LA Galaxy defeat FC Shirak 2-1, preseason update

The LA Galaxy continued their 2014 preseason warmup defeating FC Shirak 2-1 at the StubHub Center in front of 12,447 at the StubHub! Center Saturday night. Samuel pushed one home in the first half, and in the second half Gyasi Zardes had a calm shot from zone 14.

Bruce Arena: "Gyasi Zardes had a good night." #LAGvFCS pic.twitter.com/vBqb2UVts1

— LA Galaxy (@LAGalaxy) February 9, 2014

The events of the match aren't that important at this point, even with a little extra pomp and circumstance. What's most important is my amazing pre-season minute tracking chart.

There are references online to a scrimmage played between the Galaxy and the Orange County Blues. However, there's no record of who played and for how long that I can find. So for our purposes, this was the second outing.

Injuries: Robbie Rogers - Left ankle sprain

Unavailable: Todd Dunivant

Not yet in full training: Robbie Keane

Just to see the point of this exercise, if we were to predict an opening day lineup based on minutes played thus far it would be: Penedo; too close to call, Leonardo, Opare, Cochrane; Ishizaki, Juninho, Sarvas/Husidic, too close to call; Friend, Samuel

While that's nothing resembling a lineup, it does show us where there's competition; even when competition is simply the result of players getting to camp late or not participating at all yet. It brings up important questions: Is Bruce Arena confident enough in Leonardo to stick with DeLaGarza at right back. Will Rogers picking up a knock mean he has to fight to get back into the A-squad? Is Cochrane ready if he's needed for extended periods this year?

Without further ado, the chart: