Top 10 moments in LA-NY rivalry

Nate Sulat

Maybe you've heard that the LA Galaxy and the New York Red Bulls are playing each other at The Home Depot Center this Friday.

The buzz is certainly hard to ignore. So to celebrate an historic matchup between two teams at the height of their powers, we've compiled a list of the top 10 moments in the LA vs. NY rivalry.

1. Playoffs?– September 2001

New York and LA have met only once in the playoffs: a three-game series in 2001. After tying the first game, New York and LA split the next two to take the series to extra time. LA were down to 10 men when Mauricio Cienfuegos won the series on a free kick.

2. Beckham Breaks the Turnstiles – Aug. 18, 2007

A pulsating crowd of 66,237 fans were on hand at Giants Stadium as the scorers list read like an All-Star roster: Landon Donovan, Edson Buddle, Clint Mathis and Jozy Altidore all struck for their clubs. But it was Juan Pablo Angel’s stoppage-time strike that lifted the home side to a 5-4 victory over David Beckham and the Galaxy.

3. We Will Not Protect This House – June 9, 1996

Long before Beckham joined MLS – heck, he had only just won his first EPL title – the Galaxy made their first trip to Giants Stadium to take on New York. In front of 53,250 fans, the Galaxy embarrassed the MetroStars 4-0.

4. First Blood – April 13, 1996

Both clubs' first-ever game was a 2-1 Galaxy victory over the MetroStars at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif.

5. Big Mama’s House – June 15, 2002

Mamadou Diallo may not have been the most liked player in New York history, but the fans got over the Mike Amman incident (slightly) when Big Mama scored four goals during a 5-0 rout of the Galaxy in 2002. That score line remains LA’s worst league defeat ever.

6. Esky Is Pesky – July 16, 2009

Alecko Eskandarian earned the ire of New York fans when, as a D.C. United player, he celebrated a goal at Giants Stadium by cracking open a can of Red Bull, taking a sip, then spitting it out on the field. However, he earned their everlasting hatred when, as a Galaxy player, he scored a 30-yard thunderbolt against New York, leading the way in a 3-1 romp of the Red Bulls in the Meadowlands.

7. Hollywood Comes to Harrison – Aug. 14, 2010

Despite missing Beckham, the teams’ first match at Red Bull Arena did not lack luster. Questionable officiating, three young fans rushing the field and a cooly finished goal from Edson Buddle led to a hotly contested 1-0 win for the Galaxy.

8. Ángel the Savior – May 10, 2008

A stunning overlapping run to get on the end of a ball from Dane Richards put Ángel in a one-on-one with the keeper. The Colombian usually wins those, and this time was no different as New York took the game 2-1 at The Home Depot Center.

9. I’ll Raise You a Frenchman - July 15, 2010

The signing of Thierry Henry officially opened the arms race between LA and New York. Previously, New York had been cast in the shadow of LA’s Beckhamania. No more. The Red Bulls officially matched LA with their global icon.

10. Mathis Opens Giants Stadium Account – April 11, 1998

Mathis finished his career as a New York legend, and is second only to Ángel in scoring for the franchise. But Mathis’ first MLS goal came at Giants Stadium—against New York. Mathis sent 29,380 fans home unhappy after winning it for the Galaxy 3-2 in the 86th minute.