CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – The LA Galaxy will face the New England Revolution for the first time since their dramatic MLS Cup victory last December, but their title win will be the farthest thing from their mind when the two teams meet at Gillette Stadium on Sunday (4 p.m., FOX Sports 1).
It was only five months ago that Robbie Keane’s left-footed finish defeated the Revs and gave the Galaxy their fifth MLS Cup but the two teams will look a lot different on Sunday. Keane remains questionable due to a groin strain while the Revolution will be without regulars Chris Tierney and Lee Nguyen due to suspension.
However, their absences won’t take any shine off the rematch for Galaxy midfielder Juninho.
“The game has a good flavor. It’s always good to be back on the field with a team that you played in a final,” Juninho told LAGalaxy.com after the team’s training session at Harvard University’s Soldiers’ Field. “It’s good to be playing them again, but it’s another year with another group and other teammates. We have to work to do if we’re going to get three points.”
However, Gyasi Zardes, who scored the opener in last December’s final, disagrees about the significance of Sunday’s clash.
“I treat this like any other game,” Zardes says. “It’s not a cup final, but I treat every game like one because I want to win.”
Winning MLS cup final rematches is something that has proven difficult for the Galaxy however throughout their 20-year history. Dating back to the 2003 season, the Galaxy are 1-4-1 when matched against their MLS Cup opponent the following season.
Getting three points will not be easy given as the reigning Eastern Conference Champions have lost only once in their last 10 matches. Despite the absences of Nguyen and Tierney, the Revolution still boast talented strikers Charlie Davies and Juan Agudelo who have accounted for nine goals this season.
“They have great strikers and a strong front three,” said Zardes. “When they get going, they’re a very effective team. We just have to make sure that we defend properly and when it’s our chances to attack, we attack them.”
If the Galaxy defense can silence the Revolution’s attack, LA might finally bag their first road in 13 matches, and at long last, put that stat to rest.
“We need to get points on the road for a long time, we haven’t done that,” Juninho said. “We’re going to work hard to surprise them and get all three points.”
Adam Serrano is the LA Galaxy Insider. Read his blog at LAGalaxy.com/Insider and contact him at LAGalaxyInsider@Gmail.com.
NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION vs LA GALAXY
GILLETTE STADIUM, Foxborough, Mass.
May 31, 2015 (WEEK 13, MLS Game #133)
4 pm PT (Fox Sports 1, Fox Deportes, Fox Sports Go TSN)
The rematch of MLS Cup 2014 highlights the week when the New England Revolution play host to the LA Galaxy at Gillette Stadium on Sunday evening before a FOX Sports 1 audience. After last year’s championship match won by the Galaxy, both have risen back to the top of their respective conferences. The Revolution are two points out of first in the East following their 1-1 home draw with D.C. United last weekend, while the Galaxy are three points away from the top spot in the West after a second consecutive 1-0 win, defeating Real Salt Lake at home at midweek.
- It’s a rematch of last year’s MLS Cup final, won 2-1 in extra time by the Galaxy at StubHub Center, their third victory in three MLS championship meetings between the clubs (also winning in 2002 and 2005).
- The Galaxy rolled to a 5-1 win in the lone regular season meeting between the teams last year, July 16 at StubHub Center. The year before, the Revolution took a 5-0 win in the lone meeting between the teams, June 2 at Gillette Stadium.
- Alan Gordon scored his fourth goal of the season – his second in stoppage time, and his third after coming on as a substitute – in the Galaxy’s 1-0 win against the Houston Dynamo. Gordon has scored 20 goals as a substitute among his 48 career league goals, the second-most in MLS history. It was the seventh goal Gordon has scored in his career in second-half stoppage time.
- Charlie Davies scored his fifth goal of the season – all coming over the last seven matches – as the Revolution rebounded from their first loss in nine games with a 1-1 draw against D.C. United on Saturday evening at Gillette Stadium.
DOWNLOAD FULL GAME GUIDE (PDF)
REFEREE: Alan Kelly. AR1 (bench): Adam Wienckowski; AR2 (opposite): Gianni Facchini; 4th: Mathieu Bourdeau MLS Career: 21 games; FC/gm: 26.1; Y/gm: 3.2; R: 8; pens: 5
SUSPENDED: NE: Chris Tierney (through May 31); Lee Nguyen (through May 31)
WARNINGS:
SUSPENDED NEXT YELLOW CARD: LA: Alan Gordon, Juninho
SUSPENDED AFTER TWO YELLOW CARDS: NE: Juan Agudelo, Jermaine Jones … LA: Baggio Husidic, Mika Vayrynen
DISABLED LIST: NE: Darrius Barnes … LA: Brian Perk (season-ending injury)
INTERNATIONAL ABSENCES: LA: Bradford Jamieson IV (U.S. U-20)
HEAD-TO-HEAD
ALL-TIME (38 meetings): Revolution 15 wins (1 shootout), 56 goals … Galaxy 17 wins (2 shootout), 60 goals … Ties 6
AT NEW ENGLAND (18 meetings): Revolution 10 wins (1 shootout), 34 goals … Galaxy 6 wins (2 shootout), 25 goals … Ties 2
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Once a Refugee: How the LA Galaxy’s Baggio Husidic survived the Bosnian War and made it in America
CHECK OUT THE INJURY REPORT HEADING INTO THE MATCH
CHECK OUT THE DISCIPLINARY REPORT HEADING INTO THE MATCH
