REAL SALT LAKE v LOS ANGELES GALAXY
RICE-ECCLES STADIUM, Salt Lake City, Utah
7 p.m. MT (FSN-PT)
Aug. 30, 2006 (WEEK 23) / MLS Game #148
A massive clash for both teams is ahead on the Wasatch Front as Real Salt Lake and Los Angeles Galaxy look to keep their playoff hopes afloat in a true six-point game. The clubs are tied for fifth place in the Western Conference, three points behind the Colorado Rapids, who currently hold fourth place and the final spot in the MLS Cup Playoffs. Both teams also come off goalfests - but in opposite directions, RSL ripped apart in a 6-0 loss to New York, while the Galaxy handed D.C. United a first home loss on the season by an impressive 5-2 scoreline.
REFEREE: Terry Vaughn. SAR (bench): Fabio Tovar; JAR (opposite): David Bragg; 4th: Feliciano Palomino
MLS Career: 67 games; FC/gm: 31.3; Y/gm: 4.0; R: 20; pens: 20
MLS 2006: 7 games; FC/gm: 30.1 (avg: 29.0); Y/gm: 4.4 (avg: 3.62); R: 1 (MLS: 24); pens: 2 (MLS: 30)
Games involving Real: P2 W0 L1 T1; FC/gm: 22.5; Y/gm: 3.0; R: 0; pens: 1
Games involving Galaxy: P12 W4 L5 T3; FC/gm: 33.6; Y/gm: 3.6; R: 4; pens: 2
INJURY REPORT: REAL SALT LAKE - OUT: DF Paul Broome (L ankle internal derangement); MF Seth Trembly (L knee ACL tear); MF Christian Jimenez (L knee ACL tear); DF Danny Torres (R foot sprain) ... LOS ANGELES GALAXY - OUT: FW Cornell Glen (L knee sprain); MF Kyle Martino (L hip strain); DF Troy Roberts (groin strain); QUESTIONABLE: DF Ante Jazic (L knee sprain); PROBABLE: DF Ugo Ihemelu (L knee sprain); DF Tyrone Marshall (R hip flexor strain)
SUSPENDED: RSL: Jack Stewart (through Aug. 30) ... LA: Ugo Ihemelu (through Sept. 3)
WARNINGS:
SUSPENDED NEXT YELLOW CARD: RSL: Jeff Cunningham
SUSPENDED AFTER TWO YELLOW CARDS: RSL: Jason Kreis, Eddie Pope, Douglas Sequeira, Carey Talley, Andy Williams ... LA: Chris Albright, Herculez Gomez, Ugo Ihemelu, Paulo Nagamura
INTERNATIONAL ABSENCES: RSL: Douglas Sequeira (Costa Rica; Sept. 2 v Austria); Nik Besagno (U.S. U-20 national team)
HEAD-TO-HEAD
ALL-TIME (7 meetings): Real 2 wins (0 shootout), 9 goals ... Galaxy 4 wins (0 shootout), 11 goals ... 1 draw
AT RICE-ECCLES STADIUM: (3 meetings): Real 1 win (0 shootout), 5 goals ... Galaxy 1 win (0 shootout), 5 goals ... 1 draw
This is the fourth and final league meeting scheduled between the Western Conference clubs, the second on the Wasatch Front.
Coaches record: Frank Yallop v RSL: P1 W1 L0 D0 ... John Ellinger vs. LA: P7 W2 L4 D1
2006 (MLS):
4/29: RSL 2, LA 3 (Kreis 6; Harris 74 - Donovan 11; Jones 26; Gomez 60)
5/13: LA 0, RSL 3 (Harris 17; Cunningham 72, 87)
7/8: LA 2, RSL 0 (Gomez 47; Gardner 50)
After the teams traded victories in their two meetings this season - with the road team winning in each match - L.A. won the third encounter at home.
The Galaxy won on April 29 in Salt Lake. The home side got off to a dream start, a long ball from Carey Talley masterfully dummied by Jeff Cunningham, allowing Andy Williams to drive a low cross across the face of goal where Jason Kreis stormed in at the back post to slide in and knock it home (6).
But just five minutes later Landon Donovan pulled the Galaxy level, dispossessing Eddie Pope at the top of the Real penalty area and racing around his U.S. teammate to collect the ball before firing inside the far post.
Then in the 26th minute the Galaxy pulled ahead, Donovan swinging a pass out to the right flank where Chris Albright whipped a cross into the goal area, Cobi Jones steaming in to dive and head home from close range.
On the hour, the Galaxy increased their lead when Donovan split the Real defense with a perfect through ball from just inside the center circle, Herculez Gomez getting onto the end of it and slotting the ball home.
Real pulled a goal back with 16 minutes left when Kreis drove a low centering pass to the near post for Atiba Harris to nip in and knock the ball home, but Real just couldn't find the equalizer, the job made all but impossible when Kreis was sent off in the 87th minute after receiving two bookings in four minutes.
Real Salt Lake won for the first time ever on their travels, rolling past the Galaxy 3-0 at The Home Depot Center on May 13.
Atiba Harris got the visitors off to a good start, latching onto to a free kick driven to the top of the area by Carey Talley, spinning around Galaxy defender Tyrone Marshall and slipping a shot past Kevin Hartman to put Real in the lead after 17 minutes.
A series of spurned chances left the Galaxy with the opportunity to put on another comeback, but two goals from substitute Jeff Cunningham in the final 18 minutes ended that and sealed the victory for Real.
First, Chris Klein set Talley free down the right flank, and he and Cunningham raced in alone on Hartman, Talley sliding the ball across goal for Cunningham to tap in the 72nd minute. Then three minutes from the end, Jason Kreis looped a ball over the Galaxy defense for Cunningham to bring in alone, and after he rounded Hartman at the top of the box he rolled the ball into the unguarded goal.
LAST MEETING
The Galaxy got two goals in short order in a victory on July 8 at The Home Depot Center, when after a quiet first half, the game burst to life with a pair of goals in the first five minutes after the break. In the 47th minute, a quick throw-in found Herculez Gomez behind the RSL defense near the endline. He skipped back toward his own goal, slipping past two defenders and sent a blast inside the near post to put the Galaxy in the lead.
Then three minutes later the Galaxy were gifted a second. A poor clearance from Scott Garlick was intercepted by Josh Gardner just outside the area, and after he created an angle he drove the ball into the empty net.
Here's Yallop's team (4-4-2): Kevin Hartman - Chris Albright, Ugo Ihemelu, Tyrone Marshall, Troy Roberts - Quavas Kirk (Cobi Jones 46), Nathan Sturgis (Paulo Nagamura 75), Peter Vagenas, Josh Gardner (Marc Burch 80) - Landon Donovan, Herculez Gomez. [Substitutes Not Used: Benjamin Benditson, Steve Cronin, Alan Gordon, John Wolyniec]
Here's Ellinger's team (3-1-4-2): Scott Garlick - Nelson Akwari, Eddie Pope, Daniel Torres - Kevin Novak (Jamie Watson 75) - Chris Klein (Andy Williams 65), Douglas Sequeira, Carey Talley, Mehdi Ballouchy - Jason Kreis, Atiba Harris (Jeff Cunningham 59). [Substitutes Not Used: Chris Brown, Kenny Cutler, Willis Forko, Jay Nolly]
REAL SALT LAKE
Real Salt Lake saw their four-game winning streak come to a crashing halt, suffering the heaviest defeat in club history in a 6-0 loss to the New York Red Bulls at Giants Stadium on Saturday evening. Real fell back into a tie for fifth place in the Western Conference with the Los Angeles Galaxy, both with 29 points from 24 matches, three behind the Colorado Rapids in the fourth and final playoff spot.
LAST MATCH
The Red Bulls had a tie and two losses in Bruce Arena's first three official matches in charge, while Real Salt Lake came in on a four-game winning streak, the longest in club history.
But the match turned quickly: RSL defender Jack Stewart was sent off after just eight minutes when he took down John Wolyniec from behind.
Red Bulls striker Edson Buddle, who did not start, having not scored since July 1, came on at halftime as the match was still scoreless, despite New York's man advantage. But he took just 27 minutes to put the game away with his second career hat trick.
The sixth-year striker - who scored four goals in a game against the then-MetroStars on Sept. 18, 2004 - brought the deadlock when he got onto the end of an early cross from the left and chipped a shot over RSL 'keeper Jay Nolly and just over the line from the right corner of the six-yard box.
Then seven minutes later Buddle headed home a cross from Marvell Wynne on the right from the penalty spot, then in the 72th minute, he picked up low, deflected centering pass and spun to his left foot before driving him a low shot inside the far corner.
That started a stretch of three goals in eight minutes. Jordan Cila made it 4-0 in the 77th minute when he banged home an Amado Guevara corner from the edge of the area, then two minutes later, Todd Dunivant finished off an odd-man counter when he knocked home a Wolyniec pass from close range.
Wolyniec then scored his first goal since being reacquired by the New York club in the 86th minute, pouncing on a cross that wasn't cleared and knocking past the 'keeper to complete the rout. The six goals in a half were by far an MLS record, surpassing the four scored on multiple occasions.
Real head coach John Ellinger made one change to the team that defeated Houston Dynamo 3-1 at home the previous weekend. Jay Nolly came in between the posts in place of the suspended Scott Garlick.
Here's Ellinger's team (4-4-2): Jay Nolly - Kevin Novak (Douglas Sequeira 64), Eddie Pope, Jack Stewart, Willis Forko - Chris Klein (Jafet Soto 78), Mehdi Ballouchy (Nelson Akwari 20), Carey Talley, Andy Williams - Jason Kreis, Jeff Cunningham. [Substitutes Not Used: Chris Brown, Kenny Cutler, Chase Harrison, Jamie Watson]
"It just got uglier and uglier and it's an ugly loss but it's only one loss," Ellinger said. "I still believe in these guys and it's out of our system and we'll move on. We didn't do a lot of the things we talked about at halftime. We just needed to be more responsible. I don't think any of us could have expected this to happen, but I know it's not going to happen again. I know these guys and they'll be better on Wednesday."
TEAM NEWS
Not unexpectedly, Ellinger thought the game changed after just nine minutes when Stewart was sent off. "I thought the call was extremely soft," RSL coach John Ellinger said. "He (Wolyniec) cut in front of Stewart and went down. To have that happen nine minutes into the game with 81 minutes to go on the road, yeah, I'd say it changes things a bit."
RSL survived the first half playing a man down, but then once Buddle scored, it all quickly fell apart. "The first half was a super effort on our parts, but we just had a really bad reaction after they scored the first goal," Jason Kreis said. "We shouldn't have had a letdown like that. Sure, we were in a very difficult position to be in, but we needed a better reaction. That goal broke us."
Then, the reaction over the final 36 minutes was equally troubling. "It was very disappointing to give up one goal like that and then collapse," defender Eddie Pope said. "We should have had a little more effort. It's not acceptable. Everyone has to be disappointed. I don't care where it happens. You never want to give up six goals. I really think this will make us a little hungrier. I think it was a little bit more effort than breakdowns. That's not acceptable, and I will let the team know that."
Real now face a massive game against the Galaxy, as both teams still chase a playoff place. "We know we need 90 (minutes), and to be honest with you, we haven't played good for 90 minutes in a while so we'll need to focus on that," Kreis said.
LOS ANGELES GALAXY
The Los Angeles Galaxy won for the third time in four matches, becoming the first team to defeat D.C. United at home this season in emphatic fashion with a 5-2 victory on Saturday evening at RFK Stadium. The Galaxy pulled into a tie for fifth place in the Western Conference with Real Salt Lake, both with 29 points from 24 matches, three behind the Colorado Rapids in the fourth and final playoff spot.
LAST MATCH
United hadn't won in four league games, but hadn't lost at home and hadn't allowed more than two goals in any league match on the season. The Galaxy, still with a hill to climb to reach the MLS Cup Playoffs for an 11th consecutive season, had lost just once in their last nine league games.
It didn't take long for the fireworks to begin, as the Landon Donovan show took center stage on East Capitol Street. Donovan found Cobi Jones with a fine through ball in the fourth minute, and though Troy Perkins saved the initial shot, Alan Gordon was there to push in the rebound.
United pulled level five minutes later when a Troy Roberts tackle on Jaime Moreno saw the ball crash off Chris Albright and into the corner of the goal, but just after the break the Galaxy again nosed in front when a cleared corner fell to Peter Vagenas, who laid the ball off for Albright to bang home from just outside the area.
The visitors doubled their lead in the 66th minute when Quavas Kirk was tripped up by Perkins as he tried to round him, and while the United 'keeper got a hand to Donovan's penalty, it was powerfully struck.
United got back to within one just three minutes when Facundo Erpen got the slightest of touches on a Christian Gomez free kick to head past Kevin Hartman, but two minutes later the Galaxy saw the margin restored when Bryan Namoff knocked a pass intended for Donovan into his own goal as he ran toward goal with the U.S. international. Donovan then finished off the scoring in stoppage time when he came in on a breakaway and rounded Perkins before slotting home.
Galaxy head coach Frank Yallop made one change to the team that defeated FC Dallas 2-0 the weekend before at The Home Depot Center. Tyrone Marshall made his first start in five matches, coming into the back four in place of Ante Jazic.
Here's Yallop's team (4-4-2): Kevin Hartman - Chris Albright, Ugo Ihemelu, Troy Roberts (Paulo Nagamura 24), Tyrone Marshall - Santino Quaranta (Quavas Kirk 60), Nathan Sturgis, Peter Vagenas, Cobi Jones - Landon Donovan, Alan Gordon (Herculez Gomez 75). [Substitutes Not Used: Steve Cronin, Josh Gardner, Ante Jazic, Kyle Veris]
"My teams are organized defensively, and from that shape we break forward. I think we did that well tonight. Our counterattack play tonight was excellent," Yallop said. "Five goals in any game is good. It was a great win. United throw a lot of players forward and try to outscore their opponents-and they usually do. It's a tough game to play coming here. If you can break well and counterattack, you can get at the back three."
TEAM NEWS
It was another huge victory for the Galaxy as they chase an 11th berth in the MLS Cup Playoffs in 11 seasons.
"I am confident, but you don't know. Salt Lake got beat tonight, but it's a bounce-back time for them. We play them at home at their place on Wednesday and it's a big game, a six point game because we don't want to lose to them," Yallop said. "Obviously we're looking at the Colorado result, the Chivas result, so we might be in a good position by Sunday, but we've just got to do what we've got to do and I think we're on the right track. If we have enough points to make the playoffs, then great. We can't say that this team is going to win every game because it's tough, but we're doing some good things though."
Said Donovan: "This was kind of a statement game. Obviously we have no choice but to get points - we put ourselves in a real bad position, so we figured we were playing well, they were having a tough patch. Every team goes through it in this league and we kind of got lucky with timing, and we put on a pretty good show tonight."
Donovan has scored six goals since July 1, when he returned to MLS from the World Cup; he and Jonathan Bornstein are second in the league during that time to Jeff Cunningham (seven).
"Frank's done a good job of getting guys on the field that put us in a position to be successful," Donovan said. "Getting Santino was huge; he's playing real well. Cobi (Jones) is playing real well and Alan Gordon's done really well up top. It allows me more freedom - guys have to be aware when Santino's scoring goals, Cobi's dangerous, Alan Gordon got a goal tonight - they have to respect that and that gives me more space.
Quaranta had said before the game he would definitely score against his former club. He didn't find the back of the net, but still provided the roadmap to five goals.
"I just know that they can be exploited defensively. They play three in the back and they're not disciplined. They're not disciplined enough," he said. "In the midfield up, they're phenomenal - best team in the league going forward. Defensively, I think that they've got players, but guys are not structured - and it's always been like that. So, I talked to Frank and that's what we looked at: exploiting the outsides and you saw this coming."
It was also a second consecutive game with Cobi Jones and Quaranta starting in wide midfield roles. "It's more of a 4-3-3, probably. I'm not sure Santino and Cobi are defenders, so it's a little more offensive," Donovan said. "We figured that when the ball turned over we needed to get Santino and Cobi up against (United') back three and Alan was going to have a lot of room to run and they wouldn't be able to chase me and it worked out well."
On Tuesday, Ugo Ihemelu was suspended for two matches and fined $750 by the MLS Disciplinary Committee for serious foul play, in the tackle that left United midfielder Domenic Mediate with a broken leg.
