U.S. Open Cup: Galaxy vs. Red Bulls (Running Commentary)
U.S. Open Cup Qualifying Match
New York Red Bulls at LA Galaxy
Click below to follow along with the running match commentary:
This one is over. Thanks to all of you who came along for the ride. I can only hope there won't be any more games not shown on TV because I'm not sure if I can handle another one of these. Just kidding. Thanks again and keep coming back to SBI for all your Red Bulls, MLS and overall soccer news.
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120th minute- Van Den Bergh cross in, Dunivant flick header to Angel, who sends his header wide. Galaxy counter, Vagenas to Donovan, who sends great ball to Quaranta. He buries it to make the final score 3-1. Donovan with the pin-point pass to a wide-open Quaranta. game over. 3-1.
119th minute- The game has died and it looks as if it will end 2-1 Los Angeles. The Red Bulls are spent.
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117th minute- Cronin with another outstanding sequence. Stammler heads a Van Den Bergh cross on target but Cronin stops it and gets to rebound before Angel can get a shot off.
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115th minute- Galaxy nearly end it with a breakaway but Martino sends his shot wide. Back comes Richards, dribbles down and earns a corner kick.
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113th minute- Richards makes a nice run. You would think it was the 13th minute and not the 113th the way Richards is still flying around.
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110th minute- Angel hammered it from 20 yards out. The kick was set up at top of box and he curled it around the right side of the wall and in. We have a ballgame again.
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109th minute- GOAL RED BULLS! Wolyniec gets taken down 20 yards from goal. Red Bull free kick. ANGEL GOAL!. Angel curls the free kick around the wall and in for his first goal as a Red Bull.
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107th minute- I think I need a sub to come in for me. I'm starting to fade.
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106th minute- And we're back. Red Bulls get a quick corner. Ubiparipovic takes it and Cronin gets to it before Angel can get a head on it. Cronin is EVERYWHERE.
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105th minute- We're at the half of the overtime. Russell comes on for Albright and the Galaxy look like they will come away with a victory courtesy of a heroic performance by reserve goalkeeper Steve Cronin. That is unless Angel can work some serious magic.
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104th minute- Ubiparipovic for Reyna.
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103rd minute- Galaxy make it 2-0. Martino with a diving header off a cross from Quaranta. This one looks over.
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100th minute- The Galaxy have switched into a defensive formation in an attempt to protect the lead.
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98th minute- Reyna sends ball in to Parke but Parke can't handle it. The Galaxy tear down the field on the counter and Martino winds up in alone on Conway but Conway makes the save to keep the Red Bulls in the match.
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97th minute- Wolyniec with a nice chance that he sends wide left. Angel follows with a nice play to set up a corner kick.
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94th- The penalty came on a nice build-up by LA. Donovan makes a great turn near the top of the box and slips a ball to Vagenas, who was taken down by Parke and Stammler. I can't imagine the Red Bulls have much left for a response.
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93rd- Donovan takes the penalty kick and sends a soft chip right down the middle as Conway dives to his left. The penalty came after a great sequence by the Galaxy. Galaxy 1, Red Bulls 0. Game isn't over folks.
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93rd- GALAXY GET A PENALTY KICK
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92nd minute- Stammler and Quaranta get tangled in the LA penalty area but no penalty is called, instead a foul on Quaranta.
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Pre-overtime fact- Teams get four substitutions in US Open Cup play, meaning the Red Bulls still have one to use. The Galaxy just used its third, replaceing Findley with Santino Quaranta.
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End of regulation- Here's an interesting note about this match. With Beckham and Blanco yet to arrive in MLS the three highest paid players in MLS are on the field in this game (Angel, Reyna and Donovan). They make a combined $3.4 million in base salary in 2007. And who has been the best player on the field? Cronin, who makes $34,728.75 in base salary this season. That's right. Those three guys make 100 times what he makes and he's the one standing on his head. You've gotta love it.
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90+- A Donovan corner is headed toward goal but cleared out by Dunivant. We are at full-time. The score is 0-0. Steve Cronin has 10 saves. Joe Cannon who?
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90+ minute- Three minutes of stoppage time.
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90th minute- Albright gets a yellow for grabbing Dane Richards after being stripped.
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90th- Cronin does it again. Wolyniec takes a nice pass from Reyna and blasts from 15 yards out ony to have Cronin tip it over the bar. Cronin is walking on water right now.
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89th minute- Van Den Bergh floats to the right side and sends a cross in to Angel, whose shot skips wide.
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86th minute- Angel sends a free kick from 23 yards out on goal but Cronin makes another save (shot was right at him).
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86th minute- IF you want to see Altidore's missed penalty kick, here it is on YouTube.
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84th minute- Galaxy corner kick taken by Martino and punched away by Conway. Vagenas shots from 25 and shot goes wide.
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82nd minute- The format for this match if it ends up tied is two 15-minute overtime periods followed by penalty kicks. Yes, penalty kicks. In other words, the Red Bulls better score ASAP.
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80th minute- In case you're wondering what's showing on Fox Soccer Channel right now, it's that dreadful show Fox Football Fone-in. Yes, more people want to see that than this game. RIGHT.
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79th minute- Donovan responds with a blast off the crossbar that rattles the frame.
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78th minute- Cronin does it again. Angel with a great diving header off a solid cross from Van Den Bergh but Cronin gets a piece and sends the shot off the post.
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76th- Jazic with a decent chance that goes over the bar. The Galaxy have perked up since Donovan came into the match. Can't say the same for Angel, but he does rely on service.
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75th- Donovan is starting to take over the game. He just got fouled by Reyna. Hey, it's the current national team captain against the former national team captain. Good thing this match was on TV. Oh wait.
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73rd- Kovalenko gets a second yellow for a foul on Donovan. He sees red and Ladbrokes loses about $15 in heavy wagering. The second yellow was pretty suspect.
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73rd minute- Landon Donovan corner kick goes into the area, ball bounces around and Dunivan and Albright wind up battling for it, ball falls to Donovan, whose cross is headed out by Parke. Martino gets the rebound and sends ball back in but a Harden header goes out for a goal kick. Best sequence so far for the Galaxy.
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71st minute- Red Bulls substitution- John Wolyniec for Clint Mathis.
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70th minute- Van Den Bergh tries to find Angel in the box but Harden clears away. The Red Bull wingers are going to deliver a steady diet of crosses to Angel, who is nasty in the air.
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68th- Conway with his first real test of the night. Findley beats Parke and gets in one on one with Conway, who stops Findley's shot. Parke clears the rebound.
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65th minute- Angel's first chance is a volley off a loose ball from close range. Didn't get it all and missed.
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64th minute- Donovan comes in for Jaqua. With $2.5 million worth of forwards having stepped onto the field in the past two minutes you would hope that some goals are going to come now.
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63rd minute- The Galaxy about to answer by putting Landon Donovan into the match.
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62nd minute- Angel comes in for Altidore. The Juan Pablo Angel era has officially begun.
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60th minute- Ladies and gentlemen, Juan Pablo Angel is about to come into the match.
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60th minute- Kyle Martino comes on for the Galaxy. Randolph comes out.
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57th minute- Jones and Van Den Bergh got tangled up and Van Den Bergh wound up on the ground over the ball. Jones appears to intentionally step on Jones, drawing the quick red card. Things should get REAL interesting now.
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56th minute- Straight red card for Cobi Jones for stomping on Van Den Bergh!
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54th- Reyna to Stammler, who blasts a shot form distance that is blocked by LA. Mathis finds the rebound and sends a quick shot at goal that Cronin saved.
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53rd minute- Harden fouls Mathis about 35 from goal as Mathis was making a run at goal. Free kick from far out but good spot to pick someone out in the area.
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51st minute- Jaqua sends a weak shot over the bar after being pressured by Parke. This game has the feeling of one of those contests where one team creates all the good chances and controls possession only to lose to a late goal.
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49th minute- Another great sequence by the Red Bulls resulting in nothing. Reyna carries the ball 30 yards on the counter attack, dishes to Mathis, who slips pass to Altidore. The youngster sends his shot wide.
48th minute- Another wasted sequence. Reyna finds Altidore, who battles two defenders before dropping a nice ball to Richards. Richards goes in one on one with Cronin and has the ball stripped by Cronin. Will these guys stop trying to dribble Cronin already?
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47th minute- Harmes got a yellow for a foul in midfield. Apparently somebody got in Harmes way (Budum ching). Sorry, couldn't help it.
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46th- Quick yellow for Harmes. No subs for either team
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46th- And we're off
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Injury update- Hunter Freeman left the match with a left ankle sprain suffered when the turf at Home Depot Center gave way on him. Still waiting on word on how serious it is.
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HALFTIME- The Red Bulls have had the better of the play with five shots on goal to the Galaxy's zero. The Red Bulls midfield is controlling the tempo but Cronin has been the man of the match. Altidore has been contained by Sturgis for the most part and it wouldn't surprise me to see Angel replace him at halftime. Sturgis is familiar with Altidore from the U-20s but I can tell you he hasn't seen many players like Angel.
It will also be interesting to see how the Red Bulls handle Donovan, who is likely to come on either at halftime or at the 60 minute mark or so.
I will work on getting an update on Hunter Freeman's injury. Right after I find someone to replace him in my fantasy lineup.
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45+- Mathis gets the free kick through the Galaxy wall from 23 yards out but Cronin makes a good save diving to his left. We are at halftime.
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45+- Red Bulls free kick from 21 yards out after Kovalenko was fouled.
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45th minute- One minute of stoppage. Jaqua gets a yellow card for being tall. Actually for a tackle on Van Den Bergh.
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44th minute- We're heading to halftime and this match has been pretty entertaining. It's scary to think that Landon Donovan and Juan Pablo Angel will be coming into the match in the second half. Why are these teams meeting so early in the tournament again?
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41st minute- Cronin is having a great game. He delivers a great diving save off a Mathis header from close range. The header capped another quality attacking sequence involving Reyna, Van Den Bergh and finally Mathis, who is knocking on the door. He looks very good for a goal in this match. That is if he can beat Cronin, who is doing his best Joe Cannon impression.
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40th minute- Mathis comes close from long range. The Red Bulls have taken control over the last 10 minutes.
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11:16pm (39th minute)- Cronin with a nice save on a 23-yard shot from Reyna, The shot capped off a sweet sequence that involved Reyna, Kovalenko and Richards, with Richards working the right flank.
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11:15pm- U.S. Under-20 national teammates Altidore and Sturgis are having a nice battle. I'm a big Sturgis fan. The kid is the real deal.
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11:14pm- Stammler has practiced at right back so he's not totally unfamiliar with playing the position. Dema Kovalenko does the same at left back.
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11:11pm- The injury is leg related, not sure what the injury is just yet. Would it be crass to complain about what this will mean to my fantasy team? Nevermind.
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11:10pm- Hunter Freeman has been injured and is coming out of the match. Seth Stammler has replaced him.
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11:09pm- It's the 32nd minute for those of you who have lost the math function in your brain (I never had it).
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11:07pm- If you're wondering about Reyna, he and Kovalenko are doing their usual dirty work in central midfield. They are controlling things but the attacking players on the Red Bulls need to do more with the possession.
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11:05pm- Findley with another nice play, getting around Parke before being stopped by a nice tackle by Hunter Freeman.
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11:03pm- Findley with a nice run down the right flank. If he keeps this up he'll have a thread devoted to his national team chances in no time (Wait, what? He has one? Nevermind.)
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11:01pm- We've reached a lull in the match. The more I think about it the more it's ridiculous that this game isn't on TV somewhere. I know it's an early round of the US Open Cup but you still have two top MLS teams with stars such as Landon Donovan and Claudio Reyna, nevermind Juan Pablo Angel making his expected debut. Couldn't someone have sold the rights to Fox Soccer Channel for a case of Gatorade or something?
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10:58pm- Clint Mathis just took a ball near midfield and dribbled his way to the top of the box before hitting a nice low show that nearly curled in. Mathis is warming up.
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10:57pm- Findley with a nice play for the Galaxy, chesting a pass from Cobi and sending a good shot just over the bar on the volley. Findley's a nice little player. At least that's what I'm told. I wouldn't know him if he showed up at my door right now.
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10:56pm- Kovalenko just blasted a shot off Peter Vagenas' face.
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10:54pm- This just in. Ladbrokes has just set the odds of Kovalenko picking up a red card in this game at 3-1. Bet accordingly.
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10:51pm- Here's an idea. How about Bruce Arena hire Amado Guevara as his new assistant coach in charge of teaching penalty kicks? It's not like Amado is doing anything these days.
On the penalty, Altidore collects an LA turnover, smokes Ty Harden and attempts to dribble past Cronin before being taken down. Cronin did get a yellow.
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10:49pm- Red Bulls PENALTY KICK, Altidore earns it after being taken down by Cronin. Altidore takes the kick and Cronin dives to his left to make the save in the 13th minute. Can ANYBODY make a PK on this team?
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10:48pm- Okay, who is keeping track of this commentary? I know KPugs is in the house. If you're following along please let me know in the comments section.
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10:47pm- Match is pretty even so far, nobody has taken control although Kovalenko's shot on goal has been the best chance.
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10:44pm- Red Bulls corner kick earned by a nice play by Dane Richards. RB doesn't do much with it but RB get another corner kick. Kovalenko shot on goal punched clear by Cronin. Kovalenko gets a yellow in the ninth minute for a tackle on Cobi Jones.
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10:42pm- A Rob Findlay shot goes over the bar from 30. Who is Robbie Findley? Here you go.
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10:40pm- Galaxy with a dangerous free kick near the top of the box in the 3rd minute. Mathis blocks Cobi Jones' free kick.
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10:40pm- The Riot Squad and Galaxians are out in force. At least there's some atmosphere.
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10:38pm- Red Bulls in all blue, Galaxy in all white.
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10:37pm- There are some Clint Mathis fans in the house tonight. Some signs can be seen at Home Depot and none of them mention Doritos or beer.
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10:36pm- For those of you hoping there's no fourth official controversy like in Salt Lake, take heart, Miguel Chicas is the fourth official. His name means Mike Chicks in English. How can he not be a good ref?
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10:35pm- Ramon Hernandez is the ref tonight. Not sure who is playing catcher for the Orioles in his absence.
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10:30- The teams are taking the field.
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10:20- An Alexi Lalas sighting. He's doing pretty well for himself these days. Then again a girl scout could have his job and reap the rewards of the David Beckham phenomenon.
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10:15- We're about 20 minutes to kickoff and the crowd at the Home Depot Center is pretty thin.
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9:35pm - Here are the starting lineups for tonight's match:
RED BULLS LINEUP- Conway, Dunivant, Mendes, Parke, Freeman, Reyna, Kovalenko, Van Den Bergh, Richards, Mathis, Altidore
RED BULLS BENCH- Cepero, Angel, Regan, Graham, Stammler, Ubiparipovic, Wolyniec
GALAXY LINEUP- Cronin, Jazic, Sturgis, Harden, Albright, Jones, Harmes, Vagenas, Randolph, Findlay, Nate Jaqua
BENCH- Cannon, Russell, Veris, Tudela, Martino, Donovan, Quaranta
Bruce Arena is clearly taking this game more seriously than Frank Yallop is. The Red Bulls will field what can be best described as a first-choice lineup with the exception of goalkeeper Ronald Waterreus, who is still nursing a sprained left ankle. Maybe Yallop figures he can just put Donovan in at about the 85th minute and he can tie the score ala Real Salt Lake.
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8pm- Starting lineups have yet to come out but I've just been told that Juan Pablo Angel will NOT be in the starting lineup tonight. No real surprise there but all signs point to him making an appearance in this game, with 45 minutes a very real possibility for the former Aston Villa striker.
I know a lot of people aren't fans of this competition but I'm pumped nonetheless. I bet it's on TV out west though. :\
Posted by: kpugs | May 08, 2007 at 09:26 PM
Any reason why it isn' ton T.V. or online? I was kind of pumped to follow Angel's debut.
Posted by: Ryan | May 08, 2007 at 10:29 PM
Tell Alexi I said hi. He went out of his way to call me at work one day right after the Red Bull purchase, only to fill my head with lies and jet off to LA a week later.
Posted by: kpugs | May 08, 2007 at 10:29 PM
Forwards on the bench:
1. Juan Pablo Angel.
2. John Wolyniec.
Life is a funny mutherphucker.
Posted by: The Old Gray Mullet | May 08, 2007 at 10:31 PM
I'm really surprised that the Galaxy did not start Cannon and somewhat surprised that Donovan and Martino are on the bench as well.
Posted by: Tim | May 08, 2007 at 10:35 PM
Ives' competition out west says it's not on t.v. out there either
Posted by: sidenetting | May 08, 2007 at 10:36 PM
This is already 10X better than Matchtracker!
Posted by: Tim | May 08, 2007 at 10:40 PM
Wow, no tv anywhere? Lame. There has to be a factor I don't know about, I find it hard to believe no channel jumped on it.
Posted by: kpugs | May 08, 2007 at 10:42 PM
I agree Tim...matchtracker is god awful.
Posted by: kpugs | May 08, 2007 at 10:43 PM
Ives you are ahead of MatchTracker. Only source of game action for those of us not in the stadium. Keep it up!
Posted by: Jason Endres | May 08, 2007 at 10:44 PM
Ives it's 'Finley' not Finlay. And you'll be seeing a lot of him tonight.
Posted by: spry | May 08, 2007 at 10:46 PM
i'm refreshing every 60 seconds, i wish i could watch this game live
Posted by: danny | May 08, 2007 at 10:50 PM
aqui estoy, perucho! keep up the good work.
Posted by: otro perucho at work | May 08, 2007 at 10:50 PM
I'm following the commentary.
Posted by: Tim | May 08, 2007 at 10:50 PM
following!!
Posted by: sublicon | May 08, 2007 at 10:50 PM
watching the commentary and appreciating it. thanks, Ives!
Posted by: Keith Furman | May 08, 2007 at 10:51 PM
I wish soccernet had a gamecast for this. The MLSNet matchtracker is updating ever 3ish minutes. I guess this isn't news for some of you but I never used it before, my expectations were way to hi, heheh.
Posted by: kpugs | May 08, 2007 at 10:51 PM
Ives, I don't say this often enough, but you're my hero.
Posted by: Warren | May 08, 2007 at 10:51 PM
Ives, I'm following. Thanks for the scoop!!!
Posted by: Brian.MLS | May 08, 2007 at 10:51 PM
I'm in, of course!
Posted by: ag nigrin | May 08, 2007 at 10:51 PM
I am in the house!
Posted by: Conrad | May 08, 2007 at 10:51 PM
I'm following. Thanks Ives
Posted by: greg | May 08, 2007 at 10:51 PM
You're the man Ives!
Posted by: dot | May 08, 2007 at 10:51 PM
all eyes on this blog for me. glad to see kpugs is watchin. shout out to him from bri. see ya sunday! thanks for the hard work ives!!!
Posted by: bri | May 08, 2007 at 10:51 PM
I'm following
Posted by: sprool11 | May 08, 2007 at 10:52 PM