Keeping it REAL for Salt Lake

The guys held their final training session prior to departing to Utah at The Home Depot Center this morning. Everybody was focused and on-point as they went through their drills. Ian had the keepers working on throwing accuracy while Bruce and Dave had the field players working on touch passing and field positioning.

Today's training session started at 11 a.m., about an hour later than usual, but some guys headed out early anyways to get some soccer tennis in. We didn't confirm this, but we don't think Bryan and Dema lost a match. Once things got started, the guys went through some 6v6 games before splitting up into 11v11 sides to go over strategy.

Afterward the session we caught with Bruce, Landon and Dema, who's going back to Rio Tinto Stadium for the first time after helping Real Salt Lake reach the Western Conference Finals last season. Here's what they had to say:

Bruce...



Dema...



Landon...



Below are more pictures from today. Including, a picture of a jersey that was hung inside the Galaxy locker room prior to Saturday's game.

Off and Running

The Galaxy were back in training this morning as they have begun their preparations for Wednesday night's opponent, Real Salt Lake. The team will train here at The Home Depot Center again on Tuesday before heading to Utah in the afternoon ahead of Wednesday's game.

But while the players and coaches are looking ahead, we'll look back at the Galaxy's first win of the season on Saturday night. The night featured just nine shots between the two teams (tying an MLS record) but Landon had the one that counted, a 39th minute penalty kick that stretched LA's unbeaten streak to four.



Also, in case you missed it on Saturday, here is a look at the video that we played on the scoreboard prior to Saturday's game, honoring Chris Klein for his 300th game.

Immediate Reaction to 1-0 Win Over Red Bulls

Be sure to read the postgame notes pack below, and here is Landon's penalty, Donovan's highlights in goal and the postgame quote sheet from Arena, Donovan, Buddle, Osorio and Angel.

MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER QUOTE SHEETSATURDAY, MAY 2, 2009 – LA GALAXY 1, NEW YORK RED BULLS 0

LA GALAXY HEAD COACH BRUCE ARENA
On the game:
We are pleased with the win. Obviously it was game where there weren’t a whole lot of chances by either team. I think in the second half when New York pushed to get a goal we were very organized and very solid defensively. We really held them the entire evening. They really didn’t have a good chance at goal. I think the defensive part was good. We had some moments in the second half where we could have produced a second goal to end the game, but we didn’t do that. The end of the day—we are six games in and it’s good to get our first win. We’ve only lost one, so it’s not like we are in a major crisis. I think we are starting to get better, we’ve seen progress over the last month. It’s good to get some players back from injury. I think tonight, although you don’t see it on the score sheet, [Edson] Buddle had a really good game. He’s presence up top, his ability to hold the ball was an important aspect of the game tonight. Overall, I’m pleased. Anytime you win, it’s a good win. The timing was right for us to get a win. I’m real encouraged by the things I’ve seen over the last month. Hopefully, we can move forward and get some results. We have two big games on the road next week, so that will certainly be a test.

On Donovan Ricketts:
Donovan has been a great edition. Obviously, starting the season without him hurt us a little bit. He’s an outstanding goalkeeper. We would have not won this game last year. Maybe only gotten a point, but now that we have a real solid presence in the goal—we are getting better, defensively as a team. Certainly, we need to improve going forward, but that will take some time. We continue to improve, but I think an important part of our team in the defensive part of the field has certainly been Donovan Ricketts. He has been really good since he’s returned from injury.

LA GALAXY FORWARD LANDON DONOVAN
On the win:
I thought we were very solid all over the field. We deserved to win the game, and we are happy to get that.


LA GALAXY GOALKEEPER DONOVAN RICKETTS
On the game:
I think it good. The defensive did good work. I had nothing to do. It’s been a great four weeks. We haven’t lost a game yet.

On the defense’s effort during the game:
It wasn’t just the back four. The entire team tracked back, the midfield cut down the spaces. It was a great team effort.

LA GALAXY FORWARD EDSON BUDDLE:
On if the win will give the team confidence:
I hope so. Going to Salt Lake will be a hostile environment. Teams seem to put their best games together when the play against us, but I’m looking forward to the change.

NEW YORK RED BULLS HEAD COACH JUAN CARLOS OSORIO
On the result:
I think it was a tough result to digest. I think for as much as we kept possession and to have the chances that we had, I believe we deserved at least a point. So, I’m extremely disappointed that on a penalty we lost three points.

On New York’s midfield:
First of all, Seth is a player that we need to be very careful the way we keep him in shape because of his injury. So, we rotated a little bit for the last game, the Open Cup. The team played very well. We thought we needed to change it again, and amongst other things we were pleased with the performance of Albert Celades, who for just the second time he showed everybody that he is capable of playing really well. Hopefully, that will be the case for the games to come. In general, I would say that in the midfield we controlled the game, and it was a good performance.
NEW YORK RED BULLS FORWARD JUAN PABLO ANGELOn the team’s performance:We came in strong in the second half; we fought for the ball. It was hard to break them in with eight players behind the ball, but they did well defensively, and they tried to keep the advantage that they had in the first half. Other than that, there wasn't much in the game for any of the teams.
On the score:It was a really close game. The penalty was questionable. I haven't seen the replay. I'd like to see it, but it was the only difference.... the referee's call made the difference in the two sides.

Galaxy Earn First Win of the Season, Defeat New York 1-0

LA Galaxy 1, New York Red Bulls 0
May 2, 2009
The Home Depot Center – Carson, Calif.

Scoring Summary:
LA – Landon Donovan (Penalty Kick) 38’

Misconduct Summary:
NY – Carlos Johnson (Yellow Card) 75’

Lineups:
LA Galaxy: Donovan Ricketts, Todd Dunivant, Omar Gonzalez, Gregg Berhalter, Sean Franklin, Dema Kovalenko, Josh Tudela (Stefani Miglioranzi 68’), Eddie Lewis, Chris Klein (Bryan Jordan 75’), Landon Donovan©, Edson Buddle (Jovan Kirovski 85’).

Subs Not Used: Josh Saunders, Tony Sanneh, Mike Magee, Alan Gordon.
New York Red Bulls: Jon Conway, Alfredo Pacheco (Danleigh Borman 66’), Carlos Mendes, Kevin Goldthwaite, Carlos Johnson, Seth Stammler, Sinisa Ubiparapovic (Albert Celades 59’), Jorge Rojas, Juan Pablo Angel©, Dane Richards (John Wolyniec 79’).

Subs Not Used: Danny Cepero, Mike Petke, Luke Sassano, Khano Smith.

Notes:
· With the win, the Galaxy are now 1-1-4 on the season, leaving them alone in fifth place in the Western Conference with seven points. LA is now two points behind fourth place Colorado, who won earlier in the day, and two points ahead of sixth place Houston and San Jose.
· Galaxy head coach Bruce Arena made two changes to his lineup from the 1-1 draw at Colorado last weekend. Edson Buddle and Josh Tudela were brought into the lineup, replacing Aland Gordon and Stefani Miglioranzi, who were each on the bench.
· Buddle made his first start of the season after making his 2009 debut as a second half substitute last weekend. The Galaxy’s second-leading scorer in 2008 with a career-high 15 goals, Buddle missed the first month of the season with a quad strain that he suffered late in preseason.
· The Galaxy were without Leonard Griffin and Yohance Marshall, who are both on the club’s Disabled List and not eligible for selection. Griffin is eligible to return to duty next weekend in Seattle while Marshall is out until at least the home game against Kansas City in May 30.
· Prior to the game, the Galaxy honored midfielder Chris Klein who became the seventh player in MLS history to appear in 300 career regular season games this evening.
· Landon Donovan’s penalty kick goal in the 39th minute was his team-leading fourth of the season. He has now been involved (scoring or assisting on) in all seven of the Galaxy’s goals this season, scoring four and adding three assists.
· The goal was the 88th of Donovan’s MLS career, tying him with Roy Lassiter for sixth place in MLS history. He is now 11 goals behind Taylor Twellman of the New England Revolution for fifth place all-time.
· Donovan is now 2-for-2 from the penalty spot this season and has made each of his last eight penalty attempts in MLS play.
· Donovan Ricketts made one save to earn the first win of his MLS career and his second clean sheet in four games.
· Ricketts has now allowed just two goals in his first four games with the Galaxy, giving him a 0.50 goals against average, which is the third-best in MLS this season. Ricketts is also the first goalkeeper in Galaxy history to record a clean sheet in each of his first two home starts.
· With the clean sheet, their second of the season, the Galaxy have now matched their season total for shutouts of last season.
· After collecting seven yellow cards and three red cards in the first four games of the season, the Galaxy have now played two straight games without being issued a card.
· With the Galaxy win, the defending MLS Cup champion Columbus Crew are the only team in the league without a win.
· Additionally, LA avoids nearing their club record of eight straight games without a win to open the season, set in 2003.
· The attendance for today’s game was 21,006.
· The Galaxy are back in action with a pair of road games against Western Conference foes next week. On Wednesday, the club will make their first-ever trip to Rio Tinto Stadium to take on Real Salt Lake at 6 p.m. (PT) in a game that can be seen live on KWHY – Channel 22. Then, on Sunday, the Galaxy head north for their fist-ever league match against the Seattle Sounders FC at Qwest Field. That game kicks off at 12 p.m. and can be seen live on both FS West and Telefutura.
· For more about this afternoon’s game, please visit www.lagalaxy.com.

Ready for the Red Bulls

The teams are in at The Home Depot Center where the Galaxy will look to pick up their first win of the 2009 MLS season.

Here is the team that Bruce Arena will put out onto the field tonight.

-----------Donovan----Buddle------------

Lewis------------------------------Klein

-----------Kovalenko-----Tudela----------

Dunivant---Berhalter---Gonzalez---Franklin

-------------------Ricketts------------------

Subs: Saunders, Sanneh, Miglioranzi, Jordan, Gordon, Magee, Kirovski

The Red Bulls will counter with...

-------------------Angel----------------------

Kandji-------------Rojas---------------Richards

----------Stammler------Ubiparipovic---------

Pacheco----Goldthwaite---Mendes-----Johnson

---------------------Conway---------------------

Subs: Cepero, Petke, Borman, Celades, Sassano, Smith, Wolyniec

Game Day

We're ready for game day here at The Home Depot Center and to get you ready for game day, here is some worthwhile reading for everybody.

Mark Rogondino's View from the Booth

Larry Morgan's game preview

The MLSnet.com preview

A look at today's game from Stefan Bondy at the Bergen County Record

See you out here in a few hours.

Looking Ahead

With the team preparing to head out onto the field for the week's final training session, we thought that we'd look ahead to Saturday's encounter with the Red Bulls.

First, here is what a few of the Galaxy's attacking players had to say...


And here is a look at the opposition in the words of Juan Carlos Osorio and Khano Smith...


Enjoy