GOLETA, Calif. –The LA Galaxy ended their preseason with a victory as they defeated the Colorado Rapids 2-1 at Harder Stadium on the campus of U.C. Santa Barbara.
The Rapids took the lead in the 12th minute off a goal from defender Drew Moor after a defensive miscue from the Galaxy, but LA roared back. Marcelo Sarvas tallied the equalizer in the 35th as he slotted a rebound off a Steward Ceus save on Robbie Keane into the back of the net. LA went ahead for good in the 80th minute when Jack McBean cleaned up a scramble in the box to give LA the win.
The Galaxy ended the preseason with a 5-1-1 record.
LA started the match in the following lineup:
--------------------Cudicini--------------------
Franklin—DeLaGarza—Leonardo--Dunivant
Stephens----Sarvas---Juninho------Clark
-------------Magee------Keane--------------
Odds are if you insert Omar Gonzalez into the lineup for Leonardo that will most likely be the Galaxy’s opening day lineup on March 3.
Gonzalez and assistant coach Curt Onalfo did not make the trip as they are currently at a Herbalife event in Colombia with former Galaxy forward Juan Pablo Angel and the MLS Cup trophy. The pair returns to the U.S. on Saturday.
Marcelo Sarvas and Juninho seemed to have an issue in the center of midfield with Pablo Mastroeni, but as the game wore on, the two midfielders found space to create scoring opportunities.
Mike Magee took a knock and came off in the 71st minute after a kick in the left leg. Following the match, Bruce Arena affirmed that it was just a knock and nothing serious.
After McBean’s goal in the 80th minute, a few of McBean’s friends from Corona del Mar High School charged the field. Could McBean have earned himself a larger spot in the Galaxy rotation this preseason?
LA ended the match with the following lineup
--------------------Cudicini--------------------
Franklin—DeLaGarza—Leonardo--Dunivant
Jimenez----Juninho----Garcia------Cochrane
-------------McBean------Keane--------------
Franklin offered the following thoughts on the exercise: “It was good. This was our last game in prep for Mar 3…I think it helps builds our confident going into our home opener.”
Keane offered the following on the preseason: It’s been good. We’ve done well. It’s always nice to get the result, but for me the most important thing is fitness. Today I was trying to run as hard as I can because that’s the last game before next week. Tonight was more about your fitness than quality, obviously the field didn’t help as well, which is why there wasn’t much quality out there.”
--
Was LA’s preseason a success? What lineup do you expect for March 3?
Share your thoughts below.
