MLS Game of the Week - LA Galaxy at Chicago Fire

Discussion in 'Americas' started by agoo, Sep 25, 2008.

  1. agoo

    agoo Member

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    [​IMG][​IMG]

    Check out ESPN2 tonight starting right now for the MLS match of the week as David Beckham, Landon Donovan and the LA Galaxy take on Cuauhtemoc Blanco, Brian McBride and the Chicago Fire.

    This match has some surprising playoff implications. The Galaxy went winless for three months and have just five points in five games since Bruce Arena took over, but after their 5-2 victory over DC United, the Galaxy are very much in the playoff push. Chicago are looking strong for the playoffs as they sit third in the East and have the most points outside of the top two in each conference.

    If there was going to be an MLS match with international star power, this is it. Of course the Galaxy feature Beckham and Donovan, but also Eddie Lewis on the left of midfield has featured consistently in recent times for Bob Bradley. The Galaxy also have Josh Saunders and his two caps for Puerto Rico and former US Internationals Chris Klein and Greg Vanney.

    For the Fire, Blanco just received his 100th sombrero for Mexico, while McBride is one of the legends in US Soccer. The Fire also feature a pair of Costa Rican nationals in Andy Heron and Gonzalo Segares. Additionally, keep an eye on Bakary Soumare. Soumare is a Malian by birth, but is waiting for his US Citizenship to join the US National Team. At 22, the 6-4 defender is one of the best in MLS.

    This should be a very wide open match as the Galaxy have one of the best attacks in the league and the worst defense. The Fire have struggled for goals and wins since McBride joined the club, but this will be a match for him to get back on track against a pathetic LA defense. Sean Franklin will be tested strongly in this match as the 23-year-old rookie will likely be responsible for McBride.

    Landon Donovan is on fire and is just one goal away from being the 9th player in MLS history to score 20 goals in a year. I think he'll get there tonight as the Gals win an exciting match-up. One unexpected fact is that Donovan would become the first 20 goal scorer with prior experience in the MLS.
     
    Last edited: Sep 25, 2008
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  2. CelticKing

    CelticKing The Green Monster

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    Yep, just tuning in Agoo, hoping for a great game. :)


    GO GALAXY!!!


    I know M21 is probably watching the game and rooting for Chicago. ;)
     
  3. agoo

    agoo Member

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    If you like attacking soccer, you have to watch this match. There isn't a team in the MLS that can beat the Gals by bunkering down for 90 minutes and there isn't a team that the Gals can defend even if they make the attempt to. There should be a lot of goals here.
     
  4. CelticKing

    CelticKing The Green Monster

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    Quick do a prediction Agoo.

    Here's mine

    Galaxy 3 - 2 Fire

    Beckham with a goal
     
  5. agoo

    agoo Member

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    Galaxy 5-3. Donovan, Beckham, Blanco, and McBride all score, but Donovan proves why he's the best in MLS.
     
  6. agoo

    agoo Member

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    Looks like it will be Buddle and Gordon up top with Donovan centrally behind the forwards. Lewis and Beckham on the wings and Vagenas in central mid.

    Solid attacking for the Fire too with McBride and Blanco up top, Thorington in central attack with Mapp and Rolfe on the wings. Soumare and Conde will be key in defense if the Fire are going to win.
     
  7. agoo

    agoo Member

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    One big advantage that you can already see for the Galaxy is that despite Blanco's general vision and skill and McBride's finishing, there isn't a whole lot of speed in the middle of the pitch.

    Early foul in the third by Sean Franklin will give Blanco a shot at goal. The wall is just in front of the D. Blanco sends it straight at Wicks. There's a lot of fatigue for Blanco who is fairly old and has been doing full duty for the Fire and the Mexican National Team.
     
  8. agoo

    agoo Member

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    Strong shot in the sixth minute as Blanco catches up to the ball on the wing and sends it to the corner of the 18 to find John Thorington in stride. Thorington, who leads Chicago in goals, launches a shot, but sends it just over Josh Wicks and the Galaxy goal.

    As I'm typing, there was a quick counter for the Galaxy, but Chris Klein's cross was deflected by Segares and picked up by John Busch in the goal.
     
  9. agoo

    agoo Member

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    Yet another Fire chance while I'm checking out Facebook Scrabble. Thorington and Blanco work in the box to set up a strong shot by Rolfe. Wicks makes the save in the 9th and it results in a corner after a Galaxy defender does something good and clears.

    The corner is too short to reach the Fire players.

    The attack continues as the Galaxy can't get any possession. Segares forces another corner. You know its bad when the opposing full backs are causing issues. The corner goes right to Soumare, and Sean Franklin saves the ball off the line. Beckham clears, but the Fire keep it and send it back in. Blanco with an unexpectedly poor touch and Wicks gets a goal kick.

    Galaxy with some possession in the 12th and their backline is getting forward to keep the ball pinned in. Donovan with his first touches, but the Fire steal it off of him. Beckham gets it on the right and sends it along the ground, but just a bit too far for Edson Buddle.
     
  10. agoo

    agoo Member

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    FIRE GOAL IN THE 13TH.

    It was all Chris Rolfe as he collided with a Galaxy man in midfield, then immediately received the ball from Soumare and started going at goal. Rolfe sends a shot in from just outside the 18 and the shot goes between Franklin's legs and past Wicks. Rolfe has his fifth goal of the year on the Fire's fifth shot of the match. Zero shots for the Galaxy thus far.
     
  11. CelticKing

    CelticKing The Green Monster

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    Galaxy 0 - 1 Fire


    Common guys, keep attacking and score some damn goals.
     
  12. agoo

    agoo Member

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    Allen Hopkins, who is a fantastic sideline reporter, shares that Beckham appears to have "tweaked" his knee. He is gimping around a bit, but it looks like he'll be able to work it out. At least I hope so.
     
  13. agoo

    agoo Member

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    In the 19th, the Galaxy try to put something together, but it quickly gets squashed out by Alan Gordon. Yes, Alan Gordon is a starting forward for the Galaxy, but he sucks something awful. He took a few poor touches, then sent it to where Buddle started his run from...mind you he passed after Buddle started the run.
     
  14. agoo

    agoo Member

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    Beckham with an astounding long ball for Buddle. Buddle works Soumare, but was called for a foul. Soumare had played the ball out for a corner, but Busch is taking the kick for the foul.

    I am more and more impressed with Beckham every time I see him play. The problem is that I don't think people who don't understand the game are going to have any clue what makes Beckham a great player. That's why I never thought he would be the "savior" of American soccer.
     
  15. agoo

    agoo Member

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    Nearly a goal for the international that I forgot to mention, Canada's Ante Jazic comes in from the left and sends in a strong shot from outside the 18. The shot was deflected by Wilman Conde and Busch made an astounding save.

    The Galaxy are finding some possession, but not a whole lot of legit chances.
     
  16. CelticKing

    CelticKing The Green Monster

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    Great to see how many fans are watching this game.

    I hate the drums though. How about you agoo?
     
  17. agoo

    agoo Member

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    Beckham sends a great cross into the 18 in the 28th. It skips past to Alan Gordon who plays off for Donovan's first shot of the match. Busch gets down for the save. He's leading MLS in saves, which is surprising because the defense in front of him is so strong.

    Blanco seems to be getting frustrated some. He's been getting a lot of possession, but has frequently been forced to go backwards because no one other than McBride is hanging with him. Justin Mapp hasn't played in five matches and needs to show why he belongs out there for the Fire.
     
  18. CelticKing

    CelticKing The Green Monster

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    YEAHHHH

    Finally Galaxy score.

    Galaxy 1 -1 Fire


    GO BECKHAM!!!
     
  19. agoo

    agoo Member

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    GOAL GALAXY in the 35th.

    Greg Vanney gets up, sends it to Donovan who pops it over to Klein on the right. Eddie Lewis slips right in and leaps and kicks it into the left corner.

    Galaxy get right back in and Beckham with a corner in the 36th. Gordon gets called for a foul, but he wouldn't know what to do with the ball anyway.

    As for the drums, I like it. I was in the Fort for the Revs taking on Santos and if you're in there with the drummers, they're awesome. Same for when I was in Bayamon for a Puerto Rico Islanders game. They had a whole brass band there with the drums and that was something else.
     
  20. agoo

    agoo Member

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    Blanco sends a cross in in the 37th. Thorington gets it point blank on goal, but Wicks gets low for the save.

    Edson Buddle gets in the box in the 39th and for some reason, he sends it to the middle along the ground. That's always tough, and its even harder when you have to get it through Gonzalo Segares, Wilman Conde, and Bakary Soumare. Its also hard when there's no one there. Buddle needs to take the shot there.

    Beckham gets a bit chippy in the 39th and risked a yellow for a hack on Segares.

    Another quick counter for the Galaxy. Beckham with a brilliant first touch, then plays Buddle to space. Buddle runs and unleashes a shot far post, but sends it just wide. Galaxy are starting to get it now. They can go from nothing to something astoundingly fast. Becks needs to look more for Donovan though, and Donovan needs to get forward more.
     

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