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Wednesday Kickoff: Galaxy win tour opener, City drops Arsenal, and more

  AsiaGalaxy (Getty)

The Los Angeles Galaxy opened their Asia Pacific Tour in winning fashion, posting a 1-0 victory over the Indonesian National Select Team on Wednesday.

Robbie Keane scored the winner for the Galaxy, who trotted out the same starting lineup that defeated the Houston Dynamo in the MLS Cup Final just ten games earlier. The Galaxy had several scoring chances, but hit the woodwork on multiple occasions in a match that saw its share of chippiness.

The Galaxy resume their tour on Saturday, with a match in Manila against the Philippine National Team before closing out the tour on Dec. 6 against Australian side Melbourne Victory.

Here are some other stories from Tuesday and this morning to get your day going:

Man City, Liverpool post big Carling Cup wins

Sergio Aguero's late game-winner was the only goal needed by Manchester City to post a 1-0 victory over Arsenal in Carling Cup action on Tuesday. Aguero converted an Adam Johnson pass in the 83rd minute to push City to the Carling Cup semifinals.

Liverpool won the day's other high-profile Carling Cup clash, beating Chelsea, 2-0, at Stamford Bridge. Maxi Rodriguez and Martin Kelly scored the goals for the Reds.

Tuesday's other Carling Cup quarterfinal saw Cardiff knock off Blackburn, 2-0. The final place in the Carling Cup semifinals will be decided today when Manchester United takes on Crystal Palace.

Barcelona rebounds with big win

Suffering their first loss of the season didn't leave too much of a hangover for Barcelona, which rebounded in style with a 4-0 thumping of Rayo Vallecano on Tuesday.

Alexis Sanchex scored two goals for the defending champions, which pulled to within three points of Real Madrid atop the La Liga standings ahead of their showdown on Dec. 10th.

Juventus rallies to tie Napoli

Napoli played without Edinson Cavani, but the star striker's absence didn't keep his team from putting up three goals on first-place Juventus. Unfortunately for the Neapolitans, Juve didn't surrender after falling behind, 3-1. Instead, the Turin side rallied for a 3-3 tie at the Stadio San Paolo.

Simone Pepe delivered the late equalizer for Juventus, which looked doomed after a beautiful Goran Pandev goal made the score 3-1 in favor of Napoli.  The draw helped Juventus increase its lead atop Serie A to two points, ahead of AC Milan.

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What did you think of the Galaxy's performance in Jakarta (or did you sleep through it like most of the country)? Impressed with City's victory at the Emirates? Think Andres Villas Boas will make it to Christmas as Chelsea manager?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. Unusually quiet goal celebration from Keane. No trademarked somersault forward roll…I think he had been hacked to death by the 12th minute and was in no mood to celebrate.

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  2. Cristman only has two more opportunities to hit the woodwork in a Galaxy uniform. Homie is on the re-entry list, and for good reason. Sucks for Dawsan Robinson since he never got to suit up. Hejduk needs to retire. At least he’s back in CA where he can surf.

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  3. I could see MLS going over very well in Vietnam. A two or three city tour of Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Hai Phong would surely be immensely popular.

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  4. I may be wrong but I believe the J League ends this week or ended last week. I was just reading a column about the league on Soccernet a few days ago. I’ve always been a big fan of MLS, J, K, and A Leagues getting together as much as possible for friendlies. The leagues (well A/J and MLS, at least, the K-league is much older) have alot in common talent-wise, marketing competition-wise and in international status.

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  5. Huh that’s not bad, when does the J and K leagues start and end does anyone know? I mean we’ll be in preseason form and so will the Rapids, hell the Galaxy will have to prepare a little earlier to face Toronto in the CCL but I don’t know I think it might be a good test for Colorado, wonder if Casey is back by then or at least Anthony Wallace?

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  6. I was hoping for a Napoli win, big AC Milan fan and would of made the race for the Scudetto even tighter with AC Milan, Napoli and Udinese within a point of Juventus, now it’s just AC Milan and Udinese within 2, and then Napoli is 4 back I believe

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  7. I’d love to see a team like Houston or Dallas and even Philly & KC play in Asian our Eastern Euro tours or in Australia?

    Wonder if NY Red Bulls will do the same once they start to get it together in MLS play?

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  8. Don’ know if I’m happier for Juventus or Napoli. Two quality clubs on the rebound with two different but successful approaches to the game.

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  9. This is really good news. Having Galaxy expand their profile worldwide.

    MLS needs to establish better relations with Asian football leagues-primarily Australia, China S Korea and Japan. Lots of talented players that could be signed for cheap.

    Reply

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