Welcome to Home Depot Center, where I’ll be liveblogging from the press box for Galaxy v. Fire.
This game is interesting because it’s the first for both teams after the All-Star Game, and it’s the first for Freddie Ljungberg for his new side.
The game is on FSC, so sit back, crack open a cold one and enjoy. I’ll be back about 15 minutes before kickoff with lineups, and we’ll see how this goes. Or if anyone is here to comment.
PREGAME: Christopher Sullivan is taller than you’d think. Way taller than JP Dellacamera was last time I was here.
PREGAME: My Airport is acting wonky on my Mac so luckily I have my iPod Touch and the HDC wi-fi password. I’ll be back in a bit with lineups.
PREGAME: Chicago lineup: Johnson, robinson, Brown, Conde, Krol, Banner, Pause, Nyarko, Husidic, Pappa, John. Ljungberg is on the bench.
PREGAME: Galaxy lineup: Ricketts, Gonzalez, Berhalter, Dunivant, Stephens, Birchall, Kirovski, Donovan, Bowen, Buddle.
PREGAME: I see Autoglass with another beer. He’s gonna help out from Section 111.
PREGAME: It really is a gorgeous day here at HDC. No traveling support from Chicago.
AND WE ARE OFF!
1st minute: Confetti makes it tough to see.
1st minute: wow! Immediate chance for the Galaxy but Birchall puts it right into the keeper. Should be 1-0.
4th minute: After the Galaxy choke they get a lesson in finishing from Marco Pappa. Then before I can type this Collins John puts away another giveaway! 2-0 Fire!
Autoglass comment: Dreadful. Remember when American footie was known for stout defense? Our children will never know.
9th minute: This is shambolic for the Galaxy. To quote Autoglass, Donovan might just take the shirt off and leave now. And as I say that, Landon leaves a great ball for Birchall but he doesn’t expect it. Wasted.
Autoglass comment: Nyarko is awful. He’s passing like he’s on the Galaxy payroll. These pacey sh*t-assed players are the scourge of lower level football.
14th minute: Galaxy actually have more of the possession but the two mistakes were horrible. Question is whether they can claw back.
15th minute: Another great cross from Donovan. Buddle gets it on frame but at the keeper.
17th minute: The linesman actually lost his flag. And he called offside without it!
Autoglass comment: How are the Galaxy losing this match? Oh, right, they aren’t marking anyone. I predict 3 more goals.
19th minute: GOAL!!!! Pass across that Donovan misses. A long shot in that Ricketts saves goes right to an unmarked mike Banner. 3-0 Chicago. Amazing.
Autoglass comment: I bet the Dead tribute bands at the OC Fair don’t suck this bad.
24th minute: And again the Galaxy have the most possession but give it away. Someone in the press box just asked if Donovan is playing. Heh.
26th minute: Almost another quick goal but linesman calls offside. He has fixed his flag.
29th minute: Galaxy are trying to settle things down but they are a step behind everywhere on the pitch. On another note, Freddie Ljungberg looks good on the bench. At least I think that’s him.
Autoglass comment: Arena is shutting it down. Let them figure it out for themselves. I recognize this from BU10.
33rd minute: I predict a red card in frustration for the Galaxy. Ricketts makes a save and the rebound is covered. The crowd cheers sarcastically.
37th minute: Nyarko pulls down Dunivant in the box. Clear penalty. Donovan puts it away. 3-1 Fire. Can the Galaxy come all the way back?
43rd minute: Galaxy are trying to get a second. Looking a little better. Great chances but no goal yet.
45th minute: Talking with a Swedish journalist here about soccer. Interesting talk. 3-1 Fire at half. I’ll be back in 15.
55th minute: Sorry about that. Autoglass and I were discussing tactics. Kovalenko comes in for Birchall for the Galaxy.
58th minute: Another top class ball from Donovan leads to nothing. Stephens should have hit it first time.
Autoglass comment: Ref’s doing well. Firm. Good body language. But not driving James T mental by making it all about him.
60th minute: Freddie Ljungberg in for Pappa. He looks sexy. And he’s playing up front in a central role. The Swedish journalist next to me is shocked.
64th minute: Ljungberg gets his first touch. Nothing much to it. This game looks a lot different than the first half.
65th minute: Fire sub on Umanzor for Nyarko.
65th minute: Kovalenko with the yellow for a horrible challenge. Studs way up. Could have been red.
Autoglass comment: Galaxy need to score before they get too winded. Fire are coming apart, but they survive this press, get to the 75th minute and they
are much safer.
69th minute: This game is getting out of control. Galaxy might come back or they might end with 9 men. Galaxy sub Gordon on for Stephens.
71st minute: Every ball from Donovan is really quality. Too bad he has little help right now.
Autoglass comment: The headers have just been awful. Panicky. Straight up. No control. A mark of intelligence and keeping your head. Headers should not be random possession generators.
71st minute: Ljungberg gets into it with the ref. As much action as he’s had so far. We’ve counted five touches this half in the fire offensive end.
77th minute: I dint see the Galaxy getting this back they have all the possession but that final move isn’t there. Galaxy sub Cazumba for berhalter.
81st minute: NO WAY was that a penalty. Cazumba just falls in the box and the ref chokes it. Donovan puts it away. 3-2 Fire.
Autoglass comment: Freddie must have done something while I’ve been typing, right? I mean he’s a Designated Player! Acquired by the Fire for two of my son’s teammates and a packet of crisps.
84th minute: landon again sets up Buddle but he puts it just wide. And just as I type that the galaxy get a great header from Gordon and a great save from Chicago gk Johnson.
88th minute: another great corner in from Donovan but buddle puts it over the bar. Nice drama here.
90th minute: four extra minutes. Galaxy have it all you can totally see it coming. Fun game to be honest. Autoglass has moved out of the sun and nearer the beer.
93rd minute: The Fire gk gets a card for time wasting then handles the ball outside the box. Another Donovan ball wasted and it’s over.
3-2 Fire. Fun game but the galaxy were poor early. An thanks to Autoglass for the view from Section 111. I’m off to interview Freddie.
Last Autolass (sic) comment: While the marking was dire, it was a fun match to watch. Thanks to Stepford for posting my inane droolings.
Bit tough to travel halfway across the USA and support your team on a Sunday afternoon, no?
Also, is the HDC wifi password “Beckham”?
They’d do it for the awful Cubs though
@Orr
To be fair, lots of Cubs fans in SoCal. Often outnumber frickin’ Dodgers fans in LA. They’re everywhere!
Alright, let’s see some goals!
@Orr
THere ya go.
Holy balls, what the hell happened?
LA LOLaxy, more like
Dear Autoglass, when were the US known for stout defending? Did you watch Oguchi Onyewu in South Africa?
Love,
James T
Anyone notice the flag fell of the handle of the linesman
The rout is on
Another goal and just turned on the match–what’s going on?
Holy F**king s**tballfacetits?!!?!!??!?!??!!?
0.o
It’s like the Fire are Puerto Rico in disguise.
And sadtimes for LA….
Are Galaxy thinking they’re still in Houston @ the ASG?
The Galaxy are doing an awesome job of ballwatching on defense, reminds me of a 6 year old game
@Ryan
Fire in a Puerto Rican Disguise… Is that a band name?
@ TNO: that would be a band I would see…
Let him go, Don Garber. He shouldn’t have to endure this crap
whoaaaa (chicago) fire on the mountain
whoaaaa (chicago) fire on the mountain
Nice selfishness by Buddle…
almost another goal for Chicago, this is some pathetic defending
Collins John is fantastic at being offside.
@ James T: agree, but as long as it’s to a club where he can play on a regular basis rather than warm the bench at a club like Citeh
Bit lost too on Chicago’s GK–thought they went with Dykstra, he injured?
Speaking of Landy, I saw on Soccernet today that Moyes said they couldn’t find the funds to pay for him.
@ Ryan: saw that too, but surely they coul sell someone like Gosling to get that transaction down on paper. Oh, wait…
This is lower Championship possibly even League 1. Poor
Landy Cakesssssssss
@ Dawson: I think there’s been some debate on this site as to what MLS equates to and those have been the predominant evaluations.
Some debate? I think I counted more than 1,000 emails on the subject.
@ TSE: Serious? Some of us have way too much time on our hands…and LA is probably going to come back in this one for shared points by the end of it all.
This has the makings of a comeback like Liverpool v Milan 2003, minus the talent on the field and a fat Spanish waiter.
I think the only way Moyes gets Donovan is if Everton somehow loses Arteta or Piennar before the end of the month. They are the only two possible targets for other clubs that would warrant Moyes bringing in a midfielder, and they would also command at least 15 million pounds, which is more than the 10-12 million MLS is rumored to want
If Donovan scores a late winner in this sunday afternoon matchup against the Fire.. That goal>Goal vs Algeria
@ Brian: could see Piennar moving, thought I read in some stories on him he was looking to move on for either more money or a higher profile squad w/Champions League football
I guess what’s funny to me is that every other EPL club is seeing this and thinking, “Hmm, best US player is available for 10-12m, and he’s proven his worth in a brief EPL spell,” yet none of them are trying to get in the conversation.
@Outside Mid
I think Pienaar’s worth discarding, TBH. Showed nothing in the World Cup and if they could get 10m+ for him, they should do that deal. Just my 2 cents
@ James T: was Garber’s declaration an indication of harsh negotiations that some of those clubs don’t have the stomach for as they try to adapt to the homegrown rules and financial qualifications for European football?
@ JT: correct assessment, and hoping that squad is not Tottenham…we already have Jenas wasting space in the midfield, don’t need another.
@OM, if anyone would move it would be Piennar, he has one year left on his contract, and is demanding to be the highest paid player in the squad by a significant amount with stalled contract talks, that said Moyes has no desire to sell him so a team is going to have to make an offere he can’t refuse/ we would need a repeat of the Lescott saga from last year.
@JT: I think it still has to do with a stigma about American players. Think about it, if Donovan, or Bradley the Lesser were say German, they both would be commanding a price closer to 20 million pounds, and Dempsey would not have been able to stay at Fulham for this long especially with his performances there.
@JT
Then the said EPL teams look at teams like Ajax and see players half his age with huge upside and for way cheaper.
@ TNO: think that’s a good point…clubs like Ajax are asking for some of their players to be sold to help their finances whereas MLS has presented a tougher stance to a potential negotiation. That type of stance typically increases the sticker price for a player.
@Tno
Fair point, definitely, though there’s a premium on guys who aren’t too old yet have plenty of exp. Clearly Landon has a lot left to offer someone… I just don’t think it should be in MLS. Seems a waste.
—
@Outside Mid
I don’t think Redknapp would be that foolish.
@Brian: Good point on Bradley the Lesser. Aside from some immediate post World Cup speculation, I’ve heard pretty much nothing about a potential transfer for him.
I don’t think I rate Donovan as high as most other people right now. I mean take out the last 9 months. What was his excuse? He doesn’t have the age excuse anymore like Josmer.
/Goes into witness protection
My favorite transfer rumor of the day: Adebayor to Spurs. Hahaha. Not.
This play-by-play guy is annoying. Sounds like he’s forcing excitement into his voice when he says players names when they’re attacking. Little too Shatner-esque.
I like saying “Dema Kovalenko” in the SAS “Slava Medvedenko” voice.
Nice tackle.
Is it a matter of time before MLS passes the Mexican league? *sound of someone opening Soccernomics*
It’s not so much of a rake as a rape, amirite?
There are more than 2 ways to skin a cat, Bruce. One of them includes diving into the cat with your studs up.
Autoglass is right; that “all about the ref” attitude does drive me mental.
@JT: It’s all about you, innit?
@Anonsters
Nope.
That ball by Donovan is why he needs to be in a better league.
Absolutely right by the Galaxy to keep playing there.
“Even if you’re walking out of Mexico City with a loss, you’re building that culture you need, that winning mentality.” …lolwut?
Step right up and have another here Landon.
A little drama here perhaps?
TSE just jinxed the hell out of Chicago.
The refferee wasn’t influenced by the other team at all
So, was the penno for the handball or the foul on Cazumba? The FSC guys kind of made it sound like it was for the handball
Buddle’s gotta finish that. He’s such pants. As is Bowen’s crossing.
“how many times has Buddle scored that?”
Well sir to be honest..
Heckuva save.
The rook has good keeper skillz
Love me some Alan Gordon, ever since I read The Beckham Experiment
Greats ups from Buddle. He musta cleared at least 2 inches.
Pet peeve on that call there. Gordon’s done nothing wrong, stop protecting the goalkeeper so gd much.
Send him off.
This is half-MLS liveblog, half Autoglass-peripatetic-alcoholism liveblog.