MLS Postgame Quote Sheet
LA Galaxy vs. Seattle Sounders FC
Saturday, September 21, 2013
StubHub Center
LA GALAXY HEAD COACH BRUCE ARENA:
On the physical nature of the game:
"It was a physical game and the referee decided in the first half not to call anything and then in the second half, in the last fifteen minutes, he called everything. So it was a little inconsistent at that end, but having said that, it was a fair game, hard fought, two good teams.”
On Juninho's goal:
"We have been waiting all year. It is probably his first goal of the year. On the night, we had a couple of good looks at the goal and we didn't force their ‘keeper into making a whole lot of saves. I don't know what the statistics say, but the final product on the night for us was poor. It was obviously the difference in the game.”
On the play of Jose Villarreal:
"Jose did a good job, he is still a young player, playing against a team with experienced players in the back obviously. They played us hard. They fouled us a lot, obviously they had a player sent off because of that, but he did a good job. We just weren't good enough in the final third of the field with the final pass or our look at the goal and it made a difference in the game. We obviously had the one goal called back, I think the officiating was a little bit inconsistent. If that was a foul, then maybe Eddie doesn't get his goal in the first half. In a tight game like that, those kind of plays and calls can determine the outcome."
LA GALAXY FORWARD ROBBIE KEANE
Overall thoughts on the game:
“It’s certainly a game that we deserved to win. They got (the first) goal and then we did well to get back into it. And, certainly, in the second half, we had a much better team but unfortunately we couldn’t break them down.”
On if team was unlucky not to score a goal in the second half:
“Yeah, it was a little off. Things weren’t falling. A lot of balls into the box, a few ricochets here and there, but they just didn’t fall for us. It’s just one of those things. But we played well. We’re certainly the better team. It’s a game obviously we wanted to get three points but we didn’t.”
On the Supporters’ Shield race:
“There’s a lot of points still to be got. It’s certainly not over but of course the ball is certainly in their court, there’s no question about that. But as long as we push and keep pushing until we give ourselves a good spot in the playoffs we will be fine.”
LA GALAXY MIDFIELDER JUNINHO
On scoring his first goal of the season:
"I saw the goalie leave the side open, I hit it very well and scored the goal. It’s very important to me to start scoring goals again. I'm feeling very good."
On his goal celebration:
"My wife is pregnant, four months already, and wanted me to incorporate the baby into the celebration."
On the battle in the midfield:
"We played against a good team. They have [Osvaldo] Alonso and [Mauro] Rosales. It's tough to play a team like. They scored first and then I got the tying goal. They played well but we got the tying goal."
On the game being a physical affair:
"Both teams played very hard. We lost two points at home. It's not good for us. But we have keep going on and move on. It's tough. We look at our table and we need to pick up points. It doesn't matter if it's home or away we (need) to get points again."
LA GALAXY DEFENDER TODD DUNIVANT
On the atmosphere in the StubHub Center:
“Our fans did a great job of kind of drowning them (Seattle fans) out. I heard them in warm-ups for a couple of seconds and then that’s about it. Our fans did a great job of drowning them out. Whatever they did, we did five-fold and that added to the atmosphere.”
On Juninho’s goal:
“It was a beauty. We needed that. It was timely, it was at the end of the half and it was a beautiful freekick. He’s been working on it so much in practice and we see him hit them all the time in practice it was only a matter time before he put one in and tonight he put in a beauty.”
On the result:
“I don’t think you are satisfied, but it is not the end of the world. We are moving along. It was another good performance from us, limiting their chances, again, really good. There was a little bit of a consuming on that set piece that left Johnson free, but other than that we defended well and didn’t give them anything.”
LA GALAXY DEFENDER OMAR GONZALEZ
On Eddie Johnson’s goal:
“Their goal I just got picked and Eddie ran free. Right before the play happened, I remember looking over to Gyasi and saying, ‘watch for the pick,’ and as I’m saying he pushes me and I try to catch up and then I get picked and he runs free. So, it was a good play for them. There’s not much I could do after I got picked.”
On the team’s performance:
“Other than that single play, I thought we did fine. There were a couple of other breakdowns they could have done better with but other than that I thought we were pretty good on the night.”
SEATTLE SOUNDERS FC HEAD COACH SIGI SCHMID
On the result of the game:
"Obviously we are pleased to get a tie, it's a tough building to play in and they are a good team. We got the first goal, but I think they had a little bit more possession than we did if you look at the game. We had some very dangerous chances, even late in the game with Evans almost getting in their twice, Eddie had a look as well, I think we had opportunities to get a second goal but it is what it is, an end to end game, it was a good game for the fans, an exciting game, not always the best soccer though."
On the status of forward Clint Dempsey:
"Dempsey was hurt before we left, hopefully he will be back for the New York game. It is something we have to see, it is a little bit of a hamstring and we will see how he recovers over the next three to four days. He is getting treatment in Seattle right now, so we will check on Tuesday and see where he is at, then monitor him the rest of the week."
On LA’s goal by midfielder Juninho:
"Well I don't know why we had a minute extra in the first half. I don't think anything happened in the first half, there were no injuries, there was nothing, so why we played extra I am not quite sure, but it was a minute extra and a foul that we gave away. He hit a great free kick. I don't think the wall was set the best, the ball was in an awkward spot."
SEATTLE SOUNDERS FC DEFENDER ZACH SCOTT
On his second yellow card:
"He made the call. How the game was going, I thought there were several calls that he may have missed on their end, but in the end, refereeing is never something we can complain about, I thought we did what we were asked to come in here and do."
On how the team played:
"I thought in the beginning of the game we played tremendously well and we should have got a least a couple more. In the second half it was more of weathering the storm, we knew they were going to come out fast, and we were able to go in on a counter, our opportunities to do that were good, but some games just go like that. We will move on, we are happy to come in here and play a better game than the last time we were down here."
SEATTLE SOUNDERS FC GOALKEEPER MICHAEL GSPURNING
On the result:
"I think the result is secondary, tonight we showed a great effort, which is important to us after the first game we played here. I think we played really well and had great chances, even to win the game. We took a point, and we move on."
On defending Juninho's free kick:
"Don't whistle the foul (laughs). No, it was a perfect free kick when the ball came over the wall. I think it even bounced on the line."
SEATTLE SOUNDERS FC MIDFIELDER ADAM MOFFAT
On his overall thoughts on the game:
"It was a great game, when it was 1-1 the game could have gone either way. I think the game shortened up a little bit and we had some chances."
On joining a new team at this point of the season:
"It can be tough, and a bit of an adjustment. There were a few things maybe tonight, you know, guys runs, you just kind of get used to the more you play. Hopefully that will come with the more minutes I play. It would be great to win the Supporters’ Shield, I've won it twice with Columbus, so to come to a team at this part of the year is a good time, the team is doing great."
