Starting XI: LA Galaxy vs. Portland Timbers FC | April 10, 2016

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LA Galaxy Starting XI


Brian Rowe; Robbie Rogers, Daniel Steres, Jelle Van Damme, Ashley Cole; Baggio Husidic, Nigel de Jong ©; Mike Magee, Giovani dos Santos, Sebastian Lletget; Gyasi Zardes. 


Subs


Clement Diop, Dave Romney, Rafael Garcia, Emmanuel Boateng, Bradford Jamieson IV, Ariel Lassiter, Alan Gordon.


Lineup Notes


  • Bruce Arena makes two changes to the starting XI from last weekend’s match in Vancouver as Giovani dos Santos and Gyasi Zardes start in place of Emmanuel Boateng and Ariel Lassiter.
  • Goalkeeper Brian Rowe gets the start in net after an impressive showing this year since filling in for the injured Dan Kennedy in the team’s opening match. Rowe has allowed just two goals in four appearances and recorded his first shutout of the year last weekend against Vancouver. Since joining LA in 2012, Rowe has played in 18 MLS matches for the club, going 8-6-4.
  • Speedy defender Robbie Rogers once again gets the start at right back Sunday against Portland. After making the move to defense full-time with a start against Chivas USA on June 8, 2014, the Galaxy have gone 26-10-13 in all MLS competitions in which Rogers appeared, including MLS Cup Playoffs and the 2014 MLS Cup Final.
  • Steady defender Daniel Steres continues in the Starting XI, making his fifth-straight start to kick off the MLS season. The former LA Galaxy II captain has become a solid presence in the back this year after featuring for Los Dos during the previous two seasons. The two-time LA Galaxy II Defender of the Year made his MLS debut in the opening match of the season.
  • Defender Jelle Van Damme makes his third-straight start in central defense for LA. Van Damme is big, bald, and has been a beast in the back since joining the club this offseason, helping the Galaxy give up just two goals in the three matches he has played.
  • English defender Ashley Cole gets the nod at left back. The Englishman has yet to visit a beach in LA and has been one of the best defenders in MLS to start the season with his play from the left side. He will make his fourth MLS appearance for LA.
  • In the center of the field, Baggio Husidic earns his second-straight start as Steven Gerrard recovers from a calf injury. Husidic has been a consistent and solid midfielder for the Galaxy over the past three seasons, making 62 MLS appearances since 2014, including appearances in every MLS match – regular season and playoffs – during the club’s 2014 MLS Cup run.
  • Wearing the captain’s armband for the second-straight week, Nigel de Jong will start alongside Husidic in the midfield. The two-time World Cup vet for Netherlands joined the Galaxy from A.C. Milan and brings both tattoos and extensive world-class experience to the field for the Galaxy.
  • On the right side, Mike Magee earns the start. The Bradley Cooper doppelganger and 2013 MLS MVP has been a stud for the Galaxy since his return this offseason, scoring two goals and adding two assists in his four appearances.
  • Mexican star Giovani dos Santos returns to the Galaxy lineup Sunday night, making his first appearances since the team’s opening match against D.C. United on March 6. Dos Santos has scored three goals and added five assists in MLS play since joining late last season.
  • On the right, Da’ Boy Sebastian Lletget gets the nod. Good at soccer and Instagram selfies, Da’ Boy has been a consistent part of the Galaxy’s offense since last season, scoring seven goals and adding three assists.  
  • Up top, Hawthorne hero and USMNT striker Gyasi Zardes earns his fourth start of the season. With 92 MLS appearances for the club since 2013, the LA Galaxy Homegrown Player has knocked in 28 goals and added 10 assists.


Game Notes


  • All time, the Galaxy are 6-4-4 against the Portland Timbers, scoring 28 goals and allowing 21
    • No other MLS team has scored more goals against Portland than the Galaxy (28).
  • At StubHub Center, the Galaxy have gone 5-1-2 against their Western Conference counterparts, with the only loss coming in the team’s most recent matchup, a 5-2 loss on Oct. 15, 2015.
  • This season, the Galaxy are 2-0-0 at StubHub Center, scoring seven goals while allowing just two.
  • The Galaxy have been one of the most successful MLS teams at home during the last four seasons, scoring 124 total goals at StubHub Center, the most of any team.
  • The Galaxy’s home MLS record throughout the last four seasons is 37-5-11, with 124 goals for and just 40 against.
  • Since 2014, the Galaxy have only lost five of 53 MLS games at StubHub Center.
  • The Galaxy and Timbers evenly split their three meetings last season – each scoring five goals in winning one contest. The Galaxy had five different players score in a 5-0 victory June 24 at StubHub Center; Fanendo Adi netted a brace as the Timbers rolled to a 5-2 win Oct. 18 in Carson. The teams reached a 2-2 draw March 15 in the lone meeting at Providence Park.
  • The Timbers’ victory in the last encounter snapped a five-game winless streak vs. the Galaxy (0-3-2). It was also the Timbers first win ever at StubHub Center; the Galaxy won six of the first seven meetings there, with one draw.
  • Sunday will mark the first of two matches against Portland this year, with the second fixture set for Saturday, July 23, at Providence Park.


Storylines


  • Can the Galaxy continue their dominant form at StubHub Center?
  • How will Giovani dos Santos look in his first action in over a month?
  • Can the Galaxy defense build off their first shutout of the season last week?
  • How will the Galaxy attack fare with Zardes up top?
  • Does John Strong think Mark Sanchez is a capable starting quarterback for the Broncos?


Quick hits



Quotable


Sebastian Lletget:

  • “You don’t want to go into a game thinking about what happened months ago. You want it more as a motivation and using it the right way. It gives me a little extra incentive because I was there and I played in the game. I love beating Portland. I don’t know what it is.”


Bruce Arena:

  • “Obviously they won MLS Cup last year and return a good nucleus. They’ve had injuries to start the season, as have we. It’s still early. They’re obviously going to be ready to play coming off a defeat last week, so it’s going to be a tough game.”


Gyasi Zardes:

  • “I want to be more consistent. I'm trying to be like Landon Donovan. Every game you're scoring a goal or creating an assist. Just helping your team win. I don't set standards or marks like 'I want to score 15 goals this year’ or that. My motto is to take it day by day.”
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