as far as the assist title is concerned. Brad Davis is incredible and continued his ways in the playoffs today. While Beckham seems to be hitting quite a few right at the goalkeeper, Davis has been curling them in perfectly and away from the keeper. Just an observation. I am NOT saying Davis is a better player than Beckham!
Well if NYRB can come back and win Juan might actually get to play now due to Theirry being Theirry…
The best defender in all of history, whose greatness Klinsmann should apparently be fired for not recognizing (or so I read on here earlier today), is currently getting flame-broiled by something called a “Luke Rodgers.”
I can’t believe NYRB fired Arena after such a short period but then stuck with two consecutive chumps for so long. Backe should go Backe to Austria. He’s probably the only one who would keep Agudelo on the bench. He seems to favor Europeans.
Talk about stupid!
Roy Miller what was that?
Well, that’s that. Roy Miller, what the hell are you thinking?
Clearly Miller was bribed.
Auvray off, please. Ballouchy — I can’t believe I’m saying — on. Or is Kandji available??
Miller: “Oh, look! I’m in the penalty area and Beckham is right next to me with the ball. I think I will simultaneously push him with both hands in the back and kick him. No one will notice.”
This puts the cheap shot comments in perspective.
Solli wants to get back to his DJ gig.
I predict another feisty finish to this game.
So Lindpere is off. Hans Backe: You have made an enemy. The hell with this team. Go Cosmos.
Ream was so much better than Gonzalez today.
Darn if you didn’t stop riding him after just one comment. What happened?
I would have liked to have seen Tanio play the full game, bu tcongrats to the Gals. Beckham was great for them tonight.
Very easily when your defenders mark that badly
Agreed, and yet Gonzalez’s team won. What are you gonna do?
I’d like somebody to compile the W-L record of Red Bulls with and without Tainio.
Ball beat hands to the spot. Game’s in 3D
Don’t make me try to tap all y’all
I only saw the replay once and I was a bit lubricated at that point so I reserve the right to change my mind, but it looked pretty dastardly to me.
I don’t know, home court’s pretty big in this league
You shouldn’t drink – if you killed a brain cell you’d only have half of your brain left.
Come now, I don’t think your namesake would approve of such hostility.
Fitting that the RBNY season ends with the same problems that plagued them all season.
1) Lack of organization and focus (1st goal). Another set piece goal, really?
2) Lack of discipline. Another stupid foul… in the box no less?
I hate to call for anyone’s job, but a team with no organization and no discipline is typically poorly coached. These are 2 of the few areas a manager can directly influence. Backe may be in a bad situation with prima donna players, but he hasn’t gotten a handle on these problems at all. RBNY needs a more authoritarian manager with better support from the RBNY hierarchy. Soler has been equally awful. The Marquez move was a disaster and trading DeRo for Dax is a joke.
What’s your problem? GF/BF break up with you? Bitter that you aren’t good at sports? Hemorrhoids? or you just felt like being a turd tonight.