100 Percent Soccer Column: Three ways to watch Copa America in Southern California

Brazil  is using StubHub Center as its training base before the Copa America Centenario. Brazil will play at the Rose Bowl June 4 against Ecuador. The world's oldest soccer tournament, this special edition marks 100 years of the tournament and is being played outside South America for the first time. Carson  Calif., Tuesday, May ,24, 2016.        (Photo by Stephen Carr / Daily Breeze)

Brazil is using StubHub Center as its training base before the Copa America Centenario. Brazil will play at the Rose Bowl June 4 against Ecuador. The world’s oldest soccer tournament, this special edition marks 100 years of the tournament and is being played outside South America for the first time. Carson Calif., Tuesday, May ,24, 2016. (Photo by Stephen Carr / Daily Breeze)

Read this week’s 100 Percent Soccer column here.

And check out the official Copa America song:

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Galaxy draw at home against San Jose

Despite having 11 days between games, the L.A. Galaxy turned in what midfielder Mike Magee called a “lethargic” performance in a 1-1 draw against San Jose at home on Sunday.

The Galaxy were outshot 12-8, and despite taking a late lead on an own goal in the 83rd minute gave up the equalizer four minutes later. Although L.A. has a league-leading plus-12 goal differential, the team still only has one shutout on the season.

“I think we were four minutes away from what we wanted which was three points and that clean sheet we spoke about during the week,” midfielder Steven Gerrard told reporters. “But by no means did we play to our standards. I thought we were average early and lacked a bit of energy and a bit of creativity in the final third.” Continue reading “Galaxy draw at home against San Jose” »

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Dos Santos focused on Galaxy, San Jose after Mexican national team drama

Giovani dos Santos reportedly declined a call-up to the Mexican national team for next month's Copa America Centenario

Giovani dos Santos reportedly declined a call-up to the Mexican national team for next month’s Copa America Centenario

Giovani dos Santos stirred up controversy this week when Mexican national team manager Juan Carlos Osorio left the 27-year-old Galaxy forward off the federation’s roster for next month’s Copa American Centenario. According to Osorio, dos Santos declined the invitation, choosing club over country.

After Osorio released the roster Tuesday, dos Santos declined to speak about the situation this week, saying his main focus will be on the Galaxy leading up to a Cali Clasico match with San Jose at home at 4 p.m.

PREVIEW: Sebastian Lletget does ‘dirty work’ for Galaxy

“The only thing that I can say is that I’m very concentrated on my team,” he said. “I’m working really hard, and I’m looking forward to the game on Sunday. I feel great right now.

The midfielder has been in impressive form recently with five goals and five assists in the past five games.

He has not played for Mexico since the CONCACAF Gold Cup last summer when he missed the final three rounds due to injury and Mexico won the title. Continue reading “Dos Santos focused on Galaxy, San Jose after Mexican national team drama” »

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Galaxy hang on for draw in Philadelphia

Robbie Rogers scored his first ever goal for the Galaxy in Wednesday's game against Philadelphia. Photo by Thomas R. Cordova // Daily Breeze/Press-Telegram

Robbie Rogers scored his first ever goal for the Galaxy in Wednesday’s game against Philadelphia. Photo by Thomas R. Cordova // Daily Breeze/Press-Telegram

Despite being outshot 22-4, the Galaxy stole a point away from the Philadelphia Union on Wednesday on the road on a short week to extend their unbeaten streak to eight.

L.A., which was coming off a Sunday afternoon win over New England, even had a shot for the win, leading for 16 minutes, before a moment of poor goalkeeping from Dan Kennedy on a set piece led to the Philadelphia equalizer.

“We’ll take the point,” Galaxy head coach Bruce Arena told reporters after the game, “but you know when we get the second goal early in the second half, I thought we had to close the game down.”

Continue reading “Galaxy hang on for draw in Philadelphia” »

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Galaxy game day: Back to work for mid-week game in Philadelphia

Giovani dos Santos, left, has scored five goals in four games heading into Wednesday's game with Philadelphia. (Thomas R. Cordova-Southern California News Group)

Giovani dos Santos, left, has scored five goals in four games heading into Wednesday’s game with Philadelphia. (Thomas R. Cordova-Southern California News Group)

The Galaxy barely had time to catch their breath after a 4-2 win over New England on Sunday before jumping on a plane bound for Philadelphia.

L.A. owns a league-high seven-game unbeaten streak. The Galaxy’s only loss was about 10 seconds away from being a draw, if not for a stoppage-time goal from Colorado’s Marco Pappa. Colorado is currently the only team ahead of L.A. in the Western Conference.

Giovani dos Santos is on a tear, having scored five goals in four games. After two sensational chip shot goals in as many games, dos Santos hammered home an equally sensational volley against New England. Continue reading “Galaxy game day: Back to work for mid-week game in Philadelphia” »

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Galaxy survive second-half slip-up against New England, prepare for Philadelphia

Steven Gerrard scores a goal against New England's Bobby Shuttleworth to cap off the Galaxy's 4-2 win on Sunday. Photo by Thomas R. Cordova // Daily Breeze/Press-Telegram

Steven Gerrard scores a goal against New England’s Bobby Shuttleworth to cap off the Galaxy’s 4-2 win on Sunday. Photo by Thomas R. Cordova // Daily Breeze/Press-Telegram

There’s not a lot of time to dwell on the Galaxy’s 4-2 win over New England on Sunday, because the team flies out to Philadelphia on Monday for a Wednesday game. It’s a quick turnaround combined with a difficult cross-country trip to visit a much-improved Philadelphia Union team.

The Union finished second-to-last in the weaker Eastern Conference last season, but are third in the conference after two months of the 2016 campaign. Continue reading “Galaxy survive second-half slip-up against New England, prepare for Philadelphia” »

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Galaxy get reinforcements for 2014 MLS Cup rematch

Galaxy's Steven Gerrard, left, celebrates his first MLS goal with Robbie Keane, right, against the Earthquakes in a MLS soccer game at the StubHub Center, Friday, July 17, 2015, Carson, CA. The score at halftime was tied 2-2.Los Angeles Galaxy vs. San Jose Earthquakes.Photo by Steve McCrank/Staff Photographer

Galaxy’s Steven Gerrard (left, pictured in a game against San Jose last year) will return from a groin injury against New England. Robbie Keane (right) will start after undergoing knee surgery in March. Photo by Steve McCrank/Staff Photographer

The New England Revolution return to StubHub Center on Sunday (12:30 p.m., ESPN/ESPN Deportes) for the first time since the 2014 MLS Cup that ended with the L.A. Galaxy hoisting their fifth league championship and Landon Donovan riding off into the sunset.

The Galaxy’s entire starting midfield from that game is gone now after major roster overhaul. Head coach Bruce Arena carefully constructed a gritty team with depth and a mix of experienced veterans and fresh faces. Amid high preseason expectations, the coach preached patience, saying that at about the two-month mark he would know the capabilities of his team.

Now two months into the season with his team saddled with injuries, Arena joked he needed two more months to figure it out. Continue reading “Galaxy get reinforcements for 2014 MLS Cup rematch” »

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EPL/BPL Weekend TV Preview: Relegation-threatened Norwich City host Manchester United at 4:45 a.m. Saturday on NBCSN

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MLS Mother’s Day Weekend TV Video Preview: LA Galaxy play New England Revolution at 12:30 p.m. Sunday on ESPN

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Dos Santos chip shot saves Galaxy on the road

Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder Ema Boateng (24) leaps over Sporting Kansas City midfielder Roger Espinoza, bottom, during the first half of an MLS soccer match in Kansas City, Kan., Sunday, May 1, 2016. (AP Photo/Orlin Wagner)

Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder Emmanuel Boateng (24) leaps over Sporting Kansas City midfielder Roger Espinoza, bottom, during the first half of an MLS soccer match in Kansas City, Kan., Sunday, May 1, 2016. (AP Photo/Orlin Wagner)

The L.A. Galaxy escaped Kansas City, Kan., with one point in a 1-1 draw after getting outplayed and outmanned by Sporting Kansas City.

“I don’t think we played well today,” Galaxy head coach Bruce Arena told reporters after the game. “We had a lot of issues with this game today. It’s a point. We are going home. We are not looking back.”

For the third straight game, Giovani dos Santos scored for the Galaxy, this time putting yet another beautiful chip shot into the back of the net. The Mexican international has scored four goals in the past three games as he is now returning to full fitness after injuring his left quad in the season opener.

Continue reading “Dos Santos chip shot saves Galaxy on the road” »

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