Starting XI
Clement Diop; Nathan Smith, Dave Romney, Jelle Van Damme ©, Ashley Cole; Rafael Garcia, Jaime Villarreal; Gyasi Zardes, Romain Alessandrini, Emmanuel Boateng; Jack McBean.
Bench
Jon Kempin, Hugo Arellano, João Pedro, Bradford Jamieson IV, Jose Villarreal, Ariel Lassiter, Jack McInerney.
Lineup notes
- The LA Galaxy return to StubHub Center for a match against the Western Conference Sporting Kansas City, entering the match with an eight-game unbeaten MLS streak. We’re not in Kansas anymore! (Ironically, Dorothy was never even in Kansas, as The Wizard of Oz was filmed exclusively in Los Angeles. Tough break, Sporting KC).
- With games galore in recent weeks, Curt Onalfo will make two changes from Wednesday night’s game, as Rafael Garcia and Romain Alessandrini return to the starting lineup in place of João Pedro and Jose Villarreal.
- In net, Clement Diop will make his third-straight start after returning to the lineup from an injury earlier in the year. Diop is coming off a strong showing in Colorado on Wednesday that featured several solid saves. Saturday marks his ninth start in MLS after excelling at the USL level in previous seasons with LA Galaxy II.
- On the right, it’s Nathan ‘SMITTY’ Smith again on the backline, who makes his third-straight start and his eighth career MLS start. Smith continues to grow into a reliable MLS defender after returning to the starting lineup following an injury to Bradley Diallo.
- In the center of the defense, fellow LA Galaxy II product Dave Romney again makes the start. Romney has quietly been one of the Galaxy’s best players of late, featuring in multiple positions along the back line. Saturday marks the sixth start of the season and the 17th of his career.
- Big, bald, beautiful. The beloved Jelle Van Damme will benefit the backline again, boasting bonkers skill. Van Damme is one of the top defenders in Major League Soccer and will again lead the backline against Kansas City’s attack.
- On the left, Ashley Cole will remain in the starting XI despite the short turnaround from Wednesday, where he will make his 13th start of the season. At 36 years old, Cole has made 37 MLS starts and is arguably the top left back in the league.
- Making his second-ever MLS start is the young and talented Academy product, Galaxy II standout and Inglewood native Jaime Villarreal. He is fresh off his first-ever MLS start on Wednesday against Colorado, where he excelled in midfield.
- Returning to the starting XI is the reliable and steady veteran Rafael Garcia, who has filled in for Baggio Husidic brilliantly. Garcia has been rock solid in the center and done all the little things right.
- On the right side of the midfield is Gyasi Zardes, who may be featuring in his last Galaxy game for some time if he is named to the Gold Cup roster with the USMNT on Sunday.
- In the center of the field, Romain Alessandrini returns to the starting lineup. That Romain is so hot right now. He has eight goals and seven assists (15 combined), the second most of any player in MLS this season.
- On the left, the oh-my-that-man-is-very-small-but-wow-also-very-fast Emmanuel Boateng will make his 13th start of the season. Ema will be undoubtedly the fastest player on the field Saturday night against Sporting KC.
- Up top, coming off a two-goal, midweek performance, Jack McBean will make his fifth start of the season. The 22-year-old striker has already made 13 MLS starts and now scored two goals and added three assists during his MLS career.
Game notes
- The LA Galaxy are now unbeaten in their last eight MLS games and last 10 games overall.
- During that span, LA have gone 6-0-4.
- This season at StubHub Center, the Galaxy have gone 1-3-3, scoring seven goals.
- Sporting are just 1-4-4 on the road this season.
- LA and SKC drew in all three matches they played in 2016, two of them at Children’s Mercy Park.
Storylines
- Can the Galaxy remain unbeaten in NINE-straight MLS games?
- Can Jack McBean repeat his performance on Wednesday?
- Will Romain Alessandrini continue to be super-hot (both as a person and in form as a soccer player)?
- How will the tight turnaround affect the Galaxy?
- Can the Galaxy get three points at home in an important Western Conference game?
- How will Jaime Villarreal and Rafael Garcia fare in the central midfield?
- Why is Kansas pronounced differently than Arkansas?
Boogie Shoes – KC and The Sunshine Band Lyrics:
Soccer, to be with you is my favorite thing
Yeah, uh huh, yeah
I can't wait till I see you again
Yeah, yeah, uh huh, uh huh
I want to put on my my my my my soccer shoes
Just soccer with you, yeah
I want to put on my my my my my soccer shoes
Just soccer with you, uh huh
I want to soccer till the sun comes up
Oh yeah, uh huh, uh huh
I want to soccer till I can't get enough
Yeah, yeah, uh huh
I want to put on my my my my my soccer shoes
Just soccer with you, well
I want to put on my my my my my soccer shoes
Just soccer with you, woo!
