LA Galaxy 1, New England Revolution 1
Sunday, March 20, 2011
The Home Depot Center — Carson, Calif.
Scoring Summary:
NE – Shalrie Joseph 1 (Marko Perovic 1) 3’
LA – Juninho 2 (Unassisted) 39’
Misconduct Summary:
None
Lineups:
LA Galaxy:
Josh Saunders; Sean Franklin, A.J. DeLaGarza, Leonardo, Todd Dunivant; Chris Birchall, Juninho, David Beckham, Landon Donovan©; Chad Barrett (Juan Pablo Angel 63’), Mike Magee (Paolo Cardozo 63’).
Subs Not Used:
Brian Perk, Frankie Hejduk, Michael Stephens, Jovan Kirovski, Bryan Jordan.
New England Revolution:
Matt Reis; Darrius Barnes, Franco Coria, A.J. Soares, Chris Tierney; Zak Boggs, Pat Phelan, Stephen McCarthy, Marko Perovic (Kenny Mansally 22’), Shalrie Joseph©; Zack Schilawski (Sainey Nyassi 74’).
Subs Not Used:
Bobby Shuttlesworth, Ryan Cochrane, Kheli Dube, Seth Sinovic, Ilija Stoloca.
Notes:
- With the draw, the Galaxy are now 1-0-1 on the season, giving them four points and keeping them in first place in the Western Conference. LA are now one point ahead of Colorado, Real Salt Lake and Vancouver, each of who won their season opener on Saturday.
- Tonight’s game was LA’s first home game of the 2011 MLS season. It was also the earliest game ever played by the Galaxy. This matches the second earliest date that the Galaxy have played a home game on. Prior to tonight’s game, the earliest the Galaxy had ever played a home game was on March 18, 2000 when LA beat the Colorado Rapids 2-1 at the Rose Bowl. They also hosted Colorado on March 20, 1999.
- The Galaxy are now 10-4-2 all-time in their first home game of the season.
- This was the fourth time that the Galaxy played New England in their home opener, winning 3-2 in 2004, losing 1-0 in 2006 and winning 1-0 last season.
- Under Bruce Arena, LA are 1-0-2 in home openers, also winning the last year and drawing 2-2 with D.C. in 2009.
- The Galaxy were without Gregg Berhalter, Adam Cristman, Omar Gonzalez, Dan Keat and Donovan Ricketts, who all missed the game through injury.
- The Galaxy used the same starting XI as they did on Tuesday night in the 1-0 win in Seattle.
- The only change to the 18-man squad was the addition of Juan Pablo Angel, who returned to light training late this week after missing the season opener because of an illness. He replaced Miguel Lopez, who did not dress.
- Shalrie Joseph gave the Revolution a 1-0 lead in the third minute, beating Josh Saunders from close range. That goal was the first goal that Saunders allowed in an MLS regular season game since April 4, 2009. In between the two goals, Saunders recorded the ninth longest shutout streak in MLS history, not allowing a goal in 435 consecutive minutes.
- Including the postseason, Saunders had not allowed a goal in 489 straight minutes of MLS competitions.
- Joseph’s goal was the first scored by New England against the Galaxy at The Home Depot Center since 2008 when current Galaxy forward Adam Cristman scored twice in a 2-1 Revolution win.
- Juninho equalized for LA with a goal in the 39th minute, beating Matt Reis from 21 yards out to make the score 1-1.
- The goal was Juninho’s second of the season, tying him with for the MLS lead and equaling his total from 2010, his first season with the Galaxy.
- With the goal, Juninho has now scored in each of his last three regular season MLS games, dating back to the season finale against FC Dallas on October 24, 2010.
- Juan Pablo Angel and Paolo Cardozo each entered the game in the 63rd minute, replacing Chad Barrett and Mike Magee for their Galaxy debuts. For Cardozo, this was also his MLS debut.
- The Galaxy had two goals called out in the first half, one by Juninho for a foul on the Revolution goalkeeper and one by Mike Magee for offside.
- LA also had a goal called off in the second half when Juan Pablo Angel was whistled for offside in the second minute of stoppage time.
- For the second straight game, the Galaxy made just two of their three available substitutions after making all three in all 30 regular season games in 2010.
- The Galaxy are now 9-4-4 all-time at home against New England in the regular season, including 4-3-3 at The Home Depot Center.
- The attendance for today’s game was a sellout crowd of 27,000 at The Home Depot Center. This was the Galaxy’s first sellout of a home opener since 2008.
- Today’s game was played in a steady rain that fell throughout the evening, just as in their win in Seattle on Tuesday night.
- The Galaxy are back in action on Saturday night when they head to Utah to take on Real Salt Lake at Rio Tinto Stadium. The game kicks off at 6 p.m. and can be seen on PRIME TICKET on tape delay starting at 10:30 p.m. Fans can follow the match live with audio from Joe Tutino, as well as chat with other fans, on lagalaxy.com/gamedaylive.
WATCH: Postgame Flash Interview with Landon Donovan
LA Galaxy Head Coach Bruce Arena:
On the result:
“I think on the night, our team played very well. Obviously, conceding a goal in the opening minutes put our backs to the wall. I think we responded well and got a goal back and probably had another goal, although the referee doesn’t agree with that. I think we played well. We could have scored a bunch of goals. We fell short there, but overall the passing of the ball, creating chances, defending was good. We just didn’t get that second goal. I thought we did a lot of good things tonight. Overall, it was a positive performance. Certainly, we are not happy with a point. This is a game we should win.”
On the disallowed goals:
“You can’t reward the goalkeeper for dropping the ball. I don’t understand that one, but perhaps the other ones were offside. We created a number of chances and didn’t get the second goal, whether legitimate or not. We didn’t get it so we didn’t get the three points.”
On the conditions:
“They were good enough for us to win this game. The conditions were difficult, but I think we made them more difficult by conceding a goal in the early going. I think we showed a lot of character in the way we responded and the way we kept pushing forward to try to win the game.”
On the play of Juan Pablo Angel:
“I think he did well. He played close to 30 minutes. It is the first time he has actually been on the field in 11 days, so I think he played pretty well.”
On the play of Paolo Cardozo:
“I think he did well. He still has a way to go. He is a good little player. I think that tactically he has to have a little bit better understanding of how to play with us, but certainly he is a player with a very good first touch. He is a good passer of the ball. We have to get him to expand his dimensions in terms of his passing and movement off the ball.”
On New England’s goal:
“We did a poor job. The ball came back to Perovic. I don’t think we put him under any kind of pressure. He plays the ball back in and we should have been pushing out of the goal. We are well aware of the player that is going to get at the end of crosses. It’s Joseph. There is no secret there. We just did a poor job on the entire play, a poor job giving the ball away maybe 30 seconds before that that resulted in a corner kick. We didn’t do well in the opening minutes of the game and it cost us points.”
LA Galaxy Midfielder Landon Donovan
On the conditions:
“It is enjoyable for us. For everyone else it is difficult. I actually thought we did a good job considering the conditions and trying to play through it.
On the disallowed goals:
“The one that Reis dropped is not a foul. I don’t think anyone in here can claim that that is a foul, including Reis. If you saw his reaction, it was pretty obvious. We certainly scored enough goals tonight to win the game. Unfortunately, like in all sports, it isn’t always just the other team you are playing against. It makes it difficult sometimes. We could also have been a little bit better with our chances. The goal that Mike [Magee] scored was offside, and Juan’s was probably offside, close but probably offside. We still feel we did enough to win the game.”
On the play of New England:
“They defended. I think their objective was pretty clear from the beginning and we let ourselves down by giving up an early goal. We were kind of climbing uphill from there. They had no intention of winning the game. That’s how we knew they were going to play. That’s how Steve Nicol coached teams play. Give them credit. They did what the set out to do.”
LA Galaxy Midfielder David Beckham
On the conditions:
“It was tougher tonight because obviously you had the wind, you had the rain. It was a constant heavy rain, not just a drizzle. I would say the conditions were difficult, but it is the same for both teams. It is difficult to play beautiful football in that kind of weather. I think at times we played well. I think we deserved to win the game. We created enough chances and I think one of the goals should have definitely counted, the one that Reis dropped, but it happens. We are happy with the effort that the guys gave and the chances they created. Obviously, disappointed to not get the three points.”
On the fan’s support:
“They were brave coming out in these conditions. We have to thank them for the support and thank them for showing up tonight because 95 percent of our fans get behind the team, but to come out in this kind of weather means a lot to our team.”
On the play of Juan Pablo Angel and Paolo Cardozo:
“Obviously, Juan coming on, his play speaks for itself. He is such a talent and has such character. His experience is going to be great for the players and for the team. Paolo is a young player. He is still learning the game, but he came on and he kept the ball well, passed the ball, penetrated well towards their goal. He is going to be a very good player.”
On his play:
“I think I put quite a few crosses in tonight, but the wind played a big part in the ball not arriving in certain positions. I think tonight in the conditions, we still felt as if we could have won the game. Obviously, that is disappointing in the home opener, but I think what we can take from the game is the effort that the guys put in and the chances that we created tonight.”
LA Galaxy Goalkeeper Josh Saunders
On the result:
“It just didn’t fall our way. We created a lot of opportunities on the attacking end. Defensively, we were solid. I only touched the ball three times. It was unfortunate that we didn’t get the win.”
On New England’s goal:
“We got out a little bit late clearing the line, and allowed them to just come in on top of us.”
On the fan’s support:
“I thought it was great. In LA, usually the rain scares people away, but the fan support was awesome. People stuck around for the whole game. We can’t ask for any better from our fans.”
On the conditions:
“It was different. Your mindset changes a lot. You go from catch to punching. Obviously, the ball is kind of a bar of soap. It was more difficult for him [Matt Reis] because he had to handle the ball more than I did, but at the same time, you just change your mindset and play really conservatively, and try and get the ball away from you as much as you can.”
New England Revolution Head Coach Steve Nicol
On the team’s performance:
“I think the manner in which we did it was a team effort. We were in good shape, we defended well, we picked good spots. We are unlucky not to score more than one goal.”
On the backline:
“We needed to get the back four higher up the field. Obviously we played against the wind in the first half which makes it easier for them to squeeze and put you under pressure so that helped us. We had to get the back four up the field to condense that a little bit. It was important that [Zak] Boggs and Kenny Mansally got into position to receive the ball when we actually won the ball back and they did that pretty well. I thought that Boggs did a great job. They all did a great job and it was a great point. Half the time you don’t get them but today I think we got what we deserved.”
New England Revolution Midfielder Shalrie Joseph
On tonight’s game:
“It feels good starting the first game of the season getting a point on the road against a huge team like LA. Coming down here and getting a point is good for our confidence.”
On his shot that hit the post in the second half:
“I should have definitely done better. It should have been 2-1. I think Zak [Boggs] hit a shot and I was just following him up. Being in the box, Stevie told me to push on a little bit. Once it fell to me I tried to keep it low and on the target. I should have done better and scored it to put us up 2-1 to help win the game.”
On his goal:
“Marko [Perovic] just played a brilliant ball. Once he puts it in the air I can go get it. He put it in the perfect area and all I had to do was steer it in. It was just a great ball from Marko and I finished it. It definitely settled us down a little bit having the early goal. It helped our confidence and it helped us relax a little bit.”
New England Goalkeeper Matt Reis
On tonight’s result:
“It is always good to get a point on the road. If you look at it at the end of the year if you get a point out of every road game that is great.”
On the rain:
“The conditions weren’t really conducive for good soccer. It was more of a great battle. Roll up your sleeves and put your galoshes on. That kind of suited us with getting a point.”
On the backline:
“I think they did really well. We shifted in slight and covered. They really didn’t have too many chances. It is something to build on.”
