Sunday Galaxy Gameday
As far as regular season MLS games go, they don't get much bigger than the one scheduled for noon on Fox Soccer Channel Fox Sports West between Houston and the Galaxy: sole possession of first place in the Western Conference is on the line with only two games left in the regular season.
Glenn Davis chronicles the reasons to watch for the uninitiated.
Now excuse me, but I must brunch before the game begins.
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About 100 Percent Soccer
Sportswriter Nick Green has written the 100 Percent Soccer column since 2005 for the Daily News, Daily Breeze and other Los Angeles area newspapers. The blog of the same name began in 2007. A native of England, he began writing about soccer in the mid-1980s and in 2000 permanently exchanged a seat in the stands for one in the press box. He lives six miles from Carson's Home Depot Center, home of the Los Angeles Galaxy, Chivas USA and the training headquarters for U.S. Soccer and is married to a long-suffering soccer widow. Join Nick on FaceBook and follow him on Twitter.
Big game, yes. Good game for the Galaxy, no. A point is a point, but not much to look at and three would have been better.
Houston hustled more, mostly controlled the midfield, and generated more chances. Ricketts saved the day at least twice.
Buddle was unlucky not to score on what was really the only serious defensive error of the day by Houston. Donovan entered early in the 2nd half and played reasonably well but didn't get serious looks. Beckham tried to get the blood stirring late by overreacting to a challenge and provoking a scrum, which eventually got Ching (deservedly) sent off but didn't change the dynamic of the game much.
Still, Houston is a good team and the Galaxy matched them. They neutralized Stuart Holden and Ricardo Clark.
Makes me optimistic for the playoffs. It will take some luck (as always), but the Gs can be competitive with the best.
Who deserved to get sent off was Beckham, but MLS is doing everything it can to appease their (supposed) cash cow, and keep him filling MLS stadia (which actually hasn't happened in two years) for as long as possible before he buggers off to Milan to spend a few months banging heroin chic super models ...
The weak link early on were the forwards, especially Buddle, who could not a get jump on the ball and read the passes coming in early in the game. Rickettes was HUGE.
Beckham's foul was not red-card worthy at all. Ching's red card was a bit harsh but maybe warranted based on his stupid factor. Dema was a welcome addition back in the lineup in what was more of an indoor game. At HDC we would beat them easily.
All in all, a very polite finish in the West where no one wants to go thru the door first. Next weekend will be fun.
PS - Jeff Cammeron is ready for international duty. Call him in Bradley. Or better yet, Gulati call in Kinnear who WILL call in Cammeron.