Starting XI: LA Galaxy at Toronto FC | June 18, 2016

start
LA Galaxy Communications

LA Galaxy Starting XI


Brian Rowe; A.J. DeLaGarza, Daniel Steres, Jelle Van Damme, Ashley Cole; Baggio Husidic, Jeff Larentowicz, Nigel de Jong ©, Mike Magee; Sebastian Lletget, Alan Gordon.


Substitutions


Clement Diop, Leonardo, Dave Romney, Rafael Garcia, Emmanuel Boateng, Jose Villarreal.


Lineup Notes


  • Galaxy head coach Bruce Arena will shift his lineup Saturday to accommodate for various injuries and international call ups: the Galaxy are without normal starters Robbie Keane, Gyasi Zardes, Steven Gerrard and Giovani dos Santos.
  • Veteran goalkeeper Brian Rowe will make his 12th appearance of the season on Saturday. Rowe has been a stud in net this year for LA, making 12 appearances and earning a 5-2-5 record with a 1.10 GAA.
  • On the right side of defense, versatile defender A.J. DeLaGarza will make his eighth start of the year. No current Galaxy player has made more appearances for LA than DeLaGarza, who has 187 appearances since 2009.
  • In the center of the pitch, defender Daniel Steres gets the start. Steres, who signed with the Galaxy this offseason after two-straight standout years with LA Galaxy II, has appeared in every match for the Galaxy this season.
  • Alongside Steres is big, bald Belgian defender Jelle Van Damme, who makes his 12th start of the season. Van Damme has been a stud in the center of the backline since joining from Belgium this offseason, helping the Galaxy concede just 16 goals, tied for the third fewest in the Western Conference.
  • On the left, Ashley Cole will continue in the starting lineup in what has been an MLS Best XI season for the veteran Englishman. The Galaxy have gone 4-1-6 with Cole in the lineup this season.
  • Out wide, steady midfielder Baggio Husidic earns the nod Saturday against Toronto in his 8th start of the season. Since signing ahead of the 2014 season, Husidic has been a consistent and unsung contributor for LA, notching eight goals and 10 assists.
  • In the center of the field, midfielder Nigel de Jong will don the captains’ armband. The Dutch midfielder has shown his quality this year in his eight starts since joining from A.C. Milan.
  • Alongside de Jong, Jeff Larentowicz will patrol the center of the field to help the Galaxy keep possession and break up TFC’s offense. Larentowicz is a MLS vet who has made over 300 appearances. Saturday will mark his 294th all-time start in MLS.
  • Former MLS MVP Mike Magee starts out left for the Galaxy. Magee signed with LA this offseason as a free agent and has been a stud, scoring five goals and adding four assists on the season. Through 13 matches, he is on pace for one of his best seasons in MLS.
  • Up top, Sebastian Lletget will start and look to create chances for LA on the road. Lletget is coming off a two-goal performance in the fourth round of the 2016 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup on Tuesday and will hope to carry that form into Saturday’s match.
  • Alongside Lletget is MLS vet and Galaxy ledge Alan Gordon, who makes his first MLS start of the season. Since returning to LA in 2014, Gordon has tallied four game-winning goals for the Galaxy.


Game Notes


  • LA have lost just once in their previous 11 MLS matches.
  • The Galaxy lead MLS in goals scored (27).
  • The Galaxy have a 10-game undefeated streak alive in league play against Toronto FC, including shutout victories each of the last two seasons, both matches at StubHub Center.
  • Since 2008, the Galaxy have won five of the 10 meetings against TFC, with five draws.
  • TFC has not scored in the last 192 minutes in the series.
  • The last four meetings between the teams in all competitions at BMO Field have ended in draws. TFC’s last home win vs. the Galaxy came in 2008 – when they swept the season series, also winning in Carson.
  • This year on the road, the Galaxy have gone 1-2-3 while scoring nine goals and allowing eight.
  • Saturday night marks the only meeting of the season between LA and TFC.


Storylines


  • How will an adjusted lineup fare on the road against TFC Saturday?
  • Can the Galaxy find offense without Robbie Keane, Gyasi Zardes, Giovani dos Santos and Steven Gerrard?
  • What will the Lletget-Gordon partnership up top yield?
  • How will the Galaxy look in their first road match since May 28?
  • Did Joe Tutino bring maple-flavored chewing gum?
  • What was Cobi Jones’ favorite birthday gift?
  • Has Dan Gargan gotten any sleep since the birth of his second child?


Quick hits



Quotable
Mike Magee:

  • “It’s been two weeks but it feels like two months. We got to take some time and get our minds right, but this is a great opportunity to go and get some points on the road.”


Nigel de Jong:

  • “I played against [Giovinco] during my four years in Italy, and I’ve played against him a couple of times. He’s a terrific player for Toronto. He wasn’t the MVP last year for no reason; we have to use all of the defense that we can use against him and defend as a team. You always have to be aware because he’s their main guy and their playmaker, but apart from that, he’s not the only goal scorer and creates stuff as well.”
LA Galaxy Communications -
@LAGalaxy