CARSON, Calif. – The hype is understandable for Sunday’s highly anticipated showdown between the LA Galaxy and New York City FC at StubHub Center (noon, ESPN, ESPN Deportes).
It’s not only East vs. West but a collection of stars that is unmatched anywhere in MLS. The Galaxy (12-7-7, 43 points, first in the West), for example, boast the likes of Robbie Keane, Steven Gerrard and Giovani Dos Santos. New York City (7-11-7, 28 points, tied for sixth in the East) counters with Frank Lampard, David Villa and Andrea Pirlo.
A national television audience and sellout crowd figure to be treated to quite a show, but those involved prefer a more measured approach. Galaxy coach Bruce Arena, for one, definitely is not a fan of the hoopla.
“I don’t spend a whole lot of time thinking about it,” he said. “But certainly it’s a nice occasion for the league to have players that are recognized all over the world playing in this match.”
In that respect 12-year veteran Alan Gordon couldn’t agree more.
“I think it’s great, great for the league,” the Galaxy forward said. “You’re talking about six massive superstars on the world football stage. It’s monumental for this league and it’s going to be a cool match-up.
“There’s going to be a lot of quality on the field, two teams that want to win very badly and show they’re the best. I’m excited to be involved with it.”
Keane, like Arena, not so much.
“I couldn’t even care less,” said Keane, who has been on a tear lately with 10 goals in his last six league matches and has 13 goals on the season. “I don’t care if there are no DP’s (designated players), six DP’s. I don’t really care.
“Whether I’m playing New York or anybody else it’s the same thing -- go out and win the game. That’s the important thing, that the team does well. As long as we put the effort in, regardless of who we’re playing against, I couldn’t care less.”
Gerrard appeared a bit taken aback from the pregame buzz centering on the match-up between him and Lampard, his former teammate on England’s national team and long-time rival in the English Premiership.
“I’m sure Frank agrees it’s slightly embarrassing to have all the focus on you when it’s LA and New York,” Gerrard said. “It’s all about the game and three points and I’m sure he’d agree. But we understand it.”
Lampard, who made his MLS debut earlier this month, is questionable at best for Sunday because of a quad strain that has kept him out of the last two matches, including Wednesday’s 2-2 tie at Columbus. But New York has been getting a big season out of Villa, the Spanish international who has 14 goals and scored the game-winner in last weekend’s 3-1 victory over D.C. United.
Pirlo, the former Juventus standout who became New York’s third designated player in July, gives the visitors another dangerous option in the midfield. First-year player Kwadwo Poku, a Ghana native who has four goals and a team-leading seven assists, has also been key for the team from the Bronx. New York, in fact, is 4-0-1 when Poku starts.
The Galaxy, boosted by their own pleasant surprise in newcomer Sebastian Lletget, who has six goals in just 12 matches, are 5-1 in their last six league matches.
Gerrard is happy with the defending MLS Cup champions’ current form.
“We’re in a good place,” he said. “We have everyone back, fit and available. We’re a very strong team and you have to play very well to beat the Galaxy.”
LA GALAXY vs NEW YORK CITY FC
STUBHUB CENTER, Carson, Calif.
August 23, 2015 (WEEK 25, MLS Game #255)
12 pm PT (ESPN/ESPN Deportes)
One of the marquee matches of the entire Major League Soccer season is set for Sunday afternoon as the LA Galaxy play host to New York City FC at StubHub Center. The Galaxy now sit atop the Western Conference after winning a second consecutive game on the road in league play, defeating FC Dallas 2-1 last weekend, having also continued their remarkable form at StubHub Center with another five-goal outing at midweek in the CONCACAF Champions League. NYCFC are continuing their two-game road swing, having moved into a tie for the final playoff position in the Eastern Conference after their 2-2 draw at Columbus Crew SC, also at midweek.
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- This week Soccer Sunday on ESPN is a superstar-palooza, with the likes of the LA Galaxy'sRobbie Keane, Steven Gerrard,Giovani Dos Santos,Gyasi Zardes, andOmar Gonzalezplaying host to NYCFC'sDavid Villa, Andrea Pirlo,Frank Lampard, and Mix Diskerud.
- Keane scored a pair of goals, his third multiple-goal game in the last six, since July 4, leading the Galaxy to a 2-1 win against FC Dallas on Saturday evening, their third win overall and their second in a row on the road after going more than a year without a victory on their travels.
- Keane now has 13 goals this season, fourth in the MLS Golden Boot standings, with 10 goals over his last six league matches. New strike partner Giovani dos Santos collected an assist; he now has a goal and two assists in his first two MLS matches.
- NYCFC enter the match on a good run of form, having posting a win and a draw in their last two matches, both against Eastern Conference opponents. He is now 3rd in the race for the Golden Boot as the league's top goalscorer.
- Villa, as usual this season, has been the catalyst for much of the success, snagging a game-winning second-half goal in last weekend's 3-1 win over D.C. United.
- As important in recent weeks is first-year player Kwadwo Poku, has become a cult figure to NYCFC fans. He scored his second goal and added his seventh assist against United, then scored twice in Wednesday's 2-2 draw at Columbus Crew SC. The 23-year-old Ghanaian now has three goals and four assists over his last four league games, and the club is unbeaten (4-0-1) when he starts.
REFEREE: Baldomero Toledo. AR1 (bench): Ian Anderson; AR2 (opposite): Fabio Tovar; 4th: Daniel Radford
MLS Career: 200 games; FC/gm: 25.1; Y/gm: 3.5; R: 72; pens: 72
SUSPENDED: none
WARNINGS:
SUSPENDED NEXT YELLOW CARD: LA: Baggio Husidic … NYC: Kwame Watson-Siriboe, David Villa
SUSPENDED AFTER TWO YELLOW CARDS: LA: Juninho, Mika Vayrynen, Omar Gonzalez, A.J. DeLaGarza, Gyasi Zardes … NYC: Andrew Jacobson, Kwadko Poku, R.J. Allen, Chris Wingert, Jason Hernandez, Josh Saunders
DISABLED LIST: LA: Brian Perk (season-ending injury) … NYC: Tony Taylor
INTERNATIONAL ABSENCES: none
HEAD-TO-HEAD
ALL-TIME: First meeting.
- This is the only league meeting between the teams this season.
- Coaches record: Jason Kreis vs. LA: P17 W7 L6 D4 … Bruce Arena vs. NYC: first game
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Dos Santos showing world-class talent in bright start with Galaxy
Poku continues to make mark on NYCFC with brace vs. Crew SC
CHECK OUT THE INJURY REPORT HEADING INTO THE MATCH
CHECK OUT THE DISCIPLINARY REPORT HEADING INTO THE MATCH
