Starting XI
Brian Rowe; Bradley Diallo, Daniel Steres, Jelle Van Damme ©, Dave Romney; Ashley Cole, João Pedro; Romain Alessandrini, Giovani dos Santos, Emmanuel Boateng; Jack McBean
Substitutions
Jon Kempin, Hugo Arellano, Pele Van Anholt, Rafael Garcia, Jermaine Jones, Bradford Jamieson IV, Ariel Lassiter.
Lineup notes
- The LA Galaxy welcome their Northern neighbors to StubHub Center when the Vancouver Whitecaps hit Los Angeles for a Western Conference matchup.
- Curt Onalfo will welcome back several players into the lineup after extended absences as Brian Rowe, Daniel Steres, Giovani dos Santos and Jermaine Jones are included in the gameday roster, with Rowe, Steres and Dos Santos slated to start. It will be Brian, Gio and Daniel’s first MLS action in over a month, with Dos Santos returning from Mexico international play and Brian/Steres recovering from muscle injuries.
- In net, Brian Rowe is back! He is handsome and he is good at being a goalkeeper, notching one of the best statistical seasons of any keeper in MLS last year, with nine shutouts and recording 113 saves with just a 1.07 goals against average.
- At right back, Bradley Diallo will get the start after playing in several positions along the backline this season. The French defender was one of the best in USL during previous seasons and has been solid for the Galaxy in his first season in MLS.
- In the center of defense, he’s big, he’s bald, he’s beautiful and he loves Belgian waffles is Belgian. Jelle Van Damme, arguably the best defender in Major League Soccer and new all-star, will captain and lead the backline vs. Vancouver.
- Back in the starting lineup is Daniel Steres, who returns to the lineup after over a month of absence due to injury. Prior to his injury, Steres had been one of the most consistent performers in the LA Galaxy lineup, starting the most of any field player since last season.
- On the left, versatile, handsome, young and talented Dave Romney will make the start. He, too, has played multiple positions along the back line, and the left-footed defender will lock down the position out wide vs. Vancouver.
- In the center of the midfield, the talented Portuguese midfielder João Pedro, who will make his 18th start of the MLS season, the most of any player on the LA Galaxy. João has top-notch technical ability and is finding his groove in MLS.
- To round out the central midfield pairing is veteran and legendary defender Ashley Cole, who moves forward from his typical position at left back. Cole played in the center of the pitch in the second half during the team’s Open Cup match against San Jose and showed well.
- On the right side of the midfield, Major League Soccer’s biggest snub in the MLS All-Star game, Romain Alessandrini, makes the start. He has eight goals and seven assists in his first year here – leading the LA Galaxy in both categories – so you have you believe he is good at soccer.
- Pulling the strings on offense, he’s back! Giovani dos Santos joined the team after a month with Mexico for WCQ and the Confederations Cup. He is coming off a two-goal performance against Manchester United this Saturday.
- On the left, it’s the oh-my-he-is-short-but-gee-golly-he-sure-is-fast Emmanuel Boateng, who has carved out a place into the Starting XI and appeared in 18 games this year. Boateng continues to improve and will undoubtedly be the fastest player on the field Wednesday.
- Up top is LA Galaxy Homegrown Player Jack McBean, who continues in the starting XI in place of Gyasi Zardes, who is with the USMNT. McBean has two goals and an assist during play this season.
Game notes:
- The Galaxy are 9-4-4 all-time against Vancouver Whitecaps FC, with a dominant 7-1-1 record at StubHub Center.
- In their meeting on April 7, Romain Alessandrini scored his first goals for LA Galaxy, recording a brace before the halftime whistle.
- The LA Galaxy lineup will feature four players that were signed directly from LA Galaxy II: Bradley Diallo, Daniel Steres, Dave Romney and Jack McBean.
- The Galaxy are 4-1-0 when scoring the first goal this year and 2-7-2 when conceding first.
- Additionally, the Galaxy are 4-2-0 when leading the game at halftime as opposed to 1-5-1 when entering the half behind.
- This season at home, the Galaxy have gone 1-5-3 in matches at StubHub Center, scoring 10 goals in the nine matches played.
Storylines:
- Can the Galaxy bounce back from their last MLS outing at SHC against RSL?
- How will Ashley Cole fare in the midfield?
- Will the Galaxy be boosted by the return of several key players (Dos Santos, Rowe, Steres, Jones)?
- Can Giovani dos Santos pick up where he left off against Manchester United?
- How will João Pedro and Ashley Cole pair in the center of the field together?
- Can Jack McBean find the back of the net?
- Is this the best contestant ever on America’s Got Talent?
Did you know – Fun Fact of the Day:
Did you know that when the LA Galaxy score a goal, the fan noise registers on the Richter Scale?
*Source: Home and Garden Magazine
Bryan Adam Lyrics
I got my first real six-string soccer ball
Bought it at the five-and-dime
Played it 'til my feet bled
Was the summer of '69
Me and some guys from school
Had a team and we tried real hard.
Jimmy quit, Jody got married
I should've known we'd never get far
Oh, when I look back now
That summer seemed to last forever
And if I had the choice
Yeah, I'd always wanna be there
Those were the best days of my life
Ain't no use in complainin'
When you've got a job to do
Spent my evenings down at the drive-in
And that's when I met you, yeah
Standin' on your perfect field
You told me that you'd play forever
Oh, and when you passed the ball
I knew that it was now or never
Those were the best days of my life
Oh, yeah.
Back in the summer of '69, oh.
- Summer of 69 – Bryan Adams (1984)
