2017 MLS Regular Season
StubHub Center – Carson, Calif.
Sunday, October 15 – 4:30 pm PT
WATCH: Spectrum SportsNet, Spectrum Deportes
In truth, the stakes of Sunday's match between the LA Galaxy host Minnesota United FC aren't particularly high, as both teams have already been eliminated from Audi 2017 MLS Cup Playoffs contention. Still, there will still be intriguing storylines to follow on each side.
The hosts will aim to finish their disastrous home form this season on a high note. LA have won just two out of 16 regular season games at the StubHub Center this year, by far the worst home record in the league. But with the campaign a disappointment, this game, against an opponent that has shown an ability to be caught out this year, represents an opportunity to end their home season on a high note. And while injuries have taken their toll all season, one positive in recent months has been the development of young attacker Bradford Jamieson IV, who is coming off goals in back-to-back games. If he can finish the season strong, he could solidify himself in the Galaxy plans for 2018.
Meanwhile, Minnesota have played much better of late, and will have to like their own chances against a battered LA side. Their last two games featured comeback results, so if the Loons can keep the Galaxy attack in front of them and continue to feed their own strikers, likely to be rookie Abu Danladi and Christian Ramirez, they may find another three points to wind down their first season in MLS on a productive note.
LA Galaxy
- Suspended: None
- Suspended after next caution: D Bradley Diallo, D Nathan Smith, M Jonathan dos Santos, M Romain Alessandrini
- Int’l Duty: None
- Injury Report: OUT: D Robbie Rogers (ankle), M Sebastian Lletget (foot), M Baggio Husidic (broken leg), D Pele van Anholt (torn ACL), D Daniel Steres (back fracture); QUESTIONABLE: D Bradley Diallo (hamstring); F/D Gyasi Zardes (groin)
Projected Starting XI
(4-2-3-1, left to right)
GK: Clement Diop — Ashley Cole, Dave Romney, Michael Ciani, Rafael Garcia — Jonathan dos Santos, Jermaine Jones — Emmanuel Boateng, Bradford Jamieson, Romain Alessandrini — Giovani dos Santos
Notes: The Galaxy have only won once in their last 17 MLS games (12L-4D). They have only kept two clean sheets in the 17 games and have conceded an average of 2.4 goals over the 17 matches...Jermaine Jones' assist against Real Salt Lake in the last Galaxy game was his first in his last 13 league appearances and his third in 18 overall Galaxy appearances this year.
Minnesota United FC
- Suspended: D Joe Greenspan
- Suspended after next caution: M Collin Martin
- Int’l Duty: None
- Injury Report: OUT: M Bernardo Anor (leg), M/D Thomas de Villardi (Achilles), M Sam Cronin (head); QUESTIONABLE: D Marc Burch (thigh)
Projected Starting XI
(4-4-2, left to right):
GK: Bobby Shuttleworth — Francisco Calvo, Brent Kallman, Michael Boxall, Jerome Thiesson — Miguel Ibarra, Ibson, Collin Martin, Ethan Finlay — Abu Danladi, Christian Ramirez
Notes: Minnesota have only lost once in their last five league games (3W-1D) and have scored an average of 2.4 goals across the matches. They averaged 1.2 goals per game across their first 27 league matches this year...Ibson has won 53 duels since Sept. 1, the second most of any player in the league.
All-Time Series
This is the second meeting in MLS between the teams. In the first game, the Galaxy won 2-1 in Minnesota on May 21.
- Overall: LA 1 win (2 goals) … Minnesota 0 wins (1 goal) … Ties 0
- At LA: First meeting
Referees
Referee: Alex Chilowicz
Assistant Referees: Apolinar Mariscal, Jeremy Kieso
Fourth Official: Baldomero Toledo
Video Assistant Referee (VAR): Juan Guzman, Jr.
