Starting XI
Clement Diop; Nathan Smith, Daniel Steres, Jelle Van Damme ©, Ashley Cole; Romain Alessandrini, Jermaine Jones, João Pedro, Emmanuel Boateng; Giovani dos Santos, Gyasi Zardes
Bench
Brian Rowe, Rafael Garcia, Dave Romney, Baggio Husidic, Bradford Jamieson IV, Raul Mendiola, Jack McBean
Lineup notes
Gators! Oranges! Sunshine! Humidity! Publix! The LA Galaxy will face off against Orlando City SC in their first-ever match at Orlando City Stadium after traveling to one of the
most absurd
best states in the U.S. of A: Florida.
For the first time all season, LA Galaxy Head Coach Curt Onalfo will trot out the same 11 players in consecutive matches, with only two starters absent due to injury (Lletget, Rogers), which is a really low number for LA this season.
In net, oui (“yes” for casual French speakers), Clement Diop will make his fifth-straight start of the season. The former LA Galaxy II standout is coming off his first-career MLS shutout after a solid performance in net last weekend against Montreal.
On the right side of the backline, Rob Stone’s hero, Nathan ‘SMITTY’ Smith makes his third-straight start and the fourth of his MLS career. The 22-year-old LA Galaxy Academy and LA Galaxy II product has been rock solid this season for the Galaxy and is poised for a breakout season in MLS.
In the center of defense is Daniel Steres, who starts in his sixth-consecutive contest of 2017. He has made 34 starts since last season (39 total games), the start of his MLS career, and is one of three players to start every game this season in LA. Last year, he started the most of any Galaxy field player (29).
Big, bald, beautiful – no, not John Strong or Brad Friedel – the veteran Jelle Van Damme will again captain the side against Orlando. Van Damme led a Galaxy defense that bounced back from conceding four goals vs. Vancouver to holding a shutout against Montreal and all of their poutine last weekend. He is one of MLS’ best.
On the left, the ageless Ashley Cole gets the start. He will make his third-straight start of the year after recovering from a calf injury to start the season and will enter Saturday’s game in strong form. Unlike many that arrive in the Sunshine State, he didn’t come to Florida to retire or vacation.
The only thing hotter than the Florida sun is Frenchman Romain Alessandrini, who makes his sixth start of the season Saturday vs. ORL. Alessandrini has been involved in five of the Galaxy’s seven goals this season. He has three goals/two assists in his last three games.
In the center of the field, Jermaine Jones will look to control the play. Jones is coming off one of his best showings of the season last weekend vs. Montreal, where he tallied LA’s second goal of the night.
Alongside Jones is 23-year-old midfielder João Pedro, who makes the sixth-straight start of his MLS career with the Galaxy. João Pedro, Steres and Alessandrini are the only three players to start every game for the Galaxy this season.
On the right side of the midfield is very-tiny-but-super-fast Emmanuel Boateng, the Ghanaian native who has stepped into a starting role since the injury to Sebastian Lletget. Boateng has tallied a goal and two assists in his last three games, all on combinations with Alessandrini.
At the center of the attack, Mexico International and Galaxy DP Giovani dos Santos will look to pair with USMNT forward Gyasi Zardes. Dos Santos will look to get back on the board after last scoring in the Galaxy’s season opener vs. FC Dallas.
Up top, Gyasi Zardes makes his second-straight start after missing the start of the season due to injury. The last time Zardes played a full season at striker, the Hawthorne product scored 16 goals during the regular season and the Galaxy won an MLS Cup.
Game Notes
- In two contests all-time against Orlando City SC, the Galaxy have gone 1-1-0
- Saturday will mark LA’s first-ever match at Orlando City Stadium, facing Orlando previously at Camping World Stadium (formerly the Orlando Citrus Bowl), losing 4-0
- In their most recent match, the Galaxy defeated Orlando 4-2 behind a brace from Giovani dos Santos last year at StubHub Center
- Romain Alessandrini has tallied three goals and two assists in his last three games
- On the road this season, the Galaxy are 1-1-0 with three goals scored and five conceded
- All time, the Galaxy are 3-1-1 in MLS play in Florida, going 3-0-1 against Miami Fusion and 0-1-0 against Orlando
Storylines
- Can an unchanged lineup for the Galaxy build off of their win last weekend?
- How will the Galaxy respond on the road to so many purple t-shirts/a big-time atmosphere in Orlando?
- Will Giovani dos Santos score/assist?
- Can the Galaxy backline shut down Cyle Larin?
- Will the Central Florida heat and humidity play a factor?
- How many times will Rob Stone utter the word SMITTY?
- If you had to choose to live the rest of your life in either Florida or California, which city in California would you choose?
Quick Hits:
Lionel Richie Lyrics - Hello
I’ve been alone with you inside my mind
And in my dreams I’ve scored your goals, a thousand times
I’ve sometimes seen you pass to me before
Hello, is it me you're looking for?
I can see it in your eyes
I can see it in your smile
You're pass is all I’ve wanted and the field is open wide
Cause you know just how to play and you know what to pass through
And I want to tell you so much, play me through
I long to see the sunlight of your flair
And tell you time and time again how much I care
Sometimes I feel StubHub Center will overflow
Hello, I've just got to let you know
Cause I wonder where you are and I wonder what you do
Are you somewhere feeling pressure? Or is someone passing to you?
Tell me how to win this game, for I haven't got a clue
But let me start by saying, play me through
Hello
Is it me you're looking for?
-Lionel Richie (1984)
