Bruce Arena's Los Angeles Galaxy have nothing but another three points on their minds when they take on Oscar Ramirez's Liga Deportiva Alajuelense of Alajuela, Costa Rica in the 2011-12 CONCACAF Champions League on Thursday night at the Home Depot Center.
In Major League Soccer, the G's sit in first place overall with a 14-3-9 record (51 points). They are coming off a three-game unbeaten streak in all competitions, including a 2-0 shutout victory over the San Jose Earthquakes on Saturday.
One player that is expected to wreak havoc on La Liga's backline is a certain Irishman by the name of Robbie Keane.
“He’s a different class,” Galaxy midfielder Mike Magee told MLSSoccer.com's Luis Bueno. “We all knew that anyway, but to see it live, without any training, just getting off a flight is amazing. It’s going to be amazing saying one day I played with this guy.”
“When he gets settled a little more, when he’s not less than 48 hours from getting off a flight, you’ll probably see a little more energy,” Galaxy captain Landon Donovan added. “But I thought he was in great spots; he did well with the ball.”
Donovan leads the Galaxy in league goals with eleven this season and also scored in LA's Champions League-opening 2-0 victory over C.D. Motagua of Tegucigalpa, Honduras.
“It’s great to have a player who knows where to run, who you know is going to be on the end of the ball when you play that pass that’s going to set up a goal,” midfielder David Beckham said. “He’s just going to help the team. He’s going to give us confidence, he’s going to give us goals. It showed [Saturday]."
The team's main provider, Beckham has 11 assists to pace Los Angeles.
Keane will be a prime target for Alajuelense's back line, as his speed and touch will put La Liga on their heels. If Alajuelense are unable to contain the tandem of Keane, Donovan and Beckham, things could get decisive in Victoria Street.
Defender A.J. DeLaGarza was rested on Saturday and will be ready to bolster a Galaxy back line that features Omar Gonzalez, Sean Franklin, Gregg Berhalter and Todd Dunivant.
Goalkeeper Josh Saunders has an 8-2-3 record in MLS play to go with a 1.06 goals against average, a 75 percent save percentage and 39 saves.
L.D. Alajuelense finished the 2011 Primera Division de Costa Rica on top with a 20-7-5 record (67 points) and championships in both the Torneo Invierno and Torneo Verano.
La Liga finished the regular season portion of the Torneo Invierno with an 11-3-2 record (36 points). In the quarterfinals, Perez Zeledon fell 6-3 on aggregate. Cartagines capitulated at the hands of La Liga 5-1 on aggregate in the semifinals. And Alajuelense wrapped up a successful Invierno run with a 4-3 win on penalties over fellow Champions League participant Herediano after a 1-1 draw.
Alajuelense followed that up with victory in the Torneo Verano. After finishing the regular season with a 9-4-3 record (31 points), La Liga scored a 2-1 aggregate victory over Perez Zeledon in the quarterfinals, a 6-4 aggregate score over Herediano in the semis and a 2-0 shutout victory on aggregate over San Carlos to take the second half.
Prediction:
This will be an interesting test for the Galaxy. For Los Angeles, they must do a better job communicating, and they need to finish the chances they get. As for Alajuelense, who will soldier on without top goal-scorer Jonathan McDonald due to injury in their match with Monarcas Morelia, containing Robbie Keane is of the utmost importance.
Galaxy should take this one.
Los Angeles Galaxy 3, L.D. Alajuelense 1
Kickoff is scheduled for Aug. 25 at 7 p.m. PT/10 p.m. ET and will be televised by Fox Soccer Channel.
Brittany Murphy Brittany Snow Brittny Gastineau Brody Dalle Brooke Burke
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