The bad news: This match didn't start well for Houston. The good news: It ended just fine.
After surrendering an early goal on a defensive mistake, the Dynamo came back to down the LA
Galaxy thanks to a Mike Magee own goal and a Andre Hainault set piece goal. The victory provides a
small level of payback for last year's MLS Cup final, but statements like that should be limited
considering nothing can really make up for losing a final.
It seems the Los Angeles Galaxy can't catch a single break so far this season.
Not even a two-goal lead was enough for the Galaxy, not on Wednesday night against the San Jose
Earthquakes, and while the Galaxy did itself no favors by being forced to play a man down for the
remaining 31 minutes of the match, the Quakes rally was still stunning, and fittingly, it was Alan
Gordon who capped off the comeback, as his header at the death gave San Jose an improbable 3-2 win
over the Galaxy at the Home Depot Center.
By KAYLA KNAPP
CARSON,CALIF -- The LA Galaxy came into Saturday's SuperClasico hoping to keep their five-year
unbeaten streak against Chivas USA rolling, and tried doing so with a lineup missing both David
Beckham and Robbie Keane.
The Rojiblancos had other plans, and bolstered by the team's new acquisitions, Chivas USA played
like a team with no interest in being pushed around by their neighbors any longer.
Five years was long enough for Chivas USA.
After years and years of domination by the Los Angeles Galaxy against its co-tenants of the Home
Depot Center, a stretch which even included a playoff series win over the Goats in 2009, Chivas USA
emerged victorious against its more established rivals for the first time since September of
2007.
Five years was long enough for Chivas USA.
After years and years of domination by the Los Angeles Galaxy against its co-tenants of the Home
Depot Center, a stretch which even included a playoff series win over the Goats in 2009, Chivas USA
emerged victorious against its more established rivals for the first time since September of
2007.
Photo: Paul Rudderow
Bobby Convey scored his first goal in a Kansas City uniform Saturday, but his team still fell
short in the end.
Convey made a nice run into the box in the first half against Chicago, picked up a pass from
Roger Espinosa, and right-footed a slow ball into the net for his 31st goal in MLS.
BY ADAM SERRANO
A record-setting crowd of 60,860 -- a record for a professional club match in Canada -- arrived
the Olympic Stadium looking for some excitement on Saturday afternoon and boy, did they get it.
A vintage free kick goal from David Beckham from in the 62nd minute negated Davy Arnaud's
eighth minute strike to give the Los Angeles Galaxy a 1-1 draw with the Montreal Impact.
Photo courtesy of the Los Angeles Galaxy
It had been six years since Bill Gaudette had started a game in Major League Soccer. His start
Saturday proved an eventful one.
Gaudette filled in for starter Josh Saunders and held Dallas to one goal in a 1-1 draw with
Dallas. He faced his first shots in the game's first minute and stopped four shots on the day.
BY ADAM SERRANO
CARSON, Calif. -- The Los Angeles Galaxy suffered an injury setback on Wednesday as back-up
goalkeeper Brian Perk underwent surgery to repair a sports hernia.
Perk suffered injury while with the U.S. Under-23 side during their camp in January and has
dealt with the knock throughout the preseason.
Photo: MLSSoccer.com
Roster turnover. Throughout the Union's brief two year life in MLS, it has been one of the
unavoidable topics surrounding the team. Each season has seen a drastic overhaul of the lineup and
this year is no different. With the opening kickoff in Portland only days away, PSP takes a moment
to check in with all the former Union players to see where they've landed for the 2012 season.
Photo: Nicolae Stoian
Philadelphia Union
Look for part one of our Union roundtable later today.
Carlos Valdes says of the departure of Faryd Mondragon, "Faryd taught me a lot of things. His
experience was very important for us. Maybe now we are more motivated."
Local
Penn Live have a Q&A with former Union player Morgan Langley, who has returned to Harrisburg
City Islanders.
Photo: Nicolae Stoian
Philadelphia Union
Look for part one of our Union roundtable later today.
Carlos Valdes says of the departure of Faryd Mondragon, "Faryd taught me a lot of things. His
experience was very important for us. Maybe now we are more motivated."
Local
Penn Live have a Q&A with former Union player Morgan Langley, who has returned to Harrisburg
City Islanders.
The Revolution and Galaxy battled to 0-0 scoreline before L.A. won it on penalties (Photo:
Joshua Pearson).
After a scoreless 90 minutes, Marcelo Sarvas slotted home the game-winning penalty as the Galaxy
claimed the FC Tucson Desert Diamond Cup championship by beating the Revolution 0-0 (4-2 on
penalties) on Saturday.
Hartman has been consistent since joining FC Dallas. (Getty Images)
It is that time again, time to get to the annual positional rankings here on WVHooligan.com.
Just as always I'll start from the back of the line up and work my way up the field with each MLS
side.
So that means today is all about the guys between the pipes, the keepers.
The U.S. Under-23 men's national team finished off its January training camp with a victory,
topping Alajuelense 1-0 in a friendly in Costa Rica.
Tony Taylor scored the lone goal, taking a pass from the Columbus Crew's Dilly Duka at the top
of the box and finishing in the 41st minute.
Yay, another day, another MLS draft. Today should be the last one for a while (that is unless
there is a lottery taking place which could very well happen here soon too). The MLS SuperDraft was
cut a round for the second straight season and because of that the Supplemental Draft's first round
will still feel like the SuperDraft's third round to some.
Had the MLS SuperDraft not been shortened to two rounds, then a lot more scrutiny would be
applied to some of the early selections in Tuesday's MLS Supplemental Draft, with those picks
typically being included among teams' draft hauls from last week's main event.
As it stands, the upcoming four-round affair provides another chance for teams to bolster their
rosters as training camps open across North America.
Photo: Paul Rudderow
Philadelphia Union
Tweet from SBI: "I'm told Philadelphia Union midfielder Michael Farfan will be heading to
England for a training stint with Premier League side Sunderland." As of this writing, we are
waiting for confirmation from the Union about this report.
Photo: Paul Rudderow
Philadelphia Union
Tweet from SBI: "I'm told Philadelphia Union midfielder Michael Farfan will be heading to
England for a training stint with Premier League side Sunderland." As of this writing, we are
waiting for confirmation from the Union about this report.
United States Under-23 National Team coach Caleb Porter announced three additions to the squad
currently training in Carson, California, along with two players unable to attend camp due to
injury. Columbus Crew goalkeeper Matt Lampson, Los Angeles Galaxy goalkeeper Brian Perk, and
Stuttgart defender Royal-Dominique Fennel have joined the camp, with goalkeeper David Bingham and
defender Gale Agbossoumonde unavailable due to injury.
Photo by ISIphotos.com
Centerback Gale Agbossoumonde and goalkeeper David Bingham have been forced to withdraw from
United States Under-23 national team camp with undisclosed injuries ahead of today's opening day of
training at the Home Depot Center, according to U.
It should probably come as no surprise that the Galaxy have traded Donovan Ricketts to the
Montreal Impact in exchange for allocation funds. Ricketts has statistically been the best keeper
in the league. But when he went out with injury this season, Saunders took the starting role.
Ricketts is older and costs more, so it isn't such a stretch to understand why Arena would part
with him rather than Saunders.
The Montreal Impact aren't wasting any time here in building their roster. In the second move of
the day for the new club they have traded for veteran international keeper Donovan Ricketts from
the Los Angeles Galaxy in exchange for allocation money.
I had a sneaky suspension that Ricketts would get traded this winter or at least before next
season by the Galaxy.
Seattle Sounders have lifted the hearts of their supporters to new heights, winnning
convincingly against LA Galaxy (including Landon Donovan) in the US Open Cup, winning in Portland,
and most recently defeating the Colorado Rapids in Seattle. Sounders were slightly unlucky in Los
Angeles on July 4th when Montero had his penalty kick saved by MLS noob Brian Perk.
Seattle Sounders have lifted the hearts of their supporters to new heights, winnning
convincingly against LA Galaxy (including Landon Donovan) in the US Open Cup, winning in Portland,
and most recently defeating the Colorado Rapids in Seattle. Sounders were slightly unlucky in Los
Angeles on July 4th when Montero had his penalty kick saved by MLS noob Brian Perk.
Seattle Sounders have lifted the hearts of their supporters to new heights, winnning
convincingly against LA Galaxy (including Landon Donovan) in the US Open Cup, winning in Portland,
and most recently defeating the Colorado Rapids in Seattle. Sounders were slightly unlucky in Los
Angeles on July 4th when Montero had his penalty kick saved by MLS noob Brian Perk.
I couldn't watch the San Jose game until the last few minutes, so imagine my surprise when I
turned it on to see this. Mike Magee can't pick up the ball! That's a handball!! Well, not that
night.
Who would have thought that for a number of weeks keeper would be the most exciting position on
the field for the Galaxy?
Brian Perk's diving save on Fredy Montero's penalty kick not only earned the LA Galaxy a point
in their 0-0 draw with Seattle on Monday, but it also took home MLS Save of the Week honors for
Week 16.
Perk's magnificent stop in the 18th minute helped keep the Sounders off the scoreboard and
propelled LA to their 11th straight match without a loss.
Every week the New England Soccer Today crew will look beyond the standings to rank each of
the 18 Major League Soccer (MLS) teams. This week Brian O'Connell and Sean Donahue contributed
rankings. Comments are followed by the ranker's name and the rank they gave that team.
1.
Loads of great highlights from Major League Soccer this week from Portland's Nagbe's wonderstrike
to Brian Perk's stand up performance between the sticks for LA. Voting closes at 11:50pm PT on
Thursday.
Get your vote on!
Vote here for "Goal of the Week".
Vote here for "Save of the Week"
Get the NEW Free Beer Movement "Pint Glass" shirt!
Fourth of July matches are often hidden and buried from our psyche. There is just so much other
stuff going on in the average American household. What shouldn't be forgotten is that the Seattle
Sounders had more chances in the first 30 and last 15 than the Los Angeles Galaxy did. While the
Galaxy controlled the 45 minutes within that period.
Good morning everyone and a happy belated 4th of July. The Seattle Sounders played the LA Galaxy
to a 0-0 tie this weekend and were a bit unlucky not to get the full three points. Young LA
goalkeeper Brian Perk did well in his first MLS game to keep a clean sheet including a good PK save
against Fredy Montero.
TeamCurrent RankingLast RankingRecord (W-L-T)Last FiveComments 119-2-9T-T-W-T-TFourth straight week
in the top spot for the Galaxy.
There's been another change at the top.
Despite not losing, the Los Angeles Galaxy has made way for FC Dallas to take over the No. 1
spot in SBI'S MLS Power Rankings. FCD, on the heels of its 2-0 win over Columbus, extended its
torrid streak to 9-1-3 in its last 13 games and trails the Galaxy by two points in the race for the
Supporter's Shield but has two games in hand.
Black and Red United give DC winger Andy Najar five-stars for his performance on Saturday. Hard
to argue.
MLSTalk praises Peter Nowak as the Arsene Wenger of MLS. I am totally confused about the
comparison. Both successful yet flawed coaches? Both European?
Former Union netminder Brad Knighton helped his Carolina Railhawks to their 10th straight win,
earning his 5th shutout of the year in the process.
Black and Red United give DC winger Andy Najar five-stars for his performance on Saturday. Hard
to argue.
MLSTalk praises Peter Nowak as the Arsene Wenger of MLS. I am totally confused about the
comparison. Both successful yet flawed coaches? Both European?
Former Union netminder Brad Knighton helped his Carolina Railhawks to their 10th straight win,
earning his 5th shutout of the year in the process.
BY ADAM SERRANO
The LA Galaxy had to reach deep into its bench, but was able to continue its 11-game unbeaten
streak with a 0-0 draw against the Seattle Sounders on Monday night.
Third-string goalkeeper Brian Perk performed admirably in his MLS debut, making two saves
including the definitive play of the game on a Fredy Montero penalty kick in the 18th minute.
A tie on the road against the best team in the league should feel satisfactory. But facing a
third-string goalkeeper, drawing a penalty and generally outplaying the Los Angeles Galaxy for much
of the match, the Seattle Sounders 0-0 tie does not feel as satisfying as it probably should.
The big reason for that is probably Fredy Montero's failed penalty.
Two of the top teams in MLS will square off tonight at Home Depot Center as the first-place Los
Angeles Galaxy faces the red-hot Seattle Sounders (10:30pm, ESPN2).
The Galaxy will play with third-string goalkeeper Brian Perk after losing Donovan Ricketts to a
broken arm and Josh Saunders to a red card suspension.
For the 16th consecutive season and the second against Seattle the Galaxy are at home for
Independence Day. How many of you have attended every game?
The Galaxy boast a 10-game unbeaten streak, the Sounders have four wins in 11 days and something
has to give between two teams separated by just four points in the MLS standings who meet each
other again July 12 or 13 in the Pacific Northwest in the U.
