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MLS Playoffs: Galaxy vs. Red Bulls (Match Night Commentary)

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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):

Comments

  1. 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.

    Reply
  2. 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.

    Reply
  3. 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.

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  4. 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.

    Reply
  5. 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.

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  6. 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.”

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  7. 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!

    Reply
  8. 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.

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  9. 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.

    Reply

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