LA Galaxy 0, Toronto FC 0
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
BMO Field – Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Scoring Summary:
None
Misconduct Summary:
LA – David Beckham (Yellow Card) 44’
TFC – Javier Martina (Yellow Card) 67’
TFC – Alen Stevanovic (Yellow Card) 68’
LA – Bryan Jordan (Yellow Card) 76’
LA – Juninho (Yellow Card) 78’
LA - Juninho (Yellow Card/Red Card) 93+
Lineups:
LA Galaxy: Donovan Ricketts; A.J. DeLaGarza, Omar Gonzalez, Leonardo, Todd Dunivant; Sean Franklin (Paolo Cardozo 88’), Juninho, David Beckham(c), Mike Magee (Bryan Jordan 75’); Juan Pablo Angel (Miguel Lopez 84’), Chad Barrett
Subs Not Used: Josh Saunders, Frankie Hejduk, Chris Birchall, Michael Stephens
Toronto FC: Stefan Frei(c); Dan Gargan, Ty Harden, Adrian Cann, Danleigh Borman; Julian de Guzman (Mikael Yourassowsky 66’), Tony Tchani, Jacob Peterson; Javier Martina (Joao Plata 85’), Gianluca Zavarise (Oscar Cordon 80’), Alen Stevanovic
Subs Not Used: Milos Kocic, Nana Attakora, Keith Makubuya, Nick Soolsma
Postgame Quotes
BRUCE ARENA
Can you talk about the officiating?
It is what it always is. It’s not going to change.
Your captain looked particularly unimpressed with the officials…
Well, you know, I think maybe David’s (Beckham) yellow card was warranted but the judgment at the end of the game by the officiating wasn’t good.
Tactically, did anything change from this team from what you have seen in the past?
That’s not my job to focus on Toronto, my job is on our team. We have got to get better. We should have had three points tonight.
What did you think about Chad Barrett’s performance tonight?
I think Chad did well, he worked hard. He maybe had a chance to get a goal but I thought he had his best game of the year for us.
How far are you as a team from where you want to be at this stage in the season?
We have got a long way to go. Certainly when you walk off the field and you don’t have three points you know you have a lot of work ahead of you and we do.
CHAD BARRETT
Thoughts on playing your old team?
Like I said before the game, there is a bunch of excitement, obviously I was ready to go. I thought the team did very well today, we came out, we forced them out, and we pressed the game. We got a little open there at the end but we have to try to push forward and score a goal. I think that we were the better team and I think we deserved more than what we got here.
Any interesting crowd reactions towards you?
No, pretty much what I expected… I think some of them still have got a little love for me though. It was fun playing for them again. They are great fans, making tons of noise. They were making it hard for me and Juan Pablo (Angel) to communicate on a couple of plays and that’s important when you are trying to do dummies or you are trying just to link-up up top. The twelfth man really stepped up today and took control.
DAVID BECKHAM
Thoughts on playing against Toronto…
It was a good game. I think that we’ve played some of our best soccer that we’ve played this season. We had the chances we just couldn’t put them away. I think when you have that many chances sometimes you need a bit of luck on your side and we just didn’t have it. We hit the post, we hit the crossbar a couple of times and we had the majority of the play and the majority of the chances. But it’s disappointing; obviously we want to win these games
You have been playing more central midfield these days…
Yeah, you know the last few games I’ve played in the center and I’ve enjoyed myself. We’ve played some good games. Yeah, I’m enjoying it.
How would you assess the MLS experience overall?
I’ve enjoyed it, it’s been great. I think off the field it has been very, very successful. I think there‘s franchises coming into the league, I’ve spoken about that so many times. I want to be successful with the Galaxy. We’ve been close the last two seasons and hopefully that is the season.
Thoughts on the yellow card…
To be honest, over the last few games, I’ve spoke too much about referees. They are becoming the stars of the MLS and that’s obviously not what team’s want and clubs want. You want the players to be playing out there; you want it to be fair. I just don’t think the consistency is there. I think there are bad calls and we’ve had the majority of bad calls over the last few games. It’s ruining games, it’s ruining our preparation for games. I’ll probably get in trouble but it’s gone on too long now. We want that consistency to be there and we want to keep our players on the field.
What do you think of the Toronto FC?
I think they are a good team, they pass the ball around well. They’ve good got players in their team but I think we have a better one than that. I think we played the better soccer, I think we created more chances. It’s just disappointing because when you have that many chances it’s disappointing that you can’t come away with three points. But, it could be worse, we could have lost the game.
Aron Winter
Overall assessment:
It was a game of two phases. We didn’t start too well, and LA had some good opportunities. We tried to play our own game, and we had some opportunities as well. Still, 0-0 was a good result.
Obviously you want all 3 points at home, but talk about this being a good result:
Well, because this morning Alan Gordon had a lot of problems and couldn’t play. In the afternoon Maicon also got the flu, and then at the last minute he had to change his place on the roster, and that is why the result is very good.
The decision to not start Nana, was that tactical?
Yes, Nana at the moment is in a difficult situation because he isn’t able to perform as he was in the pre-season, and the other guys who are starting are playing well. But Nana, his time is coming.
Talk about the slow start, it seems to be becoming a bit of a trend:
I hope it’s not going to be a trend, because in the beginning of the game it’s always important that you start the game very well, to concentrate, and be a little bit aggressive. The way we started was not very well, because most of the time we are making the opponent stronger, and today they didn’t score but they could have in the first minute. We got lucky they didn’t score and then we could come into the game. It’s also difficult because we had to be a little creative to get the balance in the team, and that’s why I said before that the draw was a good result.
Adrian Cann
Thoughts on the game:
I thought at the beginning of the game we started a little cold, it wasn’t going that good, but after the 15 minute mark we got things together going forward. I thought there was good combination between Jake, Julian, Gianluca, and a couple other guys, and got the ball out wide as well, so I thought we did alright. In the second half the game kind of opened up, there were more spaces in the midfield, so it was easier for our midfield to turn with the ball and distribute. It was unfortunate we couldn’t pull away with the three points, but it’s a part of the game. So it ended 0-0, its kind of disappointing, but I thought the guys did well.
Thoughts on going up against Juan Pablo Angel and Chad Barrett:
It was good. It was good to see Chad again. They were aggressive, but I thought we did alright. I thought Ty and the rest of the defenders handled them alright. They had a few opportunities at the beginning of the game, but other than that nothing too crazy. All in all, I thought the team played well.
Julian de Guzman
Thoughts on the game:
I think the guys did an excellent job. I can’t say it was one of our best games, but you could see that the guys showed a lot of unity, character, and passion, and that’s why we came out with a positive point. LA had moments to score but I think the reason they weren’t able to score is because of the determination we had and the unity we showed on the pitch. Regardless of the situation with Maicon getting sick before the game, and Gordon stepping out with his injury, and with the lineup we had to set at the last minute, the guys reacted very well, very positive, and we showed some bright moments as well in the game. I think the more we continue to play together and understand the system, the more confidence we will have.
Reflection on matching up in the central midfield against Beckham and Juninho:
It was a lot of work, but I had great support from Tony and Jacob. They did an excellent job in the midfield. There were maybe moments in the beginning of the game we were a bit unorganized, but we were able to sort ourselves out after the first 20 minutes, and give them a hard time after that. At that point we were able to get confidence and play our game, and we were able to give them problems. I think the support of Tony and Jacob made my job easier, and the more we get to play together, the more comfortable we will be in the future. From my standpoint I was happy to start the game, and get my first hour in five months, that’s the way for me to get game-fit, as I’m still in preseason mode. But with more games like this I could see myself being 90 minutes fit close to the end of the months.
Notes:
- With the draw, the Galaxy are now 2-1-3 on the season, giving them nine points. They are now tied with Colorado and Real Salt Lake for first place in the Western Conference, though those two teams are in action against one another tonight.
- Galaxy head coach Bruce Arena made just one change to the team that drew 1-1 with D.C. United on Saturday night with Chad Barrett returning to the starting lineup in place of Miguel Lopez, who started the game on the bench.
- Chris Birchall returned to the 18-man squad after sitting out Saturday’s game while serving a suspension for a red card that he was shown against Philadelphia on April 2. He took the spot of Jovan Kirovski on the bench, with Kirovski suspended after being sent off late against D.C. United.
- In addition to Kirovski, the Galaxy were once again without Gregg Berhalter, Adam Cristman, Landon Donovan and Hector Jimenez, who all missed the game through injury.
- With Donovan injured, David Beckham wore the captain’s armband for the third time this season.
- Tonight’s game was scoreless at halftime. The only other time LA was tied 0-0 at the half of a game this season was the season opening win over Seattle at Qwest Field on March 15.
- In five games all-time at BMO Field, the Galaxy have scored just twice, with both coming in a 2-1 win in 2009.
- This was the first time this season that the Galaxy did not score a goal.
- The Galaxy came closest to scoring in the first half when Chad Barrett hit the crossbar with a left-footed shot in the 13th minute. WATCH NOW
- Both Todd Dunivant and David Beckham struck Stefan Frei’s left hand post in the second half. Dunivant had a shot deflected off the post early in the second half while Beckham hit it with a freekick in the 70th minute. Watch: Dunivant shot hits post | Watch: Beckham freekick nail post
- David Beckham was shown a yellow card in the 44th minute of the game meaning that he will be suspended for LA’s next game on Sunday in Chicago. Watch: Beckham sees yellow
- Beckham has now been booked a league-high five times, leaving him one shy of matching his MLS career-high of six, which he set in 2008.
- Bryan Jordan and Juninho were each given their first bookings of the season in the second half.
- Sean Franklin was replaced by Paolo Cardozo in the 88th minute. This was the first time this season that he did not play the full 90 minutes.
- Juniho was shown his second yellow card in final minutes of second half stoppage time, giving him the first red card of his MLS career. He will now be suspended for Sunday’s game against the Fire at TOYOTA Park. Watch: Juninho sees red
- Now, only Todd Dunivant and Leonardo have played every minute of LA’s six games this season.
- Donovan Ricketts made three saves in the game to keep his second clean sheet in three appearances this season. The only goal that he has allowed is Charlie Davies’ 90th minute penalty for D.C. United on Saturday night.
- In four career games against Toronto FC, Ricketts is now 2-0-2 and has allowed just one goal.
- The Galaxy are now 1-1-3 all-time at BMO Field, with all three draws coming from 0-0 draws.
- The attendance for tonight’s game was a sellout crowd of 22,453
- The Galaxy are back on Sunday afternoon when they round out their three-game road trip against the Chicago Fire. That game will kick off at 1 p.m. (PT) and can be seen live on TeleFutura. Prime Ticket will have the game back in Southern California on tape delay, starting with the Galaxy Live pregame show at 4:30 p.m.
