Postgame Reaction from 4-1 Win Over Houston

LA Galaxy Head Coach Bruce Arena
On the result:
“We’re certainly pleased to get the three points. Houston played real hard and physical in the first half. In all fairness to them, their schedule over the past week with three games and a travel, they hit the wall in the second half, but that’s not to take away from our team and the way they came in the second half. We really ended the game with those two quick goals in the second half. We came out and did what we needed to do in the second half.”

On Tristan Bowen’s performance:
“Tristan took his chance real well, and had couple of other great goal scoring opportunities. He’s got these fabulous physical tools. He needs these games for the experience, but with all things being equal, the way we’ve thrown him in there the last couple of weeks, he’s responded in a tremendous manner.”

On Michael Stephens’ form:
“Michael Stephens continues to play well. He’s a very good player and versatile. He can play hard for 90 minutes, and he’s really helped make a difference in our midfield with his quickness and endurance.”

On Jovan Kirovski:
“He was excellent. Obviously, the two goals were big. He held the ball well. He’s a good partner with Tristan. He could be a little more permanent in the center part of the field, which allows Tristan run into space, which is obviously one of his strengthens.”

On Alex Cazumba:
“It was a great goal. We’ve been looking for him to do that since he arrived here. He’s been a little bit hesitant. It was great to see him to come out of his shell a little bit tonight. He was a little bit more explosive than we’ve seen during the season. That was a real positive. It was a great goal, a great finish.”


LA Galaxy Goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts
On the disappointment of having his shutout streak snapped:
“I’m not disappointed at all. Once we get three points I’m happy. My focus is on winning games, not just keeping clean sheets and that’s what we did tonight.”

On the play of the back four:
“As usual, they were solid. That’s been a hallmark of the team last season and into this one.”

On Wednesday’s game against Real Salt Lake:
“It’s just another game. It’s another game toward our goal of getting points and qualifying for the playoffs. Nothing new if it is the Red Bulls or Salt Lake or anyone else, we just want another three points.”

LA Galaxy Forward Jovan Kirovski
On his two goals:
“The first one, we wanted to get off to a quick start. Sean [Franklin] breaking down the right. He played a great ball in. I made a little move, found a little space. It was a great ball in, and all I had to do was put it in. The second one we had a good build up to it. Sean, again, looked up and picked me out, and fortunately the ball went in.”

On the depth of the Galaxy:
“We have a good team. We have a good group of first years. Landon and Edson are gone. We’ve had guys come in and step up, and we’ve done well. We have a deep squad. Look at our bench; we had Eddie Lewis, Chris Klein, guys that have played in international games and in Europe. We have good quality players.”

LA Galaxy Defender Gregg Berhalter
On the Galaxy defense:
“I think it was a good effort. Obviously, giving up the goal, we aren’t happy about that, so we’ll look at that. We strive to get shutouts, and we didn’t get that. So it was a good game, but not a great game.”

LA Galaxy Forward Tristan Bowen
On why the Galaxy’s depth has been so successful :
“The competition in practice. Bruce did a great job in getting a bunch of competitors on the team that every game when we go into practice we have to fight for our spot— and obviously when you hear your number called everybody wants to go out there and compete and show why they should be on the field. That’s the secret.”

On scoring early:
“I think we’re playing well the first 20 minutes of the game. We go out there with a lot of intensity and the guys are coming out sharp. (The goals) are just the end product of us being at our best in the first 20 minutes of the game.”

LA Galaxy Midfielder Michael Stephens
On the team’s performance of the game:
“Giving up that goal early in the game wasn’t a good thing, but overall we put the pressure on them and had a great game offensively.”

On his three assists:
“I’m pleased. I found myself in good spots, high up the field in good attacking positions and I was able to contribute offensively, which is something that I want to continue to do the rest of the season.”

Houston Dynamo Head Coach Dominic Kinnear
On his team’s performance:
“I think we were doing okay in the first half and in the second half we ran out of gas. It’s disappointing we are all disappointed because this is a proud group and this is the first time we have lost three in a row ever and a lot of question marks about the way we are playing. How our guys are playing individually and collectively so it’s a very disappointing time.”

Houston Dynamo Midfielder Lovel Palmer
On the game:
“It was a tough game. Every time you play obviously it is going to be hard especially every time a team plays against the Houston Dynamo because they expect us to come out and play well. They know that we are a good team so they’re going to come out with their A game. The New York game was a tough one and then a long flight out here so I think the guys are a little bit tired but we can’t find excuses, we need to find ways to win games. It’s tough but we are going to have to bounce back for the Colorado game.”

On the team’s three-game losing streak:
“It’s the first time in Dynamo history that we’ve lost three games on the trot so we just have to look ourselves in the mirror, evaluate our performance and work on it as individuals and as a team. We have to refocus over the next couple of weeks.”

Houston Dynamo Forward Brian Ching
On the game:
“There’s not much to say about that one. Disappointing. I can’t remember the last time this team lost three games in a row, so things aren’t going good. Tough week.”