Toronto FC return home to kick off a long stretch at BMO Field by playing host to an LA Galaxy team that is in the middle of a long Eastern road swing. Toronto FC are unbeaten in three in a row after last weekend’s 1-1 draw in San Jose. The Galaxy were seconds away from a win at D.C. United before a last-minute penalty kick left them in a 1-1 draw. TFC and LA have played to scoreless draws in each of their last two meetings.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
ALL-TIME (8 meetings): Galaxy 3 wins, 8 goals ... Toronto FC 2 wins, 7 goals ... Ties 3
AT BMO FIELD (4 meetings): Toronto FC 1 win, 3 goals ... Galaxy 1 win, 2 goals ... Ties 2
RETURN MATCH: 6/11: LA Galaxy vs. Toronto FC, 7:30 p.m. PT
LAST YEAR (MLS):
5/15: LA 0, TOR 0 [Recap | Highlights | Photos]
6/26: TOR 0, LA 0 [Recap | Highlights]
- Toronto FC have not scored a goal against the Galaxy in 296 minutes, since a 2-1 LA victory, June 6, 2009.
- The teams played to a pair of scoreless draws last season. Three of the eight lifetime meetings have ended in scoreless draws, including two of the four at BMO Field.
- Coaches record: Bruce Arena v TOR: P7 W4 L1 D2 ... Aron Winter vs. SJ: first game
LA GALAXY
The LA Galaxy started their three-game Eastern road swing by settling for a late draw, D.C. United getting a penalty kick in the final minute for a 1-1 draw Saturday at RFK Stadium. The Galaxy have 8 points from 5 games on the season, sitting in second place in the Western Conference.
LAST MATCH
- The Galaxy took the lead in the 12th minute when David Beckham’s curling corner from the left was nodded home by Mike Magee. WATCH
- But United pulled level again through some late heroics by Charlie Davies. After Davies was knocked over by Galaxy defender Omar Gonzalez as he tried to push past in the left of the area in the 89th minute, referee Abbey Okujala pointed to the spot and Davies converted with a cheeky chip down the center of the goal. WATCH
- Galaxy head coach Bruce Arena made two changes to the team that defeated Philadelphia Union 1-0 at The Home Depot Center. Landon Donovan remained home and Chris Birchall was suspended, meaning A.J. DeLaGarza and Mike Magee both came back into the team.
- LA GALAXY (4-4-1-1): Donovan Ricketts – A.J. DeLaGarza, Omar Gonzalez, Leonardo, Todd Dunivant - Sean Franklin, Juninho, David Beckham (Jovan Kirovski 80; sent off 95+), Mike Magee - Miguel Lopez (Paolo Cardozo 75) - Juan Pablo Angel (Chad Barrett 90)
TEAM NEWS
- The Galaxy are still looking for their first multiple-goal game on the season, having one goal in each of their five games on the season.
- “I don’t think there’s much to improve on because I think that we played well tonight. We passed the ball around well, we worked well, we defended well, so we just need to continue that,” David Beckham said. “There’s not much that we need to work on, but we need to just work on obviously playing like that again and hopefully winning.”
- Read: Beckham: We deserved the win against United
- Beckham once again reprised his central midfield role and recorded an assist for third consecutive match, serving the corner for Mike Magee. Each of the last three goals scored by the Galaxy have come from set pieces.
- The penalty kick by Charlie Davies was the first goal conceded by the Galaxy in 201 minutes.
- “I felt we deserved the game. There’s no reason why we shouldn’t be walking away from this stadium tonight with three points,” Beckham said.
- The Galaxy were without Landon Donovan, who was left at home, suffering from a bruised knee.
- “Landon's getting a little rest,” Arena said after keeping Donovan out of training in the week leading up to the United match. “He had a long week last week, with two international [games] and the Philly game. He doesn't need to be out here.” Said assistant coach Dave Sarachan: “It’s early in the year where we can be more cautious.”
- With Chris Birchall suspended, Sean Franklin moved forward to the right side of midfield and A.J. DeLaGarza returned to the back four. DeLaGarza has started four of five games on the season for the Galaxy.
- The game at BMO Field is the second of a three-game Eastern road swing for the Galaxy, which started with the 1-1 draw at D.C. United and concludes with a weekend contest against the Chicago Fire. A year ago, LA lost just once in eight games at Eastern Conference foes.
INJURY REPORT: OUT: DF Gregg Berhalter (L knee MCL sprain); FW Adam Cristman (L knee surgery); QUESTIONABLE: MF Landon Donovan (R knee inflammation); MF Hector Jimenez (R wrist surgery)
INTERNATIONAL ABSENCES: none
SUSPENDED: none
WARNINGS: SUSPENDED NEXT YELLOW CARD: David Beckham | SUSPENDED AFTER TWO YELLOW CARDS: none
TORONTO FC
Toronto FC extended their unbeaten streak to three games, playing to a draw for the second consecutive match, this time a 1-1 result with the San Jose Earthquakes at Buck Shaw Stadium on Saturday evening. TFC has 5 points from 4 games on the season, in a four-way tie for third place in the Eastern Conference.
LAST MATCH
- The visitors took the lead after 27 minutes. Toronto defender Danleigh Borman saw his cross from the endline blocked, then Sam Cronin tried to clear in front of goalkeeper Jon Busch. But it looped right into the goalmouth where Alan Gordon knocked it home. WATCH
- The Quakes pulled even just 11 minutes later. Simon Dawkins played a nifty one-two with Chris Wondolowski at the top of the box before racing into the area and jabbing a shot past TFC ‘keeper Stefan Frei. WATCH
- TFC head coach Aron Winter maintained the same team that came back for a 1-1 draw with Chivas USA at BMO Field.
- TORONTO FC (4-2-1-3): Stefan Frei – Ty Harden, Nana Attakora (Julian de Guzman 46), Adrian Cann, Danleigh Borman - Jacob Peterson, Tony Tchani - Maicon Santos (Joao Plata 65) - Javier Martina, Alan Gordon, Alen Stevanovic (Gianluca Zavarise 63).
TEAM NEWS
- Toronto FC striker Alan Gordon has now scored goals in back-to-back games. Acquired from Chivas USA late in the preseason, Gordon scored just two goals combined last year with the LA Galaxy and Chivas, his lowest output since becoming a regular in the 2006 season.
- “It was physical out there, but if we want to compete in this league we’ve got to be physical,” Gordon said. “I’ve always played that way, and we’ve got other guys who want to do that as well. We can be successful in this league once we start doing the little things right.”
- Read: Gordon excited for Toronto match against Galaxy
- Toronto FC Designated Player Julian de Guzman was able to come on at halftime for his longest shift of the season in the 1-1 draw at San Jose, and received praise for turning around the game.
- “He’s come far, but you have to bring him in slowly and soon he will play 90 minutes. Julian is a good player but what I said, you have to be careful, “ TFC boss Aron Winter said. “To play 90 when you have been away for a while is tough and you have to be careful, now he’s fit and I want to keep him fit.”
- De Guzman came on for defender Nana Attakora, who was removed for a second consecutive match. With the introduction of de Guzman, Jacob Peterson moved to right back with Ty Harden slotting into central defense.
- “Comparing this to last season I think the guys are understanding the system more and wanting to play football. I feel the progress in games and training, in the dressing room makes a big difference,” de Guzman said. “In the long run if we continue to work towards our goal, everyone will see a much different TFC then they did last season.”
- The LA match is the first of three home games in a row for Toronto FC and the fourth in a stretch of five home games out of six from March 26-April 23, with only the trip to San Jose in that time.
- “The way the team was able to react with more concentration, we were more disciplined,” de Guzman said. “The game is 90 minutes not 45. To me the most important time in a game is the first 20-25 minutes. But with the type of second half we had today we can certainly have some positive results on the road this season.”
INJURY REPORT: OUT: MF Elbekay Bouchiba (knee sprain)
INTERNATIONAL ABSENCES: none
SUSPENDED: none
WARNINGS: SUSPENDED NEXT YELLOW CARD: none | SUSPENDED AFTER TWO YELLOW CARDS: none
REFEREE: Terry Vaughn. SAR (bench): Eric Boria; JAR (opposite): Corey Parker; 4th: Geoff Gamble MLS Career: 139 games; FC/gm: 28.5; Y/gm: 3.8; R: 45; pens: 44
The Galaxy will be hosting an official viewing party for the match! Join us Wednesday, April 13 at 5pm at the Alpine Village in Torrance to watch the game. You’ll also have the opportunity to meet Miss LA Galaxy, enter to win tickets to the Galaxy match on April 23 vs Portland and enjoy great food and drink specials! MORE INFO
