NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION vs LOS ANGELES GALAXY
GILLETTE STADIUM, Foxborough, Mass.
August 8, 2009 (WEEK 21) / MLS Game #144
6 p.m. ET (FSC/FSE)
Having opened a stretch of five home games out of six with a draw last weekend, the New England Revolution sit three points out of the final spot in the MLS Cup Playoffs as one of the league's hottest teams comes to Gillette Stadium in the Los Angeles Galaxy. The Revolution saw their shutout streak reach a club record before Toronto FC scored the opener in an eventual 1-1 draw which extended New England's unbeaten run to four games. The Galaxy return to league exertions after a weekend off, their 1-1 draw in Kansas City on July 25 ending a four-game winning streak.
REFEREE: Jorge Gonzalez. SAR (bench): Adam Wienckowski; JAR (opposite): Jason Cullum; 4th: Mark Kadlecik MLS Career: 32 games; FC/gm: 25.9; Y/gm: 3.7; R: 7; pens: 11
INJURY REPORT: NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION - OUT: DF Chris Albright (L lateral meniscus tear/bone bruising); FW Taylor Twellman (concussion); QUESTIONABLE: Gabriel Badilla (R adductor strain), Edgaras Jankauskas (L adductor strain); PROBABLE: MF Shalrie Joseph (R knee cartilage defect/bone bruising) ... LOS ANGELES GALAXY - OUT: DF Sean Franklin (R hamstring surgery); DF Julian Valentin (R foot fracture); QUESTIONABLE: FW Edson Buddle (R foot hyperextension); FW Alecko Eskandarian (nose contusion); MF Dema Kovalenko (L calf contusion); GK Donovan Ricketts (hip pointer)
INTERNATIONAL ABSENCES: none
SUSPENDED: NE: Steve Nicol (head coach; through Aug. 9)
WARNINGS:
SUSPENDED NEXT YELLOW CARD: NE: Jeff Larentowicz ... LA: Omar Gonzalez
SUSPENDED AFTER TWO YELLOW CARDS: NE: Jay Heaps, Kenny Mansally, Pat Phelan ... LA: Alecko Eskandarian, Alan Gordon, Eddie Lewis, Stefani Miglioranzi
HEAD-TO-HEAD
ALL-TIME (30 meetings): Revolution 12 wins (1 shootout), 43 goals ... Galaxy 13 wins (2 shootout), 49 goals ... Ties 5
AT NEW ENGLAND (14 meetings): Revolution 8 wins (1 shootout), 26 goals ... Galaxy 4 wins (2 shootout), 22 goals ... Ties 2
• When the Galaxy defeated the Revolution in their first meeting this year, a 1-0 win on July 4 at The Home Depot Center, it was their first win against New England in 10 games in league play. The Galaxy's last MLS win against the Revs came in a 3-2 result April 3, 2004 at The Home Depot Center.
• Of course, over that timeframe, the Galaxy did win one matchup - a 1-0 extra-time victory in MLS Cup 2005 at Pizza Hut Park in Frisco, Texas. That was the second MLS Cup Final match between the clubs, the first ending the same way - a 1-0 Galaxy win in extra time at Gillette Stadium in 2002.
• After going almost a decade without winning in southern California against the Galaxy, the Revolution had won on their last three visits to Victoria Street before the loss earlier this year.
• The Revs won on their first trip ever to face the Galaxy - a 1-0 win on July 4, 1996 at the Rose Bowl - then went the next 11 visits to face the Galaxy in LA without a victory, going 0-8-3, until a win on April 1, 2006 at The Home Depot Center.
• The teams met this year for the sixth time on July 4, all in the greater Los Angeles metropolitan area. The Revolution have won two and the Galaxy two, with two draws.
• Coaches record: Steve Nicol vs. LA: P16 W8 L4 D4 ... Bruce Arena v NE: P19 W10 L7 D2
LAST MEETING (MLS):
7/4: LA 1, NE 0 (Eskandarian 8)
• The Galaxy snapped a long winless run against the Revolution in league play in a 1-0 win on July 4 at The Home Depot Center.
• Alecko Eskandarian had completed a move just down the hall in a trade with Chivas USA just days earlier, and even with Landon Donovan's return from international duty, he made the start in attack for the Galaxy.
• It took him just eight minutes to open his account with his new club. Todd Dunivant sent in a high ball from the left flank and Eskandarian timed his run perfectly, volleying the ball home at the right post back inside the left stick, his second MLS goal on the season.
• Here's Arena's team (4-4-2): Josh Saunders - A.J. DeLaGarza, Gregg Berhalter, Omar Gonzalez, Todd Dunivant - Jovan Kirovski, Mike Magee (Tony Sanneh 78), Stefani Miglioranzi, Eddie Lewis (Chris Klein 64) - Edson Buddle, Alecko Eskandarian (Bryan Jordan 67). Substitutes Not Used: Leonard Griffin, Kevin Guppy, Dema Kovalenko, Kyle Patterson
• Here's Nicol's team (4-4-1-1): Matt Reis - Kevin Alston, Darrius Barnes, Amaechi Igwe, Wells Thompson (Nico Colaluca 84) - Sainey Nyassi, Jeff Larentowicz, Pat Phelan, Kenny Mansally - Michael Videira - Kheli Dube (Edgaras Jankauskas 61). Substitutes Not Used: Stephane Assengue, Gabriel Badilla, Brad Knighton, Bobby Shuttleworth, Chris Tierney
NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION
The New England Revolution came back for a 1-1 draw with Toronto FC on Saturday night at Gillette Stadium, extending their undefeated run to four games. The Revolution have 24 points from 17 matches, sitting in fifth place in the Eastern Conference, nine points behind division leading Columbus Crew.
LAST MATCH
• The Revolution were coming off back-to-back victories as they tried to move up the table, while Toronto FC were coming off a disheartening loss in Columbus where the Crew scored twice in the final quarter-hour.
•The Revolution had recorded shutouts in three consecutive games and extended their shutout streak to a club-record 385 minutes - surpassing the previous mark by one minute - before TFC took the lead. A shot from Chad Barrett from straight out deflected off the head of teammate Ali Gerba - but fell right to Dwayne De Rosario, who hit a rasping drive inside the far post.
• But after Barrett was sent off with a second yellow card five minutes into the second half, the home side was able to pull level in the 76th minute. Jay Heaps floated a cross to the far post from the left side, and Shalrie Joseph rose highest and knocked the ball back toward the far post. Edgarus Jankauskas reacted quickest and slid home the loose ball for his first MLS goal.
• Revolution head coach Steve Nicol made two changes to the team that defeated the Houston Dynamo 1-0 on the road the week before. Jay Heaps returned from international duty, coming in for Chris Tierney, and Edgaras Jankauskas was given his first MLS start, in place of Pat Phelan.
• Here's Nicol's team (4-1-3-2): Matt Reis - Kevin Alston, Darrius Barnes, Emmanuel Osei (Michael Videira 62), Jay Heaps - Jeff Larentowicz - Sainey Nyassi, Steve Ralston, Kenny Mansally (Wells Thompson 73) - Kheli Dube (Shalrie Joseph 46), Edgaras Jankauskas. Substitutes Not Used: Amaechi Igwe, Brad Knighton, Pat Phelan, Chris Tierney
• "I think we sorted (the problems) in the second half," Nicol said. "Obviously, Barrett getting sent off helped us, but we just couldn't find that killer ball or that killer touch in the penalty box to go on and win the game."
TEAM NEWS
• The Revolution surpassed their previous record for consecutive minutes without allowing a goal - set from April 23-May 21, 2005 - by one minute, before conceding De Rosario's opener. The last league goal scored against New England had come July 4 at Los Angeles.
• "We're making good decisions and we're picking up good spots defensively as far as the back four is concerned," Nicol said. "If we continue to do that and you have somebody like Matt Reis behind you in goal, if you do make a mistake, then you have someone behind you who is capable of getting you out of the mire."
• Edgarus Jankauskas was seeing his first league action since July 11, when he came on as a halftime substitute against Kansas City. Jankauskas had played the full match in the SuperLiga semifinal loss to the Chicago Fire on July 15, but came out of that match carrying a hamstring strain.
• "He's done a great job tonight. He's done literally no training since the last time we played," Nicol said. "We really didn't plan on keeping him on the 90 minutes; the plan was to get him off after 45 and put Shalrie (Joseph) on but obviously when you're one down, it changes things. He did a great job, showed a lot of good progress and scored his goal."
• Said Jankauskas: "Needless to say, I missed 10 days after my injury, and I trained only one or two days with the group. In a sense, it's not going to be easy because you lose your fitness, so you won't get it all back in one day."
• Joseph was expected to swap places with Jankauskas at halftime, but instead came into a midfield role, despite an injured knee that kept him out of the MLS All-Star Game.
• "I was surprised that I was coming into the midfield," Joseph said. "I told Stevie ... that I'm good to go back to my natural position. We've been working all week on my agility and closing down in a defensive position if my knee will hold up. Today, it held up great."
• Nicol will be suspended for the match after he was sent off in stoppage time of the TFC match. Nicol will not be allowed on the bench, nor in the locker room or any other controlled areas until following the completion of the match.
LOS ANGELES GALAXY
The Los Angeles Galaxy return to action after a weekend off from league endeavours, their last match a 1-1 draw with the Kansas City Wizards on the road. The Galaxy now sit in third place in the Western Conference all alone, a point ahead of Chivas USA and Colorado, eight points behind MLS overall leaders Houston Dynamo.
LAST MATCH
• An overflow crowd was on hand to see the first appearance by David Beckham in Kansas City. The Galaxy had won four games in a row, three of those coming by 1-0 scorelines, while the Wizards hadn't scored in two games.
• Claudio Lopez put an end to the scoreless drought with a stunning strike in the 25th minute. Seeing goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts off his line, the Argentinean let fly from behind the halfway line, driving the ball into the back of the net. As Ricketts backpedaled, he crashed into the goalpost and was injured, forcing him from the game.
• But the Galaxy drew level in the 33rd minute. Beckham stripped the ball and played Landon Donovan forward, and the 2008 Golden Boot drove a low shot from outside the box inside the left post for his second goal in as many games and eighth on the season.
• Galaxy head coach Bruce Arena made two changes to the team that defeated the New York Red Bulls 3-1 the weekend before. Mike Magee and Alan Gordon came in up top, replacing the injured Edson Buddle and Alecko Eskandarian.
• Here's Arena's team (4-1-3-2): Donovan Ricketts (Josh Saunders 29) - A.J. DeLaGarza, Gregg Berhalter, Omar Gonzalez, Todd Dunivant - Stefani Miglioranzi - Landon Donovan, David Beckham, Eddie Lewis - Mike Magee (Chris Klein 69), Alan Gordon (Bryan Jordan 81). Substitutes Not Used: Christopher Birchall, Leonard Griffin, Jovan Kirovski, Tony Sanneh
TEAM NEWS
•While the tie extended the Galaxy's unbeaten streak, it was their first draw in eight games. The Galaxy have now played to nine deadlocks on the season, one shy of the club record set in 2004.
• "Earlier in the year, we would have been happy with tying like this. There was a sense of disappointment coming in (the locker room) tonight," said Landon Donovan. We don't want to give away any points now. That's a good sign. At the end of the day if their goalie has that kind of game, we can live with it."
• It was the second league game together this season for Landon Donovan and David Beckham, and they combined on the Galaxy goal. Since their return to the lineup together (Donovan from national team duty, Beckham from loan), Donovan has been involved in three of the Galaxy's four goals.
• "They're playing well. Landon [Donovan] had another good game. David [Beckham] played well. He had a little bit of a knock. And his fitness isn't where he wants it to be right now," Arena said. "But certainly we'll get better each and every week. But I'm pleased with the work of both of those players."
• Donovan Ricketts, in his second game back after missing two games to national team duty with Jamaica, was forced off injured after the Lopez goal and did not play in the Barcelona friendly the following weekend. Ricketts is considered questionable for the Revolution match.
• The trip to New England is the first of three successive road ventures to face top Eastern Conference opposition. They next travel to Chicago (Aug. 19), then continuing on to face D.C. United three days later. The Galaxy have two home games in their next five - against Seattle Sounders FC, as well as a SuperClásico against Chivas USA.
• "These next five games are going to be a great test for us,'' Gregg Berhalter said. "We're facing some good opponents, three of the games are away ... we want to start solidfying our home position and still be dangerous enough to get points on the road. All of this is just the culmination you want to build toward the end of the season. That's when you want to be your strongest.''
• Last Saturday, the Galaxy played another high-profile friendly, losing 2-1 to FC Barcelona before a crowd of 93,137 at the Rose Bowl. The lone goal for the Galaxy came in stunning fashion, a classic freekick from David Beckham. It was the largest soccer crowd in the United States since the 1994 World Cup Final (94,194). The crowd broke the record for the largest attendance involving a team from a U.S. professional league, besting the crowd 92,216, on June 16, 1996 also at the Rose Bowl, for a USA-Mexico and Los Angeles Galaxy-Tampa Bay Mutiny doubleheader.
• "I think we learned a lot," Donovan said. "I don't know how much we can replicate what they do, but little things like how they move and how they space themselves is good to see up close. We played another good game tonight and we're moving forward. It's going to take time, but we're getting there."
