View From 120:

This View from 108/120  is being guest Authored by Leslie Chavez

Every 4th of July is pretty similar for me: beach, carne asada, and watching the fireworks from our front yard. This year was different. Although, I did do the beach bit, I left early and was overwhelmed with excitement because while everyone stayed behind I had a date with the LA Galaxy. Everything about this Galaxy game was different from the environment to the excitement level. This game marked the big return of Landon Donovan and Edson Buddle from the World Cup. The stadium was sold out, tailgates were bigger than usual, and I turned a nonbeliever into a believer by taking my younger sister to her first soccer game.

Among everybody present at the Home Depot Center patriotism was a shared feeling. Blue and red were the theme colors and while it may have a lot to do with the fact that it was Independence Day, it also had a lot to do with the USA Soccer Team and their World Cup performance. I spotted many Donovan and Buddle USMNT Jerseys and even Bob Bradley himself was present. This brought tremendous satisfaction. As a “footy nut” I’ve always wanted others to appreciate the beauty of this game, and with the mass of new faces at the Home Depot Center I knew this was a great start. The USA team gave hope to followers and non followers alike. It brought us together as the USA team represented our American values and American Dream. Landon Donovan became a hero to us all with a miracle goal that kept us alive and Buddle showed us what hard work achieves. Our run was cut short but the sense of pride of being an American didn’t. This is the reason why I would classify this Galaxy game as one of the best I’ve attended. We welcomed our heroes, we celebrated our Independence and our perseverance, and we told ourselves that this is “the land of the free and the home of the brave.”

I may have broken tradition by attending a Galaxy game on 4th of July but I started a new one. However, I did miss one thing, watching Independence Day on AMC. Luckily I own the DVD.

The Above was Authored by Leslie Chavez

Los Angeles Galaxy vs. Seattle Sounders

To say the atmosphere was at a fevered pitch at the Home Depot Center would be a severe understatement. Not since the Galaxy played AC Milan on the same pitch, can I remember an absolute electricity in the air. Not only were we celebrating our countries declaration of independence, but we were welcoming back THE United States National Team player of the 2010 World Cup. We were also able to welcome back a player, who before this season started, would never have been considered a candidate for the World Cup roster.

When Landon and Edson walked out on the field to chants of USA, USA, USA – the crowd was warm, and welcoming, and all encompassing. I can honestly say I felt an emotion for a team, the USMNT, and 2 players, Landon Donovan and Edson Buddle, that I never thought could surround a sporting event.

On to the game!

The Galaxy were looking to complete the season sweep against the Sounders, who have turned into a pretty heated rivalry. But with the complete trouncing of Seattle earlier in the year at Qwest Field, the Sounders were really looking to just save face.

The Starting Lineup for the Galaxy consisted of all the usuals. With Edson Buddle returning to his position on the front line with Tristan Bowen and Landon Donovan taking up his position at the right half along with Juninho, Birchall and Stephens. The back line consisted of Dunivant, Berhalter, Gonzalez and Franklin with the best goal keeper in the league Donovan Ricketts.

To say the Galaxy came on to the field with a plan and a mindset to attack would be putting it mildly. From the moment of the kickoff LA looked to put players forward and push the ball into the box. In the second minute Buddle hit a beautiful switch ball to Sean Franklin who would find himself moving forward from his right back position for most of the night. Franklin then allowed Landon Donovan to run onto the ball in the box. Donovan pivoted and cut the ball back across the center of the goal where Bowen tried to fight for it. The bouncing ball eventually came to rest on the foot of Mike Stephens who put it across the goal mouth only to see it beat Keller once but bounce back off the post right to him. Another inch to the right and Stephens would have notched his second goal of his career.

You have to be impressed with this rookie. His numbers may not be at the top of the league, but his hustle is second to none. He always seems to be in the right place at the right time.

Then in the 19th minute the duo who traveled to South Africa and back made a permanent mark on the game. Off a corner kick from Landon Donovan, Edson Buddle was able to beat his defender as he was moving away from goal and calmly slotted a header past Keller and the Seattle Defense. The ball nestled into the left corner of the net and the Galaxy. Why Bob Bradley never saw it fit to start Edson in a game is a complete mystery to me. Perhaps Mr. Bradley would do it different a second time around.

The Galaxy continued to pressure the Sounders and would make another strike shortly after halftime. Juninho received a ball from about 35 yards out and hit a shot that can only be described as perfection(Click here to vote for Juninho as the AT&T Goal of the Week). The ball shot over the Seattle back line and past the out stretched diving hands of Kasey Keller to find the upper right “V” of the net. “Juninho – Juninho hit that with no regard to humanity” Glenn Davis proclaimed at the sight of the masterful strike. In my mind it is the Goal of the Season so far for the Galaxy and Put LA into the drivers’ seat in the 47th minute.

But uncharacteristically the Galaxy Defense Gave back a goal when Zakuani made a typically simple run at defender Gregg Berhalter. Berhalter guessed the wrong way and Zakuani was able to slip an easy ball passed the sprawling body of Donovan Ricketts. For a galaxy defense that had only given up 3 goals to date (I refuse to count that offside BS goal in Salt Lake) this was soft and unnecessary. Perhaps this will only aid in getting the defense to focus harder at what they could accomplish this year. However, the lead was now cut in half in the 66th minute.

Eleven minutes later, substitute Alan Gordon, came on in relief o f Edson Buddle and put a nice touch past the defense opening up the entire field for “Gordo” to run into. He then played across a beautiful ball through the box that was intended for Landon Donovan. But before Donovan could get a hold of it the pass was intercepted by a sliding Riley who careened into Kasey Keller. This allowed the ball to go into the net and bury any chance of a Seattle comeback.

Full Game Highlights:

Noticing that the Full Game Highlights may not be displaying in firefox. Fail MLS Website… Again… Click HERE if you don’t see them below

Galaxy to Face Seattle… Again!

Los Angeles will be traveling to Seattle to play a US Open Cup Match against the defending Champs. They will play at Starfire on Wednesday night starting at 7PM. www.LaGalaxy.com will be streaming the game live from its website. Make sure to tune in to root on our boys!

Road to New England

The Galaxy will then travel across the country to New England to face the Revolution. The only interesting side not to this game is that the Galaxy will be without Omar Gonzalez who picked up his 5th yellow card against Seattle. This means the league will suspend Omar for one game. This will be the first game missed by Gonzalez since he joined the Galaxy last year.

Injury Report

LOS ANGELES GALAXY — OUT: FW Mike Magee (bilateral sports hernia surgery); QUESTIONABLE: MF Dema Kovalenko (R hamstring strain)

That about does it Galaxy Fans… Hope you enjoyed the blog and make sure to leave some comments. I usually respond. Lets get some good discussions going.

Go LA GALAXY!