The Kansas City Wizards are at Home Depot Center tonight to take on the Los Angeles Galaxy. Can the Galaxy build on last week’s 5-1 mauling of FC Dallas? Can the Wizards find three points on their neverending road trip? Which Designated Player will deliver tonight, Claudio Lopez or David Beckham?
If you will be watching the match tonight, please feel free to share your thoughts, opinions and play-by-play in the comments section below.
Enjoy the match.
That’s a bet Jess. I’ll email you my address so you can mail me a check 😉
Well, if Landon were to leave I’d imagine they’d have to trade for another DP slot if they wanted to add Shevchenko. Ruiz still wouldn’t count as a DP, right?
Interesting point about Ruiz’s value because Donovan might leave. How will the DP slots work out, can the Gals get another one to plug that hole at forward and still deal Ruiz for defensive help? I’m sure that’ll inspire some conspiratorial thoughts, but it also might pressure the league into giving every team 2 DP’s.
$10 says Ives ranks the G’s no higher than 9th in his weekly rankngs
I’m still looking at the Galaxy having to keep Ruiz, because I think that Donovan is heading to Europe this summer.
The problem with Xavier is his contract is more than likely guaranteed, and no other team in the league is crazy enough to want him.
We looked great going forward but really really soft in the back. We need to pick up Carlos Bocanegra and a quick left sided back. Come on Ruud off load Xaiver and Ruiz and get us the right players.
I’d also like to echo that MLSnet has awesome highlight packages up very soon after each match ends. Makes it much easier than searching through bad quality YouTube videos.
That was a great game and a great crowd, Beckham was easily MOTM and likely the player of the week. He really put on a show. The Galaxy really are playing “sexy” football (at least in attack) and seem to be the best team in an incredibly weak Western Conference.
And you better believe that it will be GOTW, even though the McManus goal was quality, the Beckham goal is much, much more difficult than it looks.
Good win by LA, but they match up well with KC (i.e., no team speed).
oh yeah, that goal by Claudio Lopez was no slouch either. Great work to create space.
I agree that Mcmanus’ goal was a beauty.
Phillip, listen, when a defender lunges for a challenge in the box and misses the ball completely, but contacts the player, a penalty can and shoudl be called every time. And, that’s exactly what happened on that PK. BTW – I didn’t see the game, just the highlights on MLS’ website – which I want to give a huge shout out to, because they had a quality video highlights package up for each game less than an hour after they were over – and I don’t know ho wyou could complain about the refereeing from what I saw. First, the game appeared wide open, and second, the Galaxy looked like they had at least 10 great scoring chances in the game. So, I don’t think the referee was the cause of the outcome. It looked like LA clearly outplayed KC – and I like both teams.
I’m sorry that was an obvious penalty. The defender blocked Donovan’s progress, no question. That was not a case where incidental toe contact sends a forward flying through the air. Sure he embellished it, but he was prevented from playing the ball.
But let’s face it, the most important thing about this game was the Beckham goal – we’re going to be seeing that one over and over as MLS pushes it to the max. GOTW? I hope not. McManus had a hell of a strike in the COL – CHV game. But we’ll see. Maybe Rolfe will create some magic to rob Becks again 😉
how are you even debating the penalty call? it was as obvious as they get. good game by the galaxy. KC definitely looked tired in the second half, they started playing defense with their hands instead of their feet, that’s why they lost in the end, they were lucky to not get more calls against them for holding onto buddle’s shirt.
Most importantly, the galaxy had a strong defensive effort for once, they were slow on closing down lopez on the goal, and made a bit of mess in almost putting in an own goal. But those who fault cronin’s positioning on it should also note that he made a fantastic save in the process.
Regarding the PK Landon drew, I would say he did embelish it by throwing his arms up, but that was going to be a PK regardless with the way the defender went in (missing the ball and getting his leg in right in front of Landon’s).
And regarding Beckhams goal at the very end, very poor play by KC. Nothing wrong with bringing Hartman forward on the corner kick, but once the corner is kicked and the Gals have the ball back you have to go after the guy with the ball to slow it up. There was at least one defender in front of Beckham that instead of closing in on Becks was running to get back into position. I suppose the point is mute because the Gals were already ahead and everyone knew there was no more time left for KC to do anything about it.
Ok, I’v just watched that penalty replay several times in slo-mo and it seems to me a penalty.
And the Buddle goal, if “even is on” then he looks to be on. Of course if you hate the Galaxy then he could be just 2 inches offside.
I’m not sure what decision I would’ve made had I been the referee. I don’t know what kind of angle of the play that he had.
To me, Landon clearly jumps over the outstretched leg of the defender. I don’t even know for sure if there was any contact. Did the defender leave himself completely vulnerable for an experienced player like Landon to take advantage of? You bet he did.
Like most MLS officials, I thought the referee let too many vicious tackles go unpunished. Then he would stop play for ticky-tac fouls.
So phillip your saying that the ld call should have been a no call
I was just pointing out that the referee and linesman missed two pretty obvious calls… leading to a loss for KC.
You’re right Phillip….no one has ever over done it to win a penalty, and no one has ever been offside on a goal and not had it called. It’s simply tragic.
Eh…
Donovan dove to get the penalty.
Buddle was well offside on the goal.
beckhams passes are world class. Hes the best galaxy player by far. He alone is responsible for creating like 7 or 8 scoring chances
just as i say this, beckham scores a 60 yard goal.
hartman was in the other box trying to get the equalizer
buddle sombero’s a KC defender, gets a real good shot off, smacks the upper 90. goalie was beat. unlucky.
oh my goodness.
la defense making 4 or 5 mistakes in succession, cronin goes out, misses, and chases kc attacker. ball shot in defelcts off donovan and slowly trickles towards an open goal. klien clears off the line, wow.
kc defense seem to be tiring.
donovan pass to an open buddle makes the sore 2 galaxy, 1 KC
2-1 Galaxy. Buddle, very nice.
ely allen with a great chance for the galaxy after a great pass by donovan, but allens shot is an epic faleure
donovan gets the galaxy a penalty after a good pass by beckham on the wing.
he finishes it like ballack.
nicely taken penalty, 1-1
galaxy gaining momentum.
55 minute
Thanks for the channelsurfing link. The video works great but the sound is aweful. Much better than nothing though. Got on just in time to see Landon try out his latest gymnastic move. He shouldn’t get a PK just for poor exaggeration.
Landy from the spot. 1-1.
donovan had a peach of a chance in like the first 15 minutes of the game after two great passes by beckham and buddle, but he shot it right at hartman.
galaxy defense poor
Kansas City up 1:0 at halftime thanks to a brilliant strike from the top of the box by Claudio Lopez.
http://www.channelsurfing.net has a link for the game
ESPN’s website also has a rather accurate match tracker, much faster than the one on mlsnet.
download sopcast its on there
Someone comment, I don’t get this channel where I am.
Someone comment, I don’t get this channel where I am.