Berhalter, LA defense look to shine in qualifier at HDC
Luis Bueno MLSsoccer.com
July 26, 2010
July 26, 2010
The basics
LA Galaxy (MLS Cup 2009 runners-up) vs. Puerto Rico Islanders (2010 CFU Club Championship winners), CONCACAF Champions League Preliminary Round
TV Info
10 p.m. ET; Fox Soccer Channel
What’s at stake?
A berth in the CONCACAF Champions League. This is the first of two legs in the series, with the winner advancing to Group D. The second leg is Aug. 4 in Puerto Rico.
LA Galaxy
The Galaxy overcame two deficits to tie San Jose 2-2 on Thursday and have compiled a 2-1-2 mark in league play since the World Cup break ended. In those games, World Cup veterans Edson Buddle and Landon Donovan have combined for five of the club’s seven goals. This match is the second of five games during a busy 17-day stretch that includes the return leg of this series and an international friendly against Real Madrid.
Puerto Rico Islanders
Puerto Rico enter the match on the heels of a win, having topped Rochester 3-1 on Saturday in D2 action. Nicholas Addlery, David Foley and Kendall Jagdeosingh scored the goals for Puerto Rico, who improved to 6-7-5 in league play with the win. Puerto Rico, however, hold a meager 1-4-4 road mark this season heading to Home Depot Center.
Heroes & Villains
Gregg Berhalter vs. David Foley: Even though this is an aggregate-goal series and a convincing rout could all but seal the series at home, Galaxy players are more concerned about shutting out Puerto Rico. Enter Berhalter, who rested on Thursday against the Quakes and should have no physical setbacks entering the game. Foley, meanwhile, leads Puerto Rico with six goals. At 5-foot-7, his shiftiness and pace could cause problems for the Galaxy’s backline.
Stat that makes you go “Hmmm”:
MLS clubs are 1-4 all-time in CONCACAF Champions League Preliminary Round series.
