LAG Confidential - LA Galaxy Defeat San Jose Earthquakes in California ClassicoThe Jewel of MLS Blogshttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/50693/lag-fav.png2013-09-02T11:56:06-07:00http://www.lagconfidential.com/rss/stream/44435252013-09-02T11:56:06-07:002013-09-02T11:56:06-07:00LA Galaxy vs. San Jose Earthquakes: Highlights
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<p>Here we have the extended highlights from Saturday's 3-0 <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.lagconfidential.com/">LA Galaxy</a> victory over the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.centerlinesoccer.com/">San Jose Earthquakes</a>.</p>
<p>After an early chance for San Jose off a corner kick, the highlights really reflect how dominant the Galaxy performance was. There's a through-ball chance the <span>Robbie Keane</span> pulls too far to the left, and then there's the almost identical through-ball which started as a counter and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/players/110934/landon-donovan">Landon Donovan</a> put in the back of the net. San Jose was down one of their best defenders, and creating opportunities by beating the offside trap shows exploitation of that weakness.</p>
<p>"It was a good performance," said Robbie Keane. "From the start it didn't look like they would cause us any problem. A goal came on a typical play from us, a counterattack, and we were sharp on the break, and once you get the first goal it kind of opened from there."</p>
<p>The second goal essentially iced the match, and the third was icing on the cake. LA continued to get solid opportunities in the box after the goal, with San Josie's defence really on their heels.</p>
<h4>Looking Forward</h4>
<p>Western Conference midweek match in Seattle vs. Chivas USA. Seattle comes off a victory on the road while Chivas were able to play Vancouver tough before giving up two of three points. A Sounders victory pulls them level with LA while spending a match in hand, however they'll have to defeat Chivas without Clint Dempsey or Eddie Johnson who have left on international duty as well as dealing with an injury to Brad Evans.</p>
<p>Real Salt Lake have a bye this round, so their international absences won't have a direct effect on them. That also means that when Seattle plays Real Salt Lake next Friday, and if the Sounders are able to get all six points available to them this week, the implications for the Supporter's Shield and Western Conference race are huge.</p>
https://www.lagconfidential.com/2013/9/2/4686856/la-galaxy-vs-san-jose-earthquakes-extended-highlightsJosie Becker2013-09-01T10:24:04-07:002013-09-01T10:24:04-07:00LA Galaxy show off dynamic offence in win over SJ
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<figcaption>Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The LA Galaxy defeated the San Jose Earthquakes 3-0 Saturday night, and as has been the case since Landon Donovan returned from the Gold Cup he and Robbie Keane stole the show.</p> <p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.lagconfidential.com/">LA Galaxy</a> defeated the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.centerlinesoccer.com/">San Jose Earthquakes</a> 3-0 Saturday night, and as has been the case since <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/players/110934/landon-donovan">Landon Donovan</a> returned from the Gold Cup he and <span>Robbie Keane</span> stole the show. With all the goals and assists the forward pairing have scored in the last month, the Galaxy offence has remained dynamic creating opportunities from several different situations.</p>
<p>The opening goal came off a through ball, with Landon Donovan staying onside while Robbie Keane sent up a hopeful ball for him to run onto. Donovan then dribbled around the keeper for the easy open net goal. The penalty kick was earned on a play that started on the flank, going from <span>Sean Franklin</span> on the right and working across the top to <span>Gyasi Zardes</span> on the left.</p>
<p>The second half goal was the lone goal created from a counter situation, a bit of old school LA Galaxy speed. <span>A.J. DeLaGarza</span> recovered a loose ball at the halfway line then got it out to Todd Dunivant. Dunivant played it up to Gyasi Zardes who sent in the cross that Franklin headed down for Keane to smash in.</p>
<p>With three goals in eleven attempts, the 27% conversion rate showed a strong finishing ability. Finishing was a weakness for LA toward the beginning of the year, when Zardes was playing up top taking seven shots a match. With Donovan and Keane up top, they've fallen back into a good rhythm. Arena after the match admitted that the sole reason Zardes moved to the flank was because he had Keane and Donovan to start up top. So don't expect that pairing to be broken up any time soon.</p>
<p>The Galaxy were able to control possession (55/45) and attempted 447 short passes which is more than the Quakes attempted total. LA also used seven through balls, challenging San Jose's offside trap which led to one of their goals.</p>
<p>San Jose's attack was heavily left sided, with left midfielder <span>Cordell Cato</span> playing the furthest forward. They were reliant on crosses and long balls, and with <span>Omar Gonzalez</span> and Leonardo in the middle winning aerial battles that limited the Quakes to two shots on target; only one from inside the penalty area.</p>
<p>Keane and Donovan turned in fantastic performances yet again. Replacing them as they go on international duty is going to be difficult.</p>
https://www.lagconfidential.com/2013/9/1/4682954/la-galaxy-dynamic-offense-win-over-san-jose-quakesJosie Becker2013-09-01T07:00:03-07:002013-09-01T07:00:03-07:00Keane has dominant impact in California Clasico
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<figcaption>Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Robbie Keane had two goals and an assist in a 3-0 win for the LA Galaxy over the San Jose Earthquakes on Saturday. Keane led the Galaxy in Match Impact Rating with another 100+ performance.</p> <p>The points keep coming for <span>Robbie Keane</span> and the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.lagconfidential.com/">LA Galaxy</a> easily vanquished the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.centerlinesoccer.com/">San Jose Earthquakes</a> in the California Clasico, 3-0, on Saturday.</p>
<p>Keane had two goals and an assist in the match and also drew one foul to post a <a href="http://www.lagconfidential.com/2012/6/14/3084509/match-impact-rating-mls-soccer-castrol-index-thierry-henry-saer-sene-chris-wondolowski-david-beckham" target="_blank">Match Impact Rating </a>of 110.7. It was also a good day for those of you who picked Keane in <a href="http://games.mlssoccer.com/mlsmonte" target="_blank">MLS' Three Goal Monte game</a> (raises hand!). An update to the <a href="http://www.lagconfidential.com/2013/6/27/4472972/jack-mcinerney-mike-magee-striker-index" target="_blank">Striker Index</a> standings is in the works, and Keane is not disappointing in that metric either.</p>
<p>Second place honors didn't go to <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/players/110934/landon-donovan">Landon Donovan</a>, who continues to close on the all-time MLS goals record, but instead to Marcelo Sarvas. Sarvas had an assist in the match, took two shots and suffered three fouls for an MIR of 60. Donovan had a 42.8 for a goal on his two shots in 90 minutes of action.</p>
<p><span>Gyasi Zardes</span>, playing in the midfield for 84 minutes, had an assist, committed and suffered one foul to post a MIR of 42.8. <span>Sean Franklin</span>, also playing in the midfield, had an assist, committed two fouls and suffered one foul for a MIR of 39.5. Defender Leonardo had a MIR of 10 for a shot on goal, two fouls committed and one foul drawn in 90 minutes.</p>
https://www.lagconfidential.com/2013/9/1/4681836/robbie-keane-goal-galaxy-vs-earthquakesPatrick_the_Ruminator2013-08-31T19:10:32-07:002013-08-31T19:10:32-07:00LA Galaxy vs. San Jose Earthquakes: Starting XI
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<p>Bruce Arena sticking with that lineup that scored all those goals that time. Not too controversial there.</p>
<p><strong><a href="https://www.lagconfidential.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">LA Galaxy</a> bench:</strong> Rowe; Meyer; Jimenez, Mastroeni, Stephens, Villarreal, McBean</p>
<p><b>SJ Earthquakes<span> </span>Starting XI (4-1-4-1):</b> Busch, Beitashour, Goodson, Hernandez, Stewart, Cronin, Chavez, Wondo, Gordon, Cato, Lenhart</p>
<p><b>Kickoff:</b> 7:30</p>
<p><b>Television:</b> Time Warner Cable Sportsnet</p>
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<p>2.9 - <a href="https://twitter.com/ChrisWondo">@ChrisWondo</a> has averaged 2.9 shots per game (excl. blocks) in <a href="https://twitter.com/MLS">@MLS</a> 2013, the most among any player in the league. Pepper.</p>
— OptaJack (@OptaJack) <a href="https://twitter.com/OptaJack/statuses/373988938828230656">September 1, 2013</a>
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<p>66 - <a href="https://twitter.com/MarceloSarvas">@MarceloSarvas</a> has conceded the most fouls among any player in <a href="https://twitter.com/MLS">@MLS</a> 2013 with 66, no other player has conceded more than 57. Physical.</p>
— OptaJack (@OptaJack) <a href="https://twitter.com/OptaJack/statuses/373989917250322432">September 1, 2013</a>
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<p>39 - <a href="https://twitter.com/SalinasSJ11">@SalinasSJ11</a> has created 39 chances in <a href="https://twitter.com/MLS">@MLS</a> 2013, the most on SJ (15th in MLS). <a href="https://twitter.com/ChrisWondo">@ChrisWondo</a> is second on the team with 29. Thread.</p>
— OptaJack (@OptaJack) <a href="https://twitter.com/OptaJack/statuses/373991295423111168">September 1, 2013</a>
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<p>2 - <a href="https://twitter.com/LAGalaxy">@LAGalaxy</a> are averaging two goals per home game in <a href="https://twitter.com/MLS">@MLS</a> 2013, only <a href="https://twitter.com/impactmontreal">@impactmontreal</a> are averaging more goals at home (2.2). Sunny.</p>
— OptaJack (@OptaJack) <a href="https://twitter.com/OptaJack/statuses/373992466300813312">September 1, 2013</a>
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<p>66.3% - <a href="https://twitter.com/LAGalaxy">@LAGalaxy</a> have the highest passing accuracy in the final third among any team in <a href="https://twitter.com/MLS">@MLS</a> 2013. Connect.</p>
— OptaJack (@OptaJack) <a href="https://twitter.com/OptaJack/statuses/373993735383945216">September 1, 2013</a>
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<p>3 - Excluding playoffs, <a href="https://twitter.com/SJEarthquakes">@SJEarthquakes</a> have beaten <a href="https://twitter.com/LAGalaxy">@LAGalaxy</a> in three of their last four meetings in <a href="https://twitter.com/MLS">@MLS</a> (1D). Derby.</p>
— OptaJack (@OptaJack) <a href="https://twitter.com/OptaJack/statuses/373993745295097856">September 1, 2013</a>
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https://www.lagconfidential.com/2013/8/31/4681432/la-galaxy-vs-san-jose-earthquakes-starting-xiJosie Becker2013-08-31T08:42:40-07:002013-08-31T08:42:40-07:00LA Galaxy vs. San Jose Earthquakes: Cali Clasico
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<figcaption>USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>When the LA Galaxy meet the San Jose Earthquakes at the StubHub Center, taking on their oldest rival, three points will essentially be the only acceptable result. </p> <p>When the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.lagconfidential.com/">LA Galaxy</a> meet the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.centerlinesoccer.com/">San Jose Earthquakes</a> at the StubHub Center, taking on their oldest rival, three points will essentially be the only acceptable result. Not only are the Quakes down three players as a result of action in their previous match, but LA will lose four players to the upcoming <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/world-cup-2014">World Cup</a> Qualifiers next weekend. The full strength version of LA needs to keep pace with <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.rslsoapbox.com/">Real Salt Lake</a> who soundly defeated <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.stumptownfooty.com/">Portland Timbers</a> last night.</p>
<p>San Jose will be without the services of <span>Victor Bernardez</span>, <span>Justin Morrow</span>, and <span>Rafael Baca</span> due to cards handed out in the last match. Bernardez is the most significant loss, as the Quakes' best defender. The center back on average is good for about fourteen clearances, blocks, and interceptions a match. Of course, the Quakes have also improved their back line recently, bringing in national team defender <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/players/110908/clarence-goodson">Clarence Goodson</a>.</p>
<p>For LA, <span>Robbie Rogers</span> is the significant absence, meaning we'll likely see <span>Gyasi Zardes</span> and <span>Hector Jimenez</span> on the wings again with <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/players/110934/landon-donovan">Landon Donovan</a> up top. This combination has led to plenty of goals in the past few weeks so no real argument against it.</p>
<p>The Galaxy are on a four match home winning streak, scoring at least two goals in each of them. Meanwhile San Jose have failed to win in twelve of their last thirteen road fixtures. They have also conceded at least two goals in their last four road matches.</p>
<p>The squad San Jose brings into the StubHub Center looks to give up a handful of goals, but even in a down year the Goonies mentality doesn't seem to want to go away. <span>Chris Wondolowski</span> is still a threat to score at any time, and there's always the <span>Alan Gordon</span> factor. Cautious optimism in this one.</p>
<p>In case you need more to get you pumped for this one, here's Steven "bites your shoulder" Lenhart and Alan "pushed <span>A.J. DeLaGarza</span>" Gordon on MLS Insider last night:</p>
<p><iframe frameborder="0" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/rWeP001fLys" height="315" width="420"></iframe></p>
https://www.lagconfidential.com/2013/8/31/4679386/la-galaxy-vs-san-jose-earthquakes-california-clasico-previewJosie Becker