Los Angeles Galaxy at New York Red Bulls: Matchday
Good evening folks. Tonight is the big night. David Beckham and the Galaxy take on the New York Red Bulls.
A big crowd of more than 50,000 is expected for tonight's match, a match that will be hard-pressed to live up to last year's installment, a 5-4 thriller won by the Red Bulls.
The Red Bulls will debut new signings Jorge Rojas and Juan Pietravallo today, although only Rojas will be in the starting lineup.
I will be doing a running commentary through the match so please feel free to follow along here if you aren't one of the 50,000 baking at Giants Stadium. If you will be watching the match, then please share your thoughts, opinions and play-by-play in the comments section below.
Enjoy the match (lineups after the jump):
------------Angel--------------Echeverry--------------
Van Den Bergh------Rojas------------------Richards
-----------------Stammler----Mendes----------------
Goldthwaite----------Boyens----------------Parke
-----------------------Conway-------------------------
BENCH- Thornton, Freeman, Leitch, Pietravallo, Ubiparipovic, Magee, Wolyniec
Yes, I know, the Echeverry inclusion is a bit of a shocker. Boyens in the middle of the three is a bit of a surprise. Also, no Juan Pietravallo in the starting lineup. Very interesting.
Share your pre-game thoughts and thoughts on the lineup below. This will be the running commentary post so check back in here throughout the evening.
The Galaxy lineup is after the jump.
Enjoy the match.
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FINAL- Bright spots for the Red Bulls include Van Den Bergh and Rojas, who showed that he can definitely pass and move, but couldn't finish to save his life. The Jeff Parke at right back experiment looked shaky while Oscar Echeverry didn't do much to make you think he should stick around when the time comes to cut some more players to make room for Gabriel Cichero and Diego Jimenez.
That's it for me tonight. I'll discuss tonight's match more on Monday (and possibly tomorrow). Feel free to share your thoughts on tonight's match in the comments section below.
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FINAL- Donovan's cross turned shot from 30 yards out ties this one and Conway is left knowing he should have gotten to that ball. RED BULLS 2, GALAXY 2
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93rd minute- What a shocker. Such a heartbreaker for the Red Bulls, who outplayed LA most of the night.
DONOVAN OFF THE POST!! WOW.
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92nd minute- GOAL GALAXY. Landon Donovan with a cross that curls into the net. GALAXY 2, RED BULLS 2. Conway with a shocker.
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91st minute- Three minutes of stoppage time.
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89th minute- Juan Pietravallo set to come in and make his debut. He's in for Van Den Bergh, who gets my vote for man of the match.
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85th minute- VDB with another blast on Cronin. Rojas has floated to the right side. And we have a RB corner.
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83rd minute- Van Den Bergh and Rojas have swapped positions. it looks like Van Den Bergh is camped out centrally, with VDB on the wing now.
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82nd minute- Van Den Bergh with a shot that forces a save and Wolyniec can't finish. So maybe Wolyniec hasn't looked great since he's been out there, but at least he looks like he's trying. And Van Den Bergh is having a great game. He loves playing against LA.
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80th minute- Is it me or has Beckham been way off tonight? His crosses have been awful. Van Den Bergh has provided better service tonight.
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79th minute- Alan Gordon has come in for Greg Vanney.
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75th minute- 46,754 is the attendance tonight.
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74th minute- Another great Red Bulls sequence cretes some chances and the Red Bulls are creating. Galaxy defense looks shaky.
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71st minute- GOAL RED BULLS. JUAN PABLO ANGEL WITH A GREAT MOVE on Chris Klein or Greg Vanney. We'll need dental records to identify the body. And yes, it was Vanney. RED BULLS 2, GALAXY 1.
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69th minute- ROJAS with a clear header that Cronin saves. Another chance wasted and a great cross in from Van Den bergh.
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68th minute- APologies for the delay. The wireless went out in the press box.
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58th minute- Rojas with a clear shot that goes high. It was on his left foot. Not sure he'll get a better chance than that. That one was on a platter.
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57th minute- LA with a corner.
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54th minute- Van den Bergh forces a save by Cronin. Nice shot. Red Bulls corner kick
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52nd minute- Ruiz with a nice move to create a shot but it's stopped.
Richards with a hip injury.
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50th minute- Hunter Freeman is on for Richards. No word on the injury yet.
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49th minute- Dane Richards has been taken off the field on a stretcher. No word on the injury yet.
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47th minute- There's Donovan again. If he ever stops passing and just runs at the Red Bulls defense, the Red Bulls will be in trouble.
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46th minute- And we're off.
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HALFTIME- RED BULLS 1, GALAXY 1. A lot more life in the final 20 minutes of the match as both teams started to move the ball around better. The Galaxy broke down the Red Bulls defense while the Red Bulls put together a quality goal of the week candidate.
Landon Donovan looked very dangerous at times and Carlos Mendes just can't deal with his speed. If anyone is going to score a winner tonight I think it's Donovan.
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45th minute- Echeverry has a GIFT of a chance blocked. Angel with a great dribble and cross in. Troy Roberts with the clutch tackle.
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39th minute- DONOVAN VOLLEY just misses high. Nice idea.
And what I said before, about not having more than two goals in this match? Another jinx by yours truly. Glad to know it still works.
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37th minute- Van Den Bergh with his fifth goal of the season on a perfect low shot. Rojas with his first assist and I have a feeling Red Bulls fans are feeling pretty good about their new acquisition.
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35th minute- GOAL RED BULLS!! Dave Van Den Bergh with the strike on a SICK pass from Jorge Rojas. WOW. Rojas with the backheel assist.
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33rd minute- Red Bulls can't string any passes together.
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28th minute- GOAL GALAXY. RUIZ FROM BUDDLE
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26th minute- Bekcham hits the wall.
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25th minute- DANGEROUS free kick for the Galaxy. Right at the top of the arc.
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21st minute- SAVE CONWAY. Great run and pass by Donovan but Ruiz can't beat Conway, who makes himself big and stops a weak attempt.
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19th minute- Definitely not the same buzz as a year ago.
ANGEL SHOT SAVED. Cronin with a nice shot and what a pass from Rojas.
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16th minute- Ruiz with a shot wide. It will be interesting to see how he does tonight against the team he could wind up playing for. What will be more interesting is if he flies back with the Galaxy tomorrow.
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14th minute- Not quite the goal-fest of last year. This one is going to be a grinder. I doubt there'll be more than two goals scored today.
Still waiting for Rojas to get involved.
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8th minute- Echeverry with a decent pass. I really do wonder how much he'll be able to move. He didn't look good in practice earlier in the week.
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5th minute- Jon Conway has the trucker hat on to battle the sun. The sun is right in his face and any dangerous free kicks will be an adventure.
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2nd minute- Klein with a yellow for a foul on Dave Van Den Bergh. Pretty quick yellow card, but not for Baldomero Toledo.
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1st minute- And we're off. Late arriving crowd here.
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PRE-GAME- Here is the Red Bulls starting lineup:
------------Angel--------------Echeverry--------------
Van Den Bergh------Rojas------------------Richards
-----------------Stammler----Mendes----------------
Goldthwaite----------Boyens----------------Parke
-----------------------Conway-------------------------
BENCH- Thornton, Freeman, Leitch, Pietravallo, Ubiparipovic, Magee, Wolyniec
Yes, I know, the Echeverry inclusion is a bit of a shocker. Boyens in the middle of the three is a bit of a surprise. Also, no Juan Pietravallo in the starting lineup. Very interesting.
And here is the LA Galaxy starting lineup:
----------Ruiz-------------Buddle------------
---------Donovan--------Beckham----------
-----------Pires----------Vagenas------------
Jazic------Vanney-----Roberts---------Klein
-------------------Cronin----------------------
BENCH- Wicks, Randolph, Dominguez, Allen, Franchino, Tudela, Gordon
Ives Galarcep is an American soccer columnist for ESPNsoccernet.com and creator of SoccerByIves.net.
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Just watched the highlights from last year's match: http://web.mlsnet.com/media/player/mp_tpl.jsp?w=mms%3A//a1503.v115042.c11504.g.vm.akamaistream.net/7/1503/11504/v0001/mlbmls.download.akamai.com/11504/2007/open/gp/08/081807_lagrbn_gp_350.wmv&id=11835&pid=undefined&_mp=1
Electric stuff, wish I could be at this one too
Posted by: Scott A | July 19, 2008 at 06:04 PM
why is there no Sassano in the lineup?? He is talented
Posted by: Tyler | July 19, 2008 at 06:04 PM
Mixed feelings like last year prior to the match. Love the big crowd, but Becks is warming up by my section and its a madhouse.Hopefully some of these people come back to future games, but with the Red Bulls in their current state, I wouldn't blame them if they didn't. Hopefully the new guys are good and the second half of the season is less painful to watch.
Posted by: Mark | July 19, 2008 at 06:22 PM
Moving Donovan to the midfield will help the Galaxy tremondously with their transition game, but the center of the field looks weak.
Posted by: PanchoMiguelMoralesdeConejo | July 19, 2008 at 06:28 PM
Moving Donovan to the midfield will help the Galaxy tremondously with their transition game, but the center of the field looks weak.
Posted by: PanchoMiguelMoralesdeConejo | July 19, 2008 at 06:28 PM
Get Echeverry OUTTA there Osorio. motherfff
Posted by: Scott A | July 19, 2008 at 06:30 PM
Here we go again. Time to go to work Red Bulls.
Posted by: Pat the Red Bulls Fan | July 19, 2008 at 06:34 PM
95 degrees. Expect pietravallo at some point.
Posted by: rbny | July 19, 2008 at 06:38 PM
Based on Fire fans talking about his inclusion of Wanchope from last year, I'm not too surprised about Echeverry getting the start.
Posted by: ManicMessiah | July 19, 2008 at 06:39 PM
Redbull fans: when is Red Bull Park slated to open?
Posted by: Nic | July 19, 2008 at 06:47 PM
Nic, don't be mean like that...
Posted by: Jacob | July 19, 2008 at 06:49 PM
I'm not trolling! I just forgot and am too lazy to look it up.
Posted by: Nic | July 19, 2008 at 06:50 PM
Nic, last I heard was summer-autumn of 2009. But I guess people set dates as something to strive for and it'll be a little after that is my bet
Posted by: Scott A | July 19, 2008 at 06:53 PM
Etchy looks like he has a rod up his butt when he runs!
Posted by: ag nigrin | July 19, 2008 at 06:55 PM
So, one more season of the swamp?
Posted by: Nic | July 19, 2008 at 06:55 PM
How long has Richards been sporting the mohawk?
Posted by: ManicMessiah | July 19, 2008 at 06:56 PM
Sorry Nic, it's just that I know they've been trying for like 1294 years to get it done, and it keeps getting delayed. And I do feel bad for RB fans for that.
So far, a pretty good game. A few too many fouls, but other than that it's been mostly entertaining.
Posted by: Jacob | July 19, 2008 at 06:57 PM
Rojas is looking pretty good so far. Excellent distribution to Angel.
Posted by: Nic | July 19, 2008 at 06:57 PM
Goalie looks funny with the hat. Not for any real reason other than that you're just not used to it.
Posted by: Jacob | July 19, 2008 at 06:59 PM
Damn, Rojas looks like Arena in the face. Scary resemblance.
Posted by: EssEff | July 19, 2008 at 07:04 PM
Yaaa one more season I hope. And then classy stadium and Thierry Henry yay?
Posted by: Scott A | July 19, 2008 at 07:04 PM
Echeverry standing still... WTF?
Posted by: Haig | July 19, 2008 at 07:05 PM
Echeverry too slow.
Posted by: Haig | July 19, 2008 at 07:06 PM
It would be fine almost fine if Echeverry was one of those forwards who didn't work hard but finished with a killer instinct when he got the chance and still got goals. But the guy doesn't do either. Release him
Posted by: Scott A | July 19, 2008 at 07:08 PM
Not a bad goal.
Posted by: Jacob | July 19, 2008 at 07:09 PM
-fine
can't type when frustrated
Posted by: Scott A | July 19, 2008 at 07:10 PM
Goal 1-0 Galaxy!
Ruiz scored. Conway went out to challenge Buddle on the left, who beat Parke 1 on 1 and left Ruiz with an open net. Obviously I didn't get the whole angle, but I'm not sure what Conway was doing.
Posted by: ManicMessiah | July 19, 2008 at 07:10 PM
WONDER GOAL!
Posted by: Nic | July 19, 2008 at 07:13 PM
Great goal.
Posted by: Jacob | July 19, 2008 at 07:13 PM
1-1. Show some pride god dammit.
Posted by: Pat the Red Bulls Fan | July 19, 2008 at 07:13 PM
Van Den Bergh!! It's tied at 1!!
A great hesitation before the pass by Rojas, and Van Den Bergh let loose a rocket that beat Cronin low and to his right!!
Posted by: ManicMessiah | July 19, 2008 at 07:14 PM
that move to set the VDB goal up was beyond nasty
Posted by: RSF | July 19, 2008 at 07:19 PM
Ives, are watching from the press box?
Posted by: Watching from KC | July 19, 2008 at 07:22 PM
I wanted to blame echeverry for missing that at first, but seeing on replay I'd give credit to the defender instead.
Not too bad of a first half, and Rojas was impressive. I'd like to see echeverry come out to start the 2nd, and I'd rather see Freeman come in on the right and push Richards up.
Posted by: ManicMessiah | July 19, 2008 at 07:28 PM
Entertaining first half. Where would this team be without VDB?
And if not for bad luck, Ectcheverry would have no luck at all.
Posted by: mark | July 19, 2008 at 07:38 PM
Halftime 1-1 ...Tight game...glad the Bulls got the eqiualizer!
Posted by: ag nigrin | July 19, 2008 at 07:39 PM
Yes, I'm in the press box.
Posted by: Ives | July 19, 2008 at 07:40 PM
To give credit where it's due: good work from Eche on that last one.
Posted by: Haig | July 19, 2008 at 07:45 PM
how did rojas miss that??
Posted by: sprool11 | July 19, 2008 at 07:54 PM
It wasn't exactly a straightforward chance, but I'm very surprised Rojas missed that.
Posted by: ManicMessiah | July 19, 2008 at 07:55 PM
that about as straight forward as they get manicmessiah
Posted by: sprool11 | July 19, 2008 at 07:56 PM
Etch is awful
Posted by: sprool11 | July 19, 2008 at 07:58 PM
I kinda wish Rojas wasn't there on that play. Angel would have put that away.
Posted by: NYFC | July 19, 2008 at 08:03 PM
I definitely stand corrected sabout the Rojas chance.
And it looks like you may have spoke too soon about your 'jinx', Ives.
Posted by: ManicMessiah | July 19, 2008 at 08:03 PM
That's what I'm talking about! JPA!
Posted by: Pat the Red Bulls Fan | July 19, 2008 at 08:06 PM
Juan Pablo Angel has been on top of his game tonight. The very good work to get the assist on the first goal, and then the great work to get the great finish for this one.
Posted by: Jacob | July 19, 2008 at 08:06 PM
Angel!!! 2-1 Red Bulls!!
Beautiful individual effort!
Posted by: ManicMessiah | July 19, 2008 at 08:07 PM
Golazzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzooooooooooooooooooooo JP Angel!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: ag nigrin | July 19, 2008 at 08:07 PM
goal of the freaking year man great golazo
Posted by: kawa | July 19, 2008 at 08:08 PM
Holy Sh*t!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: ag nigrin | July 19, 2008 at 08:08 PM