Starting XI: LA Galaxy at Colorado Rapids | November 6, 2016

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Starting XI


Brian Rowe; Robbie Rogers, Daniel Steres, Jelle Van Damme ©, Ashley Cole; Landon Donovan, Baggio Husidic, Sebastian Lletget, Mike Magee; Giovani dos Santos; Alan Gordon


Substitutions


Dan Kennedy, A.J. DeLaGarza, Dave Romney, Rafael Garcia, Jeff Larentowicz, Steven Gerrard, Robbie Keane.


Lineup notes


  • Semifinals – leg two. With a 1-0 lead in the series, LA Galaxy Head Coach Bruce Arena will make one change to the Starting XI from last Sunday’s match against Colorado as veteran forward Mike Magee makes the start in place of Emmanuel Boateng, who picked up a knock in training this week.
  • So far, so good in net. Brian Rowe makes his third-ever playoff start Sunday in Colorado, allowing just one goal (a penalty kick) in his first two. Rowe has been a standout in net this year for LA, going 14-5-14 with a 1.03 GAA and 10 shutouts. In his last four matches overall, Rowe has given up just one goal. 
  • Once again on the right, the two-time MLS Cup winning Robbie Rogers gets the nod. Since making the move to defense full-time with a start against Chivas USA on June 8, 2014, Galaxy have gone 33-13-22 in all MLS competitions in which he has appeared, including MLS Cup Playoffs and the 2014 MLS Cup Final. Sunday will be Rogers’ 19th career playoff start.
  • At the center of the backline, the 25-year-old Daniel Steres makes his third-ever postseason appearance after starting in the Galaxy’s first two playoff games this season. Signing with LA this offseason, Steres is a product of LA Galaxy II in USL and locked down a starting spot in a breakout year for the Southern California native.
  • Big, bald, beautiful, boisterous, buff, beloved, big-hearted, brave and Belgian. Jelle Van Damme, the 2016 LA Galaxy Defender of the Year who was nominated for 2016 MLS Defender of the Year early this week, will captain the team for the third-straight game of the postseason.
  • On the left, the veteran Ashley Cole gets the start. Since joining the Galaxy this offseason from AS Roma, Cole has been one of the top left backs in Major League Soccer. He has continued his fine form into the postseason.
  • In the center of the midfield, the steady, reliable, consistent and leaf-eating Baggio Husidic makes the start. Husidic is one of the most unheralded players on the Galaxy and in Major League Soccer. A member of the Galaxy since 2014 – when he featured in every game en route to the Galaxy’s MLS Cup victory – Husidic has been a dependable contributor to the Galaxy’s squad.
  • Next to Husidic in the center is Sebastian Lletget, who has excelled since being moved inside mid-year. Lletget tallied eight assists during the regular season, the second most on the team. Lletget will partner with Husidic for the fourth time in the Galaxy’s last five matches. In the other three games that Lletget/Husidic paired together in the middle, the Galaxy are 3-0-0 with five goals scored and one allowed.
  • Out wide, Landon Donovan makes his 44th start in the MLS Cup Playoffs. Donovan has five MLS Cups, 25 playoff goals and 15 playoff assists – all league records. He will make his fifth-straight start for the Galaxy since coming out of retirement.
  • In the center, the talented and charming Giovani dos Santos makes the start and will look to create chances in the attacking third. In three career playoff appearances thus far, Dos Santos has tallied a goal and two assists. This season, Dos Santos has 15 goals and 13 assists across the regular season and playoffs.
  • On the opposite side of Donovan, the MLS veteran Mike Magee makes his first postseason start since the Galaxy’s 2012 MLS Cup championship over Houston. Magee signed with LA this offseason as a free agent and put in a solid year, scoring six goals and adding four assists. All time in the playoffs, Magee has tallied eight goals.
  • Making just his third-ever MLS playoff start, Alan Gordon will lead the Galaxy up top. Gordon has been clutch in recent weeks, scoring twice in his last three starts. Gordon has 52 goals and 28 assists all time in MLS play.


Game notes


  • All time in MLS Cup Playoffs, the Galaxy have gone 44-21-7 while scoring 122 goals in their 72 previous playoff matches.
  • All time, Head Coach Bruce Arena is 32-11-5 in the MLS Cup Playoffs.
  • During postseason, in matches that his team scores first, head coach Bruce Arena is 23-1-2.
  • All time against Colorado in the playoffs, the Galaxy are 7-1-0, including 3-1-0 in matches played on the road.
  • The Galaxy have allowed just one goal in their previous four games, including MLS Regular Season and postseason play.
  • In their only contest at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park this season, Colorado won 1-0 from a 95th-minute game winner from Marco Pappa on March 12th.


Storylines


  • How will the 1-0 deficit affect Colorado’s lineup and strategy?
  • Can the Galaxy find an away goal to help put the series away?
  • How will the altitude play a factor?
  • How will Mike Magee fare in the lineup in place of Emmanuel Boateng?
  • Can Alan Gordon continue his strong form?
  • Will Landon Donovan score a goal on Tim Howard?


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