Lineup Notes:
- Fish tossing, original coffee chains, 6’5” Swedish superstars, Katie Witham Instagram stories poking fun at her colleagues… and soccer. Sunday afternoon combines all of these elements with a contest between the LA Galaxy and Seattle Sounders FC at CenturyLink Field on FS1 and FOX Deportes as the playoff race tightens up.
- LA Galaxy Head Coach Guillermo Barros Schelotto will make no changes to his starting XI that drew 3-3 on the road to LAFC last Sunday evening.
- In net is David Bingham, who boasts eight shutouts and 116 saves – the most in Major League Soccer. He has started in every Galaxy game this season. He is the most famous David B in LA Galaxy history that doesn’t have his own underwear line.
- Out wide on the right is Rolf Feltscher, who has made 19 starts in that position on the season. Coincidentally, he has also posted 19 pictures of himself not wearing a shirt on Instagram.
- In the middle of the pitch is Giancarlo “Pipo” Gonzalez, the man with both MLS (Columbus) and World Cup (Costa Rica) experience, the two most important experiences in life. “Pura Vida,” he says to all things.
- Once again rounding out the central defense is Diego Polenta, the aggressive (on the soccer field, not in life) defender who has been arguably the top performer along the Galaxy’s backline this season. He is good at soccer and also riding horses.
- On the left is Jorgen Skjelvik, who continues to boast the highest consonants to vowels ratio in Major League Soccer. Skjelvik has now made 17 starts on the year in his natural position.
- In the center of the field is Jonathan dos Santos, who is at full fitness after exiting the LAFC match as a precaution. JDS has been on fire, figuratively, this season in MLS and is in line for an MLS Best XI recognition.
- Pairing up with JDS is Da’ Boy Sebastian Lletget, who continues in the central midfield pairing late in the season once again. The duo of Da’ Boy and JDS will face off shortly after Sunday’s match as they both represent their countries in the United States-Mexico contest.
- Out wide on the right is the speedster Uriel Antuna, who will also depart after the match to join Mexico’s national team alongside JDS. Antuna will be difficult to miss Sunday because he will be the player that doesn’t stand still ever.
- Pulling the strings in the attack is Favio Alvarez, who is coming off a two-assist performance. Since joining mid-season, Alvarez has three goals and four assists. Not bad.
- Out wide on the left is Cristian Pavon, the maestro who notched his first goal last weekend in front of all of Zlatan’s fans. Pavon has the potential to be one of the most dangerous players in MLS and will look to build on his strong start Sunday.
- Up top is Zlatan, who you can find on various billboards in Los Angeles.
Game Notes:
- The LA Galaxy are 10-7-10 all-time against Seattle Sounders FC.
- On the road, the Galaxy have gone 4-4-5 vs. Sounders FC.
- In their previous contest, the Galaxy drew 2-2 on Aug. 17 at Dignity Health Sports Park.
- On the road, LA have gone 4-7-2 in MLS play this year.
- In those road games, the Galaxy have scored 14 goals while conceding 23.
- The Galaxy are 11-1-1 this season when scoring the game’s opening goal, and 2-10-1 when conceding first.
- When leading at halftime, LA are 6-2-1. They are 7-2-2 when tied at halftime.
Storylines:
- Will Zlatan keep scoring?
- What playoff implications will Sunday have?
- Can Pavon build off his performance from last weekend?
- Can the Galaxy backline shut down Seattle’s attack?
- Can Seattle’s backline shut down the Galaxy’s attack?
Quick Hits:
- Match preview: https://www.lagalaxy.com/post/2019/08/30/match-preview-presented-welchs-fruit-snacks-la-galaxy-head-north-face-seattle
- Coach on Seattle: https://www.lagalaxy.com/post/2019/08/30/la-galaxy-head-coach-guillermo-barros-schelotto-facing-seattle-sounders-fc?autoplay=true
- Deep Cuts with Sebi Lletget:https://www.lagalaxy.com/post/2019/08/29/sebastian-lletget-la-galaxy-playoff-chances-injuries-deep-cuts?autoplay=true
- Zlatan and the Galaxy fighting ALS:https://www.lagalaxy.com/post/2019/08/29/la-galaxy-and-zlatan-ibrahimovi-team-fight-als
- Lots of Galaxy players to rep their countries:https://www.lagalaxy.com/post/2019/08/28/five-la-galaxy-players-called-international-duty
I’m Still Standing – Elton John
You could never know what it's like
Your blood like winter freezes just like ice
And there's a cold lonely light that shines from you
You'll wind up like the wreck you hide behind that mask you use
And did you think this fool could never win
Well, look at me, I'm a-coming back again
I got a taste of love in a simple way
And if you need to know while I'm still standing you just fade away
Don't you know I'm still standing better than I ever did
Looking like a true survivor, feeling like a little kid
And I'm still standing after all this time
Picking up the pieces of my life without you on my mind
I'm still standing. Yeah, yeah, yeah
I'm still standing. Yeah, yeah, yeah
Once I never could hope to win
You're starting down the road leaving me again
The threats you made were meant to cut me down
And if our love was just a circus you'd be a clown by now
You know I'm still standing better than I ever did
Looking like a true survivor, feeling like a little kid
I'm still standing after all this time
Picking up the pieces of my life without you on my mind
I'm still standing. Yeah, yeah, yeah
I'm still standing. Yeah, yeah, yeah
