Saturday, December 6, 2008

Galaxy Cruise to 3-0 Win Over Oceania All-Stars

LA Galaxy 3, Oceania All-Stars 0
December 6, 2008
Mt. Smart Stadium – Auckland, New Zealand

The LA Galaxy wrapped up the year 2008 with an impressive 3-0 win over the Oceania All-Stars at Mt. Smart Stadium in Auckland, New Zealand. In the Galaxy’s second visit to New Zealand in as many years, Jovan Kirovski, Alan Gordon and Brandon McDonald scored first half goals to give the Galaxy the win in front of 16,600 fans, many of whom were wearing Galaxy jerseys.

Just two minutes into the game the Galaxy nearly went in front as David Beckham lashed a right-footed shot from the top of the box, only for his former Manchester United teammate Mark Bosnich to dive to his left to parry the ball away for a corner.

However, Bosnich would not be so lucky a minute later as the Galaxy went in front 1-0. Mike Randolph’s cross from the left wing found Chris Klein at the top of the box. He headed the ball forward to Alan Gordon, who knocked it down for another former Man United man, Jovan Kirovski. Kirovski hit a first time volley past Bosnich at his right post, giving LA a 1-0 advantage.
The Galaxy continued to dominate the run of play as the match continued, with Eddie Lewis going close with a low, left-footed shot that skidded just out of the reach of the sliding Alan Gordon and just outside the far post.

It was 2-0 in the 14th minute when Alan Gordon got free inside the box to beat Bosnich with a header from eight yards out. Beckham collected the ball in the center of the field and played it forward on the left to Eddie Lewis. With plenty of space in front of him, Lewis placed a pinpoint cross onto the head of Gordon, who easily beat Bosnich with a header and proceeded to celebrate his goal with an improvised version of the famous Maori Haka dance.

Oceania had their first chance of the half in the 27th minute, but Seattle Sounders FC midfielder Jarrod Smith fired a shot high and wide of Josh Wicks’ goal.

Five minutes later the Galaxy made it 3-0 as Brandon McDonald beat Bosnich with a free header inside the box off a Beckham corner from the left side. A Beckham freekick was deflected out for a corner, which was curled to the back post for McDonald who was unmarked, leaving him the easiest of finishes.

McDonald nearly had a second five minutes later as a Beckham freekick from the right found him free again in the box. This time however, his low header was saved by Bosnich. The rebound fell inside the six yard box, but Oceania defender Ivan Vicelich was able to clear the ball off the line just before Chris Klein could reach the ball.

Down three goals, the All-Stars tried to pull one back in the 39th minute. An Edgar Davids freekick from the right flank found Steven Old in the box, but his low header was saved and held by Wicks.

The Galaxy nearly grabbed a fourth just before the intermission as a long ball from midfield put Klein in behind the Oceania defense, but his attempted lob went high and wide of Bosnich’s goal, keeping the score at 3-0 going into the break.

The fireworks of the first half would not be replicated in the second 45 minutes as the string of substitutions slowed the game down considerably, with neither team being able to get on the scoreboard.

Kirovski went close off a Beckham cross from the right and Eddie Lewis continued to cause problems for the All-Stars down the left flank, while second half substitutes Bryan Jordan and Tristan Bowen were active as well.

The Galaxy were reduced to 10-men in the 72nd minute when Josh Tudela was sent off for his second yellow card. But despite the sending off, the Galaxy were able to keep the clean sheet for Wicks and send the club into their winter break on a high.

Scoring Summary:
LA – Jovan Kirovski (Alan Gordon, Chris Klein) 3’
LA – Alan Gordon (Eddie Lewis, David Beckham)
LA – Brandon McDonald (David Beckham) 32’

Misconduct Summary:
OAS – Cole Peverley (Yellow Card) 62’
OAS – David Muta (Yellow Card) 63’
LA – Josh Tudela (Yellow Card) 63’
LA – Josh Tudela (Yellow Card/Red Card) 72’

Lineups:
LA Galaxy: Josh Wicks, Mike Randolph (Michael Gavin 78’), Brandon McDonald, Julian Valentin (Troy Roberts 67’), Sean Franklin, Josh Tudela (Sent Off 72’), Chris Klein (Tristan Bowen 75’), Eddie Lewis (Ely Allen 79’), David Beckham© (Leonard Griffin 80’), Jovan Kirovski (Mike Munoz 79’), Alan Gordon (Bryan Jordan 46’).

Subs Not Used: Josh Saunders.

Oceania All-Stars: Mark Bosnich (Jacob Spoonley 46’), Raimana Li Fung Kuee (Francois Sakama 92+), Steven Old, Ivan Vicelich (Fedy Vava 80’), Nelson Sale (Benjamin Longue 67’), Edgar Davids, Cole Peverley, Jarrod Smith (Seule Soromon 86’), Henry Faarodo (Aleck Maemae 85’), Christian Karembeu© (David Muta 17’), Esala Masi (Pierre Wajoka 46', Judd Molea 90’).

Subs Not Used: None.

Attendance: 16,600
Referee: Michael Hester

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

So..Becks was playing in the middle and Klein on the right? And it seemed to work! Wow...did this mean that Becks will be constantly playing in the middle in the next season? I'm okay with anything and everything..as long as it works for both him and the Gs.

Thank you for this report!! Congrats Gs..you deserve it! (^_^)

Anonymous said...

So..Becks was playing in the middle and Klein on the right? And it seemed to work! Wow...did this mean that Becks will be constantly playing in the middle in the next season? I'm okay with anything and everything..as long as it works for both him and the Gs.

Thank you for this report!! Congrats Gs..you deserve it! (^_^)

rodneyd44 said...

I thought we were playing the Oceania All-Stars, nort F'n Crappy Dallas? I nice game, I hope the team can play as well next season.

Anonymous said...

David was given much more touches on the ball and to put his marks & stamps on passing & crossing. Good!!! Very good! I love having Chris back on the right wing as midfielder again. Plus, with Sean back there on the right, it made the running for Chris that much more fruitful! Edgar Davids is still a pitbull and a tenacious competitor. It was good to see him on the field again. His eye-sight may not be as good; because most of his free-kicks were off (probably due to difficulty in depth/distance perception). But, he was truly a midfield marshall. Mark Bosnich did a decent job at goal-minding... I honestly think if the back four of the Oceania team were a lot more practiced... The socre line may not have been 3-0. However, very happy to see the Galaxy get that score-line. Kirovski was extremely intelligent in his plays with passing and positioning. I could see that it will take Brandon a lot more practices and scrimmages to get used to playing Center-Back. I truly, truly hope that Bruce and Dave are able to get some more practiced, smart, quality players. We need more smartness & creativity on the team. I know we have a lot of youngsters... but, for them - the only way is much more practice, scrimmages, and definitely competitive games. Especially for Mike Munoz, Bryan Jordan, Josh Tudela, Ely Allen, and Tristan Bowen. These guys need much more games together. I can see they play somewhat hap-hazardly (they try to push forward; but there is no real concrete assuredness, no plan and counter-plan). These only come with much more games and practice and coaching. They have to learn to use the full width and length of the field. Passing & crossing techniques are highly important. They've got to religiously work on triangles-in/traingles-out (stretch & compress). They can get there... I'm sure of it - but, they need the coaching staff to work with them constantly to get them there.

Anonymous said...

Speed, creativity, accuracy, finish - all of these things are absolutely vital and important. But, all of these things combined on field won't matter much without fight, posession, ball-control, and relying & trusting a 100% on every team-mate. Everyone in the team should be working to improve, to raise their level and game abilities. I hope the coaches keep drilling and emphasizing that!

Anonymous said...

lol...any reason why you called the Oceania All-Stars "FC Dallas?" :)

Anonymous said...

It was nice to see Beckham look like he was having fun out there.

Pete said...

'bout time they put Mike Munoz in.

Anonymous said...

No video?