In a game that The Galaxy needed to win to stamp their authority on the MLS, their frailties were on show as they collapsed in a 4-1 defeat against DC United on a hot Sunday morning.
Despite the heat, the match was played at a great tempo with the score-line flattering the home side even though they certainly looked good going forward. The first goal came by way of a clumsy penalty given away by the Galaxy within the first few minutes. Galaxy replied by getting the ball in the net, only for Donovan to be ruled offside from Beckham's cross bent across the goalmouth. Buddle equalised for the Galaxy after a defensive mix up leaving defenders on the floor and Buddle swiping the ball over the approaching 'keeper. Both teams continued to press and DC came back to edge in front in the first half.
The second half was played at an equally impressive pace, but Galaxy's defence let them down and they ended up conceding two more goals and running out with a big loss.
Beckham played his part helping Galaxy to apply pressure from the long ball game, but at the end of the day, DC were the more convincing side in both attack and defence. Good entertainment, but not much help in the fight to win the league.
Sunday, 29 June 2008
Saturday, 28 June 2008
Galaxy v DC United
LA Galaxy travel to the East Coast to take on DC United on Sunday this week. LA Galaxy stalled the winning streak last time out and had to make do with a draw. A recovery is needed this weekend.....
Saturday, 21 June 2008
L A Galaxy 3 Columbus Crew 3
Galaxy have been flying high with four wins out of five, Columbus Crew have not been doing so well, ending a win-less streak on their last outing.
Both teams came out fighting in the sweltering heat, Galaxy taking the early advantage on 4mins when the keeper fumbled a Beckham cross and Donovan put it away. The Galaxy had a host of chances to increase their lead in the first half and looked to be in control, despite not increasing their lead.
Buddle then scored the best goal of the match early in the second half when he skipped past defenders and curled the ball around the keeper from close range. For me, Buddle is increasingly looking like a top quality player with the ability both to take defenders on and to finish effectively. In the 67th minute, Columbus managed to pounce on a ball bouncing off the back of a Galaxy defender in the area, this was the start of the comeback. Just four minutes later their second came from a penalty when Klein was adjudged to have fouled Rogers. Ten minutes on and Galaxy were given a penalty when Beckham was bought down (after more fine work from Buddle), Donovan squeezed the penalty past the keeper and The Galaxy were ahead, but only for a few minutes when another penalty-area scramble led to the second equaliser for Columbus. Beckham squandered another shot in the closing stages and overall The Galaxy will feel that they gave points away today.
Both teams came out fighting in the sweltering heat, Galaxy taking the early advantage on 4mins when the keeper fumbled a Beckham cross and Donovan put it away. The Galaxy had a host of chances to increase their lead in the first half and looked to be in control, despite not increasing their lead.
Buddle then scored the best goal of the match early in the second half when he skipped past defenders and curled the ball around the keeper from close range. For me, Buddle is increasingly looking like a top quality player with the ability both to take defenders on and to finish effectively. In the 67th minute, Columbus managed to pounce on a ball bouncing off the back of a Galaxy defender in the area, this was the start of the comeback. Just four minutes later their second came from a penalty when Klein was adjudged to have fouled Rogers. Ten minutes on and Galaxy were given a penalty when Beckham was bought down (after more fine work from Buddle), Donovan squeezed the penalty past the keeper and The Galaxy were ahead, but only for a few minutes when another penalty-area scramble led to the second equaliser for Columbus. Beckham squandered another shot in the closing stages and overall The Galaxy will feel that they gave points away today.
Sunday, 15 June 2008
San Jose Earthquakes 0 LA Galaxy 3
Fantastic result for the Galaxy as their season really starts to take off. Beckham had a reasonably quiet game although having an early chance to score, sent the ball high over the bar.
Donovan and Ruiz missed this match due to international commitments and Gordon is suspended. The burden of responsibility fell to Buddle and he did not disappoint with his second hat-trick of the season.
Buddle opened the scoring on 6 minutes when Beckham casually lobbed the ball into the box for Tudela to nod down to Buddle’s feet. Buddle struck the ball sweetly on the volley to sneak it in the left-hand corner from the edge of the box.
It was nearly a hour later when Buddle got his second via a diving header in the 63rd minute. Five minutes later saw Randolph crossing from the left and Buddles header found the net once more for the hat-trick.
In the last five, Buddle missed a chance to score a fourth when Beckham put him behind the defence with only the keeper to beat.
The Galaxy are fast becoming a force to be reckoned with in the West…Wednesday, 11 June 2008
What is Capello thinking?
The game in Trinidad was admittedly largely a PR exercise tightly related to England's bid to host the World Cup. The game was never seriously competitive and many were left wondering whether there was any value in the game at all.Curious then, that Capello should choose that game to hand Beckham the captain's armband. Some have suggested that sentiment played a part, but Capello is not usually given to sentiment. Although John Terry was not present (many people's favourite for the captaincy), Rio Ferdinand was surely more likely to wear the armband than Beckham?
I hope this odd choice signifies that Capello has serious plans for Beckham in the run-up to the next World Cup and indeed sentiment had nothing to do with the choice. One more preparation game to come in August before World Cup qualification starts in earnest in September...
Sunday, 8 June 2008
LA Galaxy 3 Colorado Rapids 2
Having suffered a 2-0 loss to Toronto last weekend when missing both Beckham and Donovan from the squad due to international commitments, Galaxy got back into winning ways this Saturday against Colorado Rapids.
Beckham played his part in the win and stayed on the field for the full ninety even after playing in two successful internationals last week and flying half-way around the world.
Pires, Buddle and Allen all found the net for The Galaxy this week, they found themselves 2-0 up after the first half, going 3-0 up after 5 minutes of the second half. Colorado didn't give the game up and continued to battle pulling one back in the 73rd minute and another 10 minutes later. Galaxy managed to hold onto their lead to go top of the Western Conference.
Beckham played his part in the win and stayed on the field for the full ninety even after playing in two successful internationals last week and flying half-way around the world.
Pires, Buddle and Allen all found the net for The Galaxy this week, they found themselves 2-0 up after the first half, going 3-0 up after 5 minutes of the second half. Colorado didn't give the game up and continued to battle pulling one back in the 73rd minute and another 10 minutes later. Galaxy managed to hold onto their lead to go top of the Western Conference.
Sunday, 1 June 2008
Trinidad 0 England 3
England last met the 'Soca Warriors' in the 1996 World Cup and were relieved to squeeze two goals in during the last 10 minutes to win the game 2-0 on that occasion.
This time in the Trinidadian heat, England quickly asserted their superiority with two goals in the first fifteen minutes.
Capello rang the changes replacing six from the starting lineup from the last game. Two of those players combine for the first goal with Bridge setting up Barry to volley past a flailing keeper from short range on 12 minutes. Three minutes later, another replacement Stuart Downing put Defoe into space and Defoe slipped it past the keeper for England's second. A lot of the action was on England's left and Beckham was seen to wander over to the left on occasions to get a sniff of the ball.
Trinidad started to find their feet after 25 mins or so Carlos Edwards having the best chance, but David James was well-positioned to pluck the ball out of the air. A few minutes later, Dean Ashton had an excellent chance to capitalise on a glorious cross from Beckham, but he failed to control the volley.
The second half saw substitutes-a-plenty with Beckham giving way to Bentley again. After 5 minutes of the second half, Bentley provided a cross which found the head of a defender, the ball dropped at Defoe's feet who put the ball away for his second goal of the night and England's third. More substitutions saw Walcott come on for England and Dwight Yorke for Trinidad.
England remained firmly in control to record another victory where any other result would have been disastrous.
Beckham's views were that he was surprised but honoured to be picked as captain, and was looking forward to starting the World Cup qualifiers.
This time in the Trinidadian heat, England quickly asserted their superiority with two goals in the first fifteen minutes.
Capello rang the changes replacing six from the starting lineup from the last game. Two of those players combine for the first goal with Bridge setting up Barry to volley past a flailing keeper from short range on 12 minutes. Three minutes later, another replacement Stuart Downing put Defoe into space and Defoe slipped it past the keeper for England's second. A lot of the action was on England's left and Beckham was seen to wander over to the left on occasions to get a sniff of the ball.
Trinidad started to find their feet after 25 mins or so Carlos Edwards having the best chance, but David James was well-positioned to pluck the ball out of the air. A few minutes later, Dean Ashton had an excellent chance to capitalise on a glorious cross from Beckham, but he failed to control the volley.
The second half saw substitutes-a-plenty with Beckham giving way to Bentley again. After 5 minutes of the second half, Bentley provided a cross which found the head of a defender, the ball dropped at Defoe's feet who put the ball away for his second goal of the night and England's third. More substitutions saw Walcott come on for England and Dwight Yorke for Trinidad.
England remained firmly in control to record another victory where any other result would have been disastrous.
Beckham's views were that he was surprised but honoured to be picked as captain, and was looking forward to starting the World Cup qualifiers.
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