FRESNO, Calif. -- The LA Galaxy will take on their archrival San Jose Earthquakes in the Central California Cup on Saturday at Chukchansi Park in Fresno.
Remember you can watch Saturday's match by going to LAGalaxy.com/Live
Below are a series of links, notes, matchups to watch and even a projected Galaxy lineup.
LINKS AND NOTES
Saturday's Central California Cup is receiving a lot of publicity in Fresno almost 10,000 tickets sold for the match. Even the local mayor of Fresno is getting into the act, declaring Saturday "MLS Day" in the city.
CONCACAF.com's Robert Jonas provides an Earthquakes-centric preview of tonight's match.
Robbie Keane is not expected to travel with the team to Fresno as he continues to return from achillies surgery. The Irishman trained with LA Galaxy II and told reporters earlier this week that he's aiming to return for either LA's closed-door scrimmage against UCLA or the "White vs. Blue Game" on Saturday against Galaxy II.
With just two preseason games remaining after Saturday, keep an eye on right back trialists Matheau Hall, Dan Gargan and James Riley as they fight for a spot on LA's 2014 roster.
MATCHUPS TO WATCH
Omar Gonzalez vs. Steven Lenhart
Always the most exciting battle when these two teams tussle, due to their contentious battle in the 2012 MLS Cup Playoffs, expect another physical clash between the cagey Quakes striker and the physical center back. Even though the match is a preseason contest, look for a few hard fouls on both sides as Lenhart looks to test Gonzalez.
Rob Friend vs. Victor Bernardez
Friend has been by far the most impressive Galaxy attacker this preseason, but he'll have his hands full when he seeks to break through the equally burly Victor Bernardez. Look for Friend and fellow strike partner Samuel to lure the Quakes defense out of position and create space for the likes Landon Donovan and Stefan Ishizaki.
Marcelo Sarvas vs. Jean-Baptiste Pierazzi
For two teams that have had a number of intense battles over the last two years, Pierazzi will be a relatively unknown quantity for the Galaxy on Saturday. A central midfielder who will look to distruibte the ball up field, expect the industrious Sarvas to pressure the Frenchman early and distrupt the Quakes passing lanes.
PROJECTED LINEUP:
Penedo; DeLaGarza, Gonzalez, Opare, Cochrane; Ishizaki, Sarvas, Husidic, Donovan; Samuel, Friend
