Starting XI
Brian Rowe; Pele van Anholt, Daniel Steres, Dave Romney, Ashley Cole ©; Jermaine Jones, João Pedro; Romain Alessandrini, Jonathan dos Santos, Emmanuel Boateng; Gyasi Zardes
Bench: Jon Kempin, Nathan Smith, Bradley Diallo, Rafael Garcia, Bradford Jamieson IV, Ariel Lassiter, Jack McInerney
Lineup notes
- For the third-straight week, the Galaxy will square off on ESPN, this time Saturday night at StubHub Center in what will be the best crowd of 2017 for the home side.
- Sigi Schmid, the winningest coach in MLS history, will coach his third contest since taking over as head coach. He will make two changes to the starting XI from last weekend’s match as Jonathan dos Santos makes his first start and Romain Alessandrini slides back into the XI in place of Giovani dos Santos (injured) and Jack McInerney.
- In net, Brian Rowe will continue in net as the first choice goalkeeper in Schmid’s third game in charge. In his career, he has 16th shutouts and has gone 21-15-20 as a starter in MLS.
- At right back, Pele van Anholt will make his third-straight start for the Galaxy after very solid performances in his first two. Pele has looked to have locked down the right back spot in defense, which has featured multiple players this year.
- The young and talented and versatile Dave Romney will again fill in for captain Jelle Van Damme, who is serving the second of a two-game suspension. Romney has made 21 previous starts in his MLS career, including 11 this season.
- Alongside Romney is Daniel Steres, who also was signed from the LA Galaxy’s developmental system as a member of LA Galaxy II. Steres has been the Galaxy’s steadiest defender since arriving last year having made 46 starts.
- On the left, captaining the side is veteran English defender Ashley Cole who makes his 44th start of his MLS career. Cole is one of MLS’ best at left back position, and has been since he joined LA last
- Veteran midfielder and stalwart in the middle, Jermaine Jones makes his fourth-straight start in central midfielder for LA. He will pair with João Pedro and look to control tempo on Saturday night.
- Alongside Jones is João Pedro, who will make his team-leading 21st start of the MLS season in his first year with the team. Pedro has been one of the Galaxy’s most consistent players, providing a beautiful assist last week to Boateng.
- On the right, he’s French, he’s handsome and he’s dangerous (on the soccer field; in person, he is very, very nice): Romain Alessandrini returns to the lineup after missing last weekend due to a knee irritation. Alessandrini has been one of the best in MLS this season, tallying eight goals and eight assists.
- In the center of the midfielder, filling in for his brother who is out with a hamstring injury, Jonathan dos Santos will make his debut start for the Galaxy in front of the Galaxy faithful at StubHub Center. Jona dos Santos has the ability to make him one of the best midfielders in MLS. He’ll look to showcase that Saturday.
- Out wide, this very-small-but-very-very-very-very fast man Emmanuel Boateng makes the start after scoring a goal last weekend vs. Portland. Boateng was all over the place last weekend, putting in one of his best performances of the season.
- Up top, Gyasi Zardes will make the start looking for his first goal of the year. Zardes has a positive spell with the USMNT en route to winning the Gold Cup and he will look to get going in MLS on Saturday.
Game notes
· The Galaxy are 1-6-4 at home this season, NYCFC are 4-6-1 on the road.
· LA Galaxy head man Sigi Schmid is the winningest coach in MLS history. The Torrance product has a record of 228-166-114 in his 17 and change seasons in MLS.
· Two of MLS’ biggest franchises square off when reigning MVP David Villa and NYCFC come to Los Angeles this weekend. The visit will mark their second-ever match at StubHub Center.
· Last time in town, the Galaxy demolished NYCFC 5-1, with a brace from Robbie Keane bolstered by goals from Giovani dos Santos, Sebastian Lletget and Gyasi Zardes.
Bay City Rollers Lyrics
S-A-T-U-R-D-A-Y night!
S-A-T-U-R-D-A-Y night!
S-A-T-U-R-D-A-Y night!
S-A-T-U-R-D-A-Y night!
Gonna keep on dancing
To the rock and roll
On Saturday night, Saturday night
Dancin' to the rhythm
In our heart and soul
On Saturday night, Saturday night
I-I-I-I
Just can't wait
I-I-I-I gotta date
At the good ol' rock and roll
Folk show, I've gotta go!
Saturday night
Saturday night
Gonna rock it up
Roll it up
Do it all, have a ball
Saturday night
Saturday night
S-S-S-Saturday night
S-S-S-Saturday night
S-S-S-Saturday night
S-A-T-U-R-D-A-Y night!
S-A-T-U-R-D-A-Y night!
S-A-T-U-R-D-A-Y night!
S-A-T-U-R-D-A-Y night!
– Bay City Rollers – Saturday Night (1975)
