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Boca Juniors vs. Los Angeles Galaxy: Match Day Commentary

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BY ADAM SERRANO

The Los Angeles Galaxy take on legendary Argentinian club Boca Juniors tonight at the Home Depot Center.

Expect a reserve roster for both sides as the Argentinian giants will be without some of their most vaunted players like Martin Palermo due to international duty and Juan Roman Riquelme to injury. Don't look down on the Boca roster however as many of these players are experienced members of the Argentina U-20 side.

For the Galaxy, the match will be a big test for players like Omar Gonzalez and Michael Stephens as they get set to take on some of the best (youth) players that Argentina has to offer.

This is Adam Serrano providing you commentary from the Home Depot Center in Carson, California. As always, you are welcome to share your own thoughts and opinions in the comments section below.

Enjoy the action.

FULL TIME – Impressive performance tonight by the Galaxy as the club was able to withstand the onslaught that Boca delivered throughout the game. As the Galaxy deliver their customary salute to the Angel City Brigade, Josh Saunders earns my player of the game after a fantastic performance tonight. The former California Golden Bear keeper was brilliant and kept the club in the game until Tristen Bowen delivered the knock out blow.

That's all from me from the Home Depot Center. Check back on SBI for more coverage of tonight's game and Thank you for following along.

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93rd Minute – FULL TIME. GALAXY 1 BOCA JUNIORS 0

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91st Minute – A plethora of flags being waved in the crow as this one winds down. Boca, Argentina, River Plate, Galaxy, United States and even a Honduras flag in the crowd.

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90th Minute – Three minutes of stoppage time.

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89th Minute – Boca trying to find a late goal probing the Galaxy defense, but the Galaxy are doing their best to clear out any danger.

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88th Minute – Galaxy fans worried about the club's depth have got to be proud with this performance, Bowen has been active throughout the night while Josh Saunders turned in one of his greatest performances of his career.

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87th Minute – The Boca fans now chanting "Ole Ole Diego, Diego." in reference to Boca legend and Argentina head coach Diego Maradona. And people say that all the Argentinians are against him.

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84th Minute – Magee plays a fantastic ball to Mike Stephens who dumps it off to Tristen Bowen who slammed it in past Garcia. Big goal for Bowen who will need to come up big with Donovan and Buddle away on International Duty. The Boca fans are silent while the Angel City Brigade starts drowning out the Boca cheers.

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83rd Minute – GALAXY GOAL!!!!!! MICHAEL STEPHENS PLAYS OFF TO TRISTEN BOWEN WHO SLAMS IT HOME!!

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81st Minute – Some tension in the crowd as it appears that some Galaxy fans are trying to instigate something with the large group Boca fans. Not smart.

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80th Minute – GALAXY SUB: Clint Mathis comes off the field for Mike Magee. Mathis did not impress tonight, but showed some signs of quality that Bruce Arena will enjoy. Attendance tonight is 18,268

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77th Minute – I have to say the Boca fans have been LOUD tonight. Waving their Boca Juniors flags as well as Argentina flags at all the Galaxy fans. Great presence tonight.

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76th Minute – BOCA JUNIORS SUB: Pablo Mouche coming out for Orlando Gaona Lugo.

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75th Minute – GREAT ball by Clint Mathis who has looked average this game to Michael Stephens, but the superior speed of Nicolas Colazo cuts off the ball.  Boca strike right back and earn a corner.

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72nd Minute – GALAXY SUB: Eddie Lewis will make way for Todd Dunivant.

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70th Minute – Todd Dunivant preparing to come on.

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68th Minute – SAUNDERS COMES UP BIG AGAIN!! Off a header by Viatri, The Keeper makes a great one handed save.

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67th Minute – Great corner, but Munoz fires the ball into the stands. Boca looking threatening now.

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67th Minute – Boca earns a corner.

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64th Minute – GALAXY SUBS: A pair of subs for the Galaxy as Berhalter is removed for DeLaGarza while Birchall is removed for Bryan Jordan.

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64th Minute – ANOTHER SAUNDERS SAVE! The Goalkeeper makes a save off a fantastic shot by Midfielder Gaston Rossi. He's truly on tonight.

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63rd Minute – Berhalter and Lewis both make a diving tackle on Mendez right after he breaks free. The pair are both slow to get up and Berhalter will be promptly replaced as Bruce Arena will take no chances.

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61st Minute – Josh Saunders has been phenomenal tonight for the Galaxy. You have to remember that he knows a bit about playing top notch foreign opposition after facing Barcelona last season and looking mighty impressive.

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58th Minute – Near chance for the Galaxy as Bowen tries to play a ball to an open Stephens, but the ball is promptly stolen by the Xeneizes.

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57th Minute – If you're following along let me here from you.

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54th Minute – The Galaxy putting some pressure on the Argentinians as Chris Klein fires a shot that just misses the net.

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53rd Minute – FANTASTIC SAVE BY SAUNDERS!! The ex California Golden Bear is really on tonight as he fists away the header by Munoz.

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52nd Minute – YELLOW CARD issued to Gregg Berhalter after a foul on a Pablo Mouche.  Sets up an indirect free kick for Boca.

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50th Minute – It seems a lot of you are psyched for the last episode of something called "Lost". I've never seen an episode of that show no matter how many times that people have insisted. Anyone willing to tell me what it's about?

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48th Minute – A poor defensive play by Boca Juniors nearly results in a chance by Tristen Bowen but Garcia makes the save.

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45th Minute – Only one sub for the Galaxy as Omar Gonzalez comes out for Yohance Marshall.

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HALFTIME – And that's the half here at the Home Depot Center. A very even contest between the two reserve clubs. Check back for more after the half and if you're following along let me here where you're from and who you're supporting.

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45th Minute – Heading into the half, its been a very even half between the sides. Boca Juniors has had the most chances, but no real dangers. One minute of stoppage.

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43rd Minute – Mathis goes down after a hard tackle and it appears that the midfielder is walking a big gingerly.

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42nd Minute – ANOTHER BIG SAVE by Saunders who pushes the shot out for a Boca corner.

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41st Minute – Boca making some dangerous strides as Viatri is all alone in the box but he fires the ball right into the hands of Saunders.

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36th Minute – NEAR chance for the Galaxy as Michael Stephens plays a great ball to Bowen, but Breyner Bonilla intercepts the ball before a shot can be fired.

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35th Minute – ERBES FIRES A SHOT! Josh Saunders makes quick work of the effort with a diving save adn the Galaxy are back on the counter.

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30th Minute – The corner results in nothing, but the Galaxy are quick to retain possession.  The Galaxy are looking every bit the superior team so far.

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29th Minute – NEAR DISASTER FOR BOCA. Mathis shot deflects off Erbes and forces Garcia to make a diving stop that leads to a Galaxy corner kick. WOW

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29th Minute – Michael Stephens putting a very impressive performance out there tonight. The midfielder is easily the hardest working player on the field causing all kinds of pressure. Meanwhile Mathis earns a foul that sets up a free kick just outside teh box.

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26th Minute – Luiano Fabian Monzon with a cracker of a shot that forces a Saunders reaction, but the shot goes just wide.

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21st Minute – For those who are wondering Bruce Arena is manning the touchline tonight. Having flown all the way from Madrid after the Champions League Final to coach his side tonight. Talk about a World traveleer.

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20th Minute – Boca is having a very difficult time cracking the very experienced Galaxy back line. You have to think that both sides are using this as a learning experience and whom better to learn from than the venerable Gregg Berhalter.

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16th Minute – A 16th minute staple at the Home Depot Center, the annual "LA Galaxy" call and response chant by the Riot Squad and the Angel City Brigade. Great atmosphere here tonight.

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15th Minute – A little trickery on the kick, but the effort is for not as it goes out without posing a threat.

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14th Minute – YELLOW CARD Ibarra issued a yellow card after a hard tackle on Tristen Bowen which sets up a free kick.

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12th Minute – The aforementioned Ibarra is the star of this youthful squad that is touring the Pacific in the coming weeks. El Negro has 234 appearances for the Xeneizes

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8th minute – Harsh foul as Hugo Ibarra goes hard on Lewis. A little bit of retaliation for an earlier scrum.

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6th Minute – The Galaxy starting to show some life as they earn a corner kick after a Lewis header is deflected out.

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5th Minute – Boca putting some early pressure on the Galaxy early. as both clubs are looking to feel each other out first.

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1st Minute – And here we go!

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PRE-GAME: Pretty good crowd on hand tonight. The club is expecting a crowd of at least 20,000 on hand tonight. One side that is full is the Boca Juniors fan section that has been shouting and screaming since they were allowed in the stadium. Great atmosphere tonight.

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PRE-GAME– Here are the starting lineups:

BOCA JUNIORS

——-Mouche————-Viatri————-

Erbes—–Gimenez—Rossi———-Mendez

Ibarra—-Bonilla—–Monzon——–Bonilla

———————–Garcia——————

LOS ANGELES GALAXY

——————-Mathis———–Bowen————

Lewis——Stephens——–Birchall———Klein

Cazumba———-Berhalter———-Gonzalez———-Franklin

———————-Saunders————————–

Comments

  1. Man we just can’t stop winning. This team could be the best in MLS history, and during a World Cup year to boot! Can’t wait for the battle on Saturday

    Reply
  2. im argentinian an i like diego maradona ,,, argentina will be at the top of the game ,,, and with diego we will be 2010 champion….
    the coment on the 87 min,, is not true we love diego and the players

    Reply
  3. “57th Minute – If you’re following along let me here from you.”

    Sorry man, I was indeed following, but I missed that comment. So I never replied…

    Reply
  4. mr serrano, you have padilla in the starting line up. I dont know who your thinking of, but its definately Klein.

    Reply

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