Lineup Notes:
- The LA Galaxy return home for America’s birthday during the club’s 24th-straight fireworks show. Kaboom!
- Guillermo Barros Schelotto will make two changes to the XI: Giancarlo Gonzalez and Efrain Alvarez get the start as Dave Romney moves to the bench and Sebastian Lletget is out injured.
- U.S. goalkeeper David Bingham starts his 53nd straight MLS game in the net since joining the Galaxy.
- On the right once again is youngster Julian Araujo, who gets his third-straight MLS start since returning from a trip with the U.S. U-20 World Cup squad.
- Daniel Steres makes his 19th start this year. In addition to his stellar play along the backline, Steres has racked up three goals on the year, which remains the second most on the team.
- Returning from the Gold Cup is Costa Rican Giancarlo Gonzalez. Gonzalez has been in strong form this year since joining the Galaxy from Serie A.
- Shifting out wide on the left is the horse-loving Uruguayan Diego Polenta. This year, Polenta has made 15 appearances, all starts, in his first year with the Galaxy.
- Completing the midfield mix is Joe Corona, the 28-year-old U.S. Men’s National team veteran who was signed to the Galaxy through the use of Target Allocation Money on March 6. Corona is set to make his 17h start in MLS this season.
- Midfielder Perry Kitchen makes his fourth start of the MLS season Thursday night after missing the first part of the year due to injury. Kitchen once again will be a key component in the absence of Jonathan dos Santos.
- Slotting into the lineup is youngster Efrain Alvarez, who fills in for an injured Sebastian Lletget. Alvarez has provided an offensive spark in recent weeks.
- Favio Alvarez is slated to make his seventh-straight MLS start for the Galaxy since signing earlier this year. Alvarez has also provided a key spark to the Galaxy offense since joining the club.
- Out wide is Emmanuel Boateng, who will make his 65th MLS start for the Galaxy following his first goal of the season two weeks ago. Boateng will be the fastest player on the field Saturday.
- Zlatan Ibrahimović also starts. He likes soccer!
Game Notes:
- The Galaxy are 6-5-6 all time against Toronto FC.
- This year at home, the Galaxy are 6-3-0.
- At home, LA have scored 14 goals and 11 assists.
- The Galaxy are 9-0-0 this season when scoring the game’s opening goal, and 1-7-0 when conceding first.
- When leading at halftime, LA are 6-1-0. They are 4-2-1 when tied at halftime.
Storylines:
- Can LA return to winning ways at home?
- Will Zlatan find the back of the net on July 4?
- Can LA rebound from a 3-0 loss last weekend to SJ?
- How will Efrain Alvarez do in the starting lineup?
- How will the team with the absence of Jonathan dos Santos and Uriel Antuna?
Quick Hits:
- Match preview: https://www.lagalaxy.com/post/2019/07/02/match-preview-presented-welchs-fruit-snacks-la-galaxy-face-toronto-fc-fourth-july
- Packed house tonight: https://www.lagalaxy.com/post/2019/07/04/la-galaxy-advise-fans-arrive-early-july-4-match-vs-toronto-fc
- Weekly update: https://www.lagalaxy.com/post/2019/07/02/weekly-update-fireworks-and-soccer-megan-reza-la-galaxys-fourth-july-contest?autoplay=true
- 90 in 90: https://www.lagalaxy.com/post/2019/07/01/90-90-lavtfc?autoplay=true
Hannah Montana Lyrics – Party in the U.S.A.
I hopped off the plane at LAX
With a dream and my cardigan
Welcome to the land of fame excess,
Whoa, am I gonna fit in?
Jumped in the cab,
Here I am for the first time
Look to my right and I see the Hollywood sign
This is all so crazy
Everybody seems so famous
My tummy's turnin' and I'm feelin' kinda home sick
Too much pressure and I'm nervous,
That's when the taxi man turned on the radio
And the Jay Z song was on
And the Jay Z song was on
And the Jay Z song was on
So I put my hands up
They're playing my song,
And the butterflies fly away
Noddin' my head like, yeah
Movin' my hips like, yeah
I got my hands up,
They're playin' my song
You know I'm gonna be okay
Yeah, it's a party in the USA
Yeah it's a party in the USA
