Starting XI: LA Galaxy at New York City FC | August 20, 2016

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LA Galaxy Starting XI (4-2-3-1)


Clement Diop; A.J. DeLaGarza, Daniel Steres, Jelle Van Damme, Ashley Cole; Nigel de Jong, Baggio Husidic; Giovani dos Santos, Steven Gerrard, Gyasi Zardes; Robbie Keane ©

Substitutions


Dan Kennedy, Dave Romney, Jeff Larentowicz, Sebastian Lletget, Emmanuel Boateng, Mike Magee, Alan Gordon


Lineup Notes


  • LA Galaxy head coach Bruce Arena will start what is a near top-choice lineup Saturday in the star-studded match against NYCFC featuring all three Designated Players, Jelle Van Damme, Nigel de Jong, Gyasi Zardes and Ashley Cole.
  • Bruce Arena enters the match with a 199-118-84 record all time as an MLS coach. With a win Saturday against New York City, Arena would become just the second coach in MLS history with 200 wins, joining former Sounders coach Sigi Schmid.
  • LA Galaxy goalkeeper Clement Diop will make his first-ever start in Major League Soccer Saturday. The athletic Frenchman has been a standout for Los Dos over the past two seasons and brought the Galaxy to the 2016 U.S. Open Cup Semifinal this year. He joined LA Galaxy II last year and signed with LA in MLS this season.
  • The dependable, savvy and versatile defender A.J. DeLaGarza makes his 18th start of the season Saturday. No other current Galaxy member has made as many appearances as DeLaGarza, who has 197 appearances all time for LA.
  • In the center, two-time LA Galaxy II Defender of the Year Daniel Steres will continue what has been a breakout season in MLS. Steres has made 22 appearances this year and been one of the most consistent players along the backline for Arena.
  • Alongside Steres in the center of defense will be big, bald, beautiful, Belgian centerback Jelle Van Damme. He joined the Galaxy this offseason and has solidified himself as one of the best in MLS. Van Damme is in line for MLS Best XI and MLS Defender of the Year.
  • Englishman Ashley Cole will make his 17th start of the year. Cole has been arguably the top left back in MLS this year since joining from AS Roma before the start of the season.
  • In the center of the pitch, Dutchman Nigel de Jong will make his 17th start of the season in midfield for LA. De Jong has helped the Galaxy boss the midfield since moving to a 4-2-3-1 mid-year.
  • Alongside De Jong, steady vegan midfielder Baggio Husidic gets the nod. Husidic has been an unheralded contributor to the Galaxy since 2014, notching eight goals and 10 assists and doing all the little things right.
  • On the right, the uber-talented and charming Giovani dos Santos makes his 20th start of the season. Dos Santos has found another level this year for LA, recording eight goals and eight assists. Dos Santos and 2015 MLS MVP Sebastian Giovinco are the only two players with 8 or more goals and 8 or more assists on the year.
  • Pulling the strings for the Galaxy on Saturday, Steven Gerrard will look to build on his successful season. This season, Gerrard is second in MLS in assists (11) and first in the league in assists per 90 minutes (.77).
  • On the left, Hawthorne hero and USMNT star Gyasi Zardes will make the start in his second-straight game since returning from injury. Zardes has five goals and five assists on the year, but has contributed just as much with his endless hustle and cover in midfield for LA.
  • Up top, indescribably handsome Irishman Robbie Keane makes his 13th start of the season. This year, he has seven goals and two assists. All time, he has 120 appearances, 80 goals 45 assists, 23 game-winning goals and 16 game-winning assists.


Game Notes


  • The Galaxy’s +15 goal differential this year is the best in MLS and their 23 goals allowed are second-fewest in MLS.
  • Bruce Arena has 199 wins heading into Saturday’s game, one away from becoming only the second MLS head coach to reach 200 wins.
  • The Galaxy are unbeaten in their last nine MLS matches (6-0-3).
  • The Galaxy have allowed just six goals in their last nine MLS matches.
  • This year, the LA Galaxy are 6-0-0 when leading at halftime.
  • On the year, the Galaxy are 6-0-0 when Robbie Keane scores and 7-1-4 in matches in which he plays.


Storylines


  • Can Bruce Arena find his 200th MLS win in one of his favorite stadiums?
  • What will a near first-choice LA lineup yield against an in-form NYCFC squad?
  • How will debutant Clement Diop fare?
  • How will the Galaxy play on the narrow field of Yankee Stadium?


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