Setting:
- 25 years of soccer in Los Angeles kick off Saturday.
Cobi’s opening goal. A packed Rose Bowl. The first. Carlos Ruiz’ extra time winner. The second. A new stadium. David Beckham: lights, glamour, success. Keano, LD, Becks. The third. The fourth. #ThanksLD. A Juninho stunner to send us into the chase for five. The fifth. The first to five. History. A lion. That Zlatan goal.
2020 – A new era: GBS, Chicha, JDS, Pavon. Angel City Brigade. LA Riot Squad. Galaxians. Galaxy Outlawz. Victoria Block.
LA Galaxy history continues Saturday when their match marks 25 years of soccer, of history, of memories, of championships, of goals and of glory in LA.
Lineup Notes:
- Head coach Guillermo Barros Schelotto leads his team into the first home game of the 2020 season and will feature two changes to the starting XI: Jonathan dos Santos and Joe Corona enter in the lineup in place of Perry Kitchen and Sebastian Lletget.
- In net, David Bingham is coming off a performance that saw him notch his third-ever MLS assist on Pavon’s beauty of a goal in the first half. He leads the Galaxy in assists this year.
- On the right is Rolf Feltscher, the Venezuelan international who put in a strong shift against Houston in the season opener. Feltscher opens the season as the first-choice RB.
- In the middle is Nick DePuy, the 2019 LA Galaxy II Defender of the Year who signed a first-team contract after a standout performance with Los Dos. DePuy made his Galaxy DeBut on the road in Houston. ‘
- Alongside DePuy is Costa Rica International and lover of the phrase Pura VidaGiancarlo Gonzalez. Gonzalez is set to make his 39th appearance in Major League Soccer Saturday evening.
- On the left side is Argentine Emiliano Insua, who made his LA Galaxy and MLS debut last weekend on the road. Insua is a talented veteran who has played at the highest levels across the world.
- In the midfield, making his second-straight start is Sacha Kljestan, a SoCal native and USMNT veteran. Kljestan has a great mustache and also a great career in MLS. With 265 appearances all time, he leads the Galaxy.
- Making his debut start for the club this season is Joe Corona, who came off the bench in Houston. Corona has provided a cool, calm and collected presence in the midfield since joining from Liga MX last season.
- He’s back. After missing a large portion of the preseason with a mild groin injury, Jonathan dos Santos makes his 2020 debut. Dos Santos is capable of being MLS’ best central midfielder and does it all in the middle of the field.
- Out wide is Aleksandar Katai, who makes his second-straight start since joining the club from Chicago Fire FC. Katai has 18 goals and 12 assists in MLS. He came close to adding a 19th last weekend when he fired a shot off the post in the opening minutes of the match.
- On the right is Argentine playmaker Cristian Pavon. There is not a ton to say other than that this guy is exceptional at playing soccer. He is really, really good at soccer.
- Up top is Mexican superstar Javier “Chicharito” Hernández. Chicha made his long-anticipated MLS debut on the road in Houston last week.
Game Notes:
- The LA Galaxy are 11-6-5 all-time vs. Vancouver, including 8-3-1 at home.
- The Galaxy are 0-0-1 when scoring the game’s opening goal and 0-0-1 when leading the match at the half.
- LA Galaxy Head Coach Guillermo Barros Schelotto is 16-15-4 all time as coach of the LA Galaxy.
- LA Galaxy are led in goals by Cristian Pavon with one. They are led in assists by David Bingham with one.
- The LA Galaxy have not lost a single game this season in which Cristian Pavon has scored a goal this entire season.
Storylines
- Cristian Pavon. This guy is really good at soccer.
- Can the Galaxy defense lock down Vancouver Whitecaps’ attack?
- How will JDS look in his 2020 debut?
- Can Chicharito get on the scoresheet?
- How will the midfield of Kljestan, Corona and JDS gel in their first match played together this season?
- Cristian Pavon. Once again, this guy is really good at soccer.
- See point above.
Quick hits:
- Gameday guide: https://www.lagalaxy.com/post/2020/03/06/gameday-guide-la-galaxy-vs-vancouver-whitecaps-fc-march-7-2020
- Match preview: https://www.lagalaxy.com/post/2020/03/06/match-preview-presented-welchs-fruit-snacks-la-galaxy-face-vancouver-whitecaps-fc
- Chicharito on playing at home for the first time: https://www.lagalaxy.com/post/2020/03/05/watch-javier-chicharito-hernandez-excited-play-front-la-galaxy-faithful-saturday?autoplay=true
- LA Galaxy Week in Los Angeles: https://www.lagalaxy.com/post/2020/02/29/la-galaxy-week-precede-club-s-home-opener-25th-season
- Chicharito on the James Cordon show: https://www.lagalaxy.com/post/2020/03/05/little-pea-does-late-night-chicharito-late-late-show-james-corden
- The LA Galaxy match poster for Saturday’s game. Pretty cool:https://twitter.com/LAGalaxy/status/1234972767704928258?s=20
Good Vibrations Lyrics – Beach Boys
I, I love the colorful clothes she the LA Galaxy wears.
And the way the sunlight plays upon her the LA Galaxy’s hair
I, I hear the sound of a gentle word
On the wind that lifts her the LA Galaxy’s perfume through the air
I'm pickin' up good vibrations,
She's The LA Galaxy are giving me excitations (Oom bop bop)
I'm pickin' up good vibrations (Good vibrations, bop bop)
She's The LA Galaxy are giving me excitations (Excitations, bop bop)
I'm pickin' up good vibrations (Good vibrations, bop bop)
She's The LA Galaxy are giving me excitations (Excitations, bop bop)
I'm pickin' up good vibrations (Good vibrations, bop bop)
She's The LA Galaxy are giving me excitations (Excitations)
Good, good, good - good vibrations.
Close my eyes, She's the LA Galaxy are somehow closer now
Softly smile, I know she's the LA Galaxy must be kind
When I look in her eyes
She's the LA Galaxy goes with me to a blossom world
I'm pickin' up good vibrations,
She's The LA Galaxy are giving me excitations (Oom bop bop)
I'm pickin' up good vibrations (Good vibrations, bop bop)
She's The LA Galaxy are giving me excitations (Excitations, bop bop)
I'm pickin' up good vibrations (Good vibrations, bop bop)
She's The LA Galaxy are giving me excitations (Excitations, bop bop)
I'm pickin' up good vibrations (Good vibrations, bop bop)
She's The LA Galaxy are giving me excitations (Excitations)
Good, good, good - good vibrations.
