The Los Angeles Galaxy will begin their chase for the 2011 MLS Cup title today against a New York Red Bulls squad intent on shaking up the playoff field wih an upset of the Supporters Shield winners (3pm, ESPN2).
Today's Western Conference semifinal first leg brings us to frigid Red Bull Arena, where some surprising snow covered the area on Saturday. The sun is out though, and much of the snow has already melted, leaving a chilly but playable set-up at Red Bull Arena today.
The Red Bulls come in having already played a playoff game, a 2-0 Wild Card round victory against FC Dallas on Wednesday.
SBI will be providing commentary on today's match so please feel free to follow along with the action here. As always, you are welcome to share your own thoughts and opinions in the comments section below.
Enjoy the action (Today's commentary is after the jump):
And as someone who watched it live at the game and is therefore almost certainly a Red Bulls fan… you will say nothing about the fact that Marquez started it by throwing the ball at Donovan, and nothing about the fact that Marquez threw punches, and nothing about the fact that Marquez dropped to the ground and feigned injury when no one had touched him, right?
What does it matter that you were at the game, we have more than enough video footage to decide for ourselves what happened.
I watched it live at the game – Juninho punched the Red Bull’s Keel in the face, which, beyond drawing a red would probably get you felony assault if you did it on the street. Pretty ugly and doesn’t speak so well for his character – but, I’m not sure how the rules work on something like this. If Juninho is allowed to play after two games he should consider himself pretty lucky.
Yes…the video evidence proves as much…
http://twitpic.com/78fkvj
Haha…
+1. Classless on the field, reflects the clowns managing this $14 million fiasco. Soler and Backe built this circus. What a shame. Hope Agudelo gets out of there somehow as well, what a waste of his talent.
What was the Juninho red card for? He only pushed Rafa. Players push each other all the time without a card. It should be revoked.
Bruce Arena snoozeball. Organized team though.
Once again, This Guy, it was over 22k this game which is great for MLS, and a Chicago Fire fan harping on NYRB attendance is downright hilarious.
I wonder if Garber and the rest of the MLS Head Office Boys overturn
Juninho Red? If they really want the Galaxy to win the cup this
year, they’ll make it happen!
ref has no balls, that’s why. Unbelievable he gets away with it!
Galaxy actually lost a player, while NY just got better by leaving Rafa off the field.
I did, what a cheap shot.
Forget suspending Marquez, revoke his visa!
Not letting opponents score = BORING
post of the week
BREAKING NEWS: Marquez is scum
the Galaxy goalie is Saunders
He got a red card so it’s safe to say he won’t play the 2nd leg.
Ha-ha. Absolutely right. Marquez’s passing was so bad throughout the game it almost looked as if he was doing everything he could to keep NYRB from scoring a goal. His first several shots were jokes, and his last shot was straight at the LA goalkeeper–like kicking the ball straight at a tree. A good coach would have pulled him off the field by the 55th minute. And after the game, not saying Marquez did it intentionally, but by throwing the ball at an LA player it is now guaranteed he will get a suspension and not have to play again this season. Pathetic.
I am not anti or pro NYRB, so totally objectively I have to say the team played today as if it has no soul whatsoever. It is a poorly coached team with horrible defense (I do think Ream could do better in a different situation) and a bunch of players who look miserable on the field and don’t communicate with each other at all. I am not huge fan of Agudelo on the USMNT, but he is a spark-plug type of player who has something to prove and any coach who would leave him on the bench after the 70th minute in this sort of game is fool. The NYRB need a new coach and a new general manager bad who can remake the team into something fans can be proud of.
Hopefully the Galaxy can successfully lobby to have Marquez’s red card ban lifted.
Thanks for clarifying things Jesus
Apparently Marquez + Juninho sent off after the game.
Hopefuly this was Marquez’ MLS swan song. He’s not happy here. We’re not happy with him here.
Our team plays so much better without him.
I really hope he’s suspended in game 2 so that we have at least a fighting chance against the Gals.
Great to see Henry’s passion. Keep it up!
Fuera Marquez!
One step forward. 15 steps back.
Come on Eric J.! The best defense in the league and the second highest scoring offense in the league and you aren’t happy????
Thanks to all
It’s a deal they have with Cal State-Dominguez Hills, or whatever school’s campus the stadium is on. On school nights they can only sell X amount of seats because of parking or something for night classes. Something like that.
The Galaxy has an agreement with Cal State Dominguez hills university (where the home depot center is located) that if there is a game played during the weekday of a calendar school day that they cannot sell more than 15,000 tickets due to the parking issues it would create for their students.
It is an agreement with Cal State where the stadium is located – they can’t sell more than 15K on a weeknight to preserve parking for students. LA has a $14MM payroll but can’t get this lifted? weak.
The question is that no doubt this incompetent ref just wanted this game to be done with as it ended up being too much drama for his dumb behind so my question is can the league look into this and suspend Marquez or even Juninho for defending himself? Marquez needs to be sent packing to Mexico with a one way ticket for the season!
Yeah but his boss is Soler who is equally incompetent and Scandinivian we are thou greater than thou mentality…
Alexi Lalas just said LA can’t sell more than 15k seats because of a rule. Anyone care to explain?
Rafa Marquez is an absolute piece of human excrement and an embarassment to the MLS and soccer in general.
If I were a Mexico fan (thank God I’m not), or a NYRB fan, I could not cheer for him at all.
He is a gigantic piece of horsecrap and I legitimately wish bad things to happen to him because that’s what he does to other players.
Klinsi must be rolling his head in disgust
At first I thought he was just throwing the ball to the ref – and he bad aim. But watching again – looked intentional. Strange actions by marquez.