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MLS Playoffs: Galaxy vs. Earthquakes (Match Night Commentary)

Round four of the always exciting California Clasico takes place tonight, as the LA Galaxy host the San Jose Earthquakes at the Home Depot Center. The Supporters’ Shield winning Earthquakes will look to continue their 2012 success against the defending MLS Cup champions, having won two of the three matchups this season. (9pm EST, ESPN)

After coming from behind against Vancouver to advance to the semi-finals, the Galaxy will look to get a leg up on the Earthquakes at home. They will welcome defender Sean Franklin back into the starting lineup, after missing the previous match due to a leg injury. Marcelo Sarvas will also be making his return to the starting lineup. However, AJ De La Garza will miss his second consecutive playoff match, as he remains out due to a knee sprain.

For the Earthquakes, they will feature a healthy lineup, as only substitute Alan Gordon will enter the match hampered by injury, but he will still be coming off the bench, even with an ankle sprain. They will look for Golden Boot winner Chris Wondolowski to continue his success against playoff teams this season, as netted 15 goals against playoff clubs this season, more than half of his total on the year. He scored twice in three matches against Los Angeles this season.

SBI will be providing live commentary on tonight’s match so please feel free 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 (Commentary is after the jump):

Comments

  1. Wow. I’m kind of mad at San Jose, even though I was pulling for them.

    Got bossed for 93 minutes then sneaked a goal that required grievous errors by a defender AND the goalkeeper.

    I had already resigned myself to the Galaxy making a run to the Cup and losing to Houston in an epic rematch. Now I have to root for LA in Santa Clara. Boo.

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  2. It is SO fitting that Omar Gonzalez is half responsible for the stoppage time goal. Shut your mouth about the opponents in the media with the unwarranted trash talking. How’s that for “ugly football?”

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    • it’s a joke the way it’s set up…the away goal needs to be worth more. this is what you get otherwise. I dig MLS, all here know it, but they screwed the pooch on this one

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  3. Donovan, Beckham, and Dunivant have been really poor. The rest of the team has been pretty bad as well, they need to start playing like it’s the playoffs and they need a win to stay in.

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  4. This game thus far is extremely anti-climatic. How many chances have there been? One-hand can count them I’m sure. Here’s to hoping it picks up now.

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  5. Seriously, the LA Galaxy have to be the largest collection of whiners I’ve ever seen. Magee, Donovan, Keane, Beckham think they walk on water.

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    • Maybe it’s more a case of LA’s players (ie the ones you named) having a lot more experience at higher levels of competition where that kind of behavior is more typical and borderline accepted. Compare LA’s stars to the much-less glamorous names on SJ’s roster, a lot of whom MLS is their highest level of soccer. Not saying its right or I agree with it. Just offering a possible explanation.

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      • Could be.

        Bothers the heck out of me to watch them whine incessantly knowing they’re going to go into the media and then complain about other teams whining.

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