Struggles Continue as Galaxy Fall 2-0 to Kansas City

LA Galaxy 0, Kansas City Wizards 2
Saturday, August 28, 2010
The Home Depot Center – Carson, Calif.

Scoring Summary:
KC – Davy Arnaud 3 (Kei Kamara 3) 12’
KC – Jimmy Conrad 1 (Davy Arnaud 3) 70’

Misconduct Summary:
LA – Chris Birchall (Yellow Card) 69’
KC – Jimmy Nielsen (Yellow Card) 93+

Lineups:
LA Galaxy: Donovan Ricketts; Sean Franklin, Omar Gonzalez, Leonardo, Todd Dunivant Chris Birchall (Jovan Kirovski 77’), Chris Klein (Tristan Bowen 62’), Landon Donovan©, Michael Stephens; Edson Buddle, Mike Magee (Alex Cazumba 73’).

Subs Not Used: Josh Saunders, A.J. DeLaGarza, Dema Kovalenko, Eddie Lewis.

Kansas City Wizards: Jimmy Nielsen; Michael Harrington, Shavar Thomas, Jimmy Conrad, Roger Espinoza; Stephane Auvray, Davy Arnaud©, Craig Rocastle (Jack Jewsbury 66’), Kei Kamara (Teal Bunbury 81’), Ryan Smith (Graham Zusi 87’); Birahim Diop.

Subs Not Used: Eric Kronberg, Korede Aiyegbusi, Jonathan Leathers, Chance Myers.

Notes:
• Despite the loss, the Galaxy remain in first place in the Western Conference with a 13-5-4 record on the season. They Galaxy are now just three points ahead of Real Salt Lake for first place in the Western Conference and two points ahead of Columbus for the best record in MLS.
• Bruce Arena made two changes to the team that fell 1-0 at San Jose last weekend, with Todd Dunivant and Chris Klein each returning to the starting lineup. They replaced A.J. DeLaGarza, who started the game on the bench and Juninho, who missed the game after having to return to Brazil earlier in the week because of personal matters.
• In addition to Juninho, the Galaxy were also without David Beckham, who remains on the Disabled List after undergoing surgery in March to repair a torn Achilles tendon and Gregg Berhalter who was unavailable because of viral complications.
• Tristan Bowen returned to the 18-man squad in place of Bryan Jordan after missing last weekend’s game against the Earthquakes because of flu-like symptoms.
• The Galaxy fell behind 1-0 in the 12th minute behind a goal from Davy Arnaud. They have now allowed the game’s first goal in each of their last three MLS home games and five of their last seven games in the league.
• LA is 0-5-1 now on the season when allowing the game’s opening goal, compared to 13-0-0 when scoring the first goal.
• LA has also allowed a goal in the opening 15 minutes of each of their last three home games in the league and three of their last four, dating back to the 4-1 win over Houston on June 5.
• Chris Birchall was booked in the 69th minute for his fifth yellow card of the season. As a result, he will be suspended for next weekend’s game against the Fire.
• Omar Gonzalez and Juninho, were not booked in the game, meaning each are eligible to play next weekend against the Fire.
• The Galaxy have now lost two consecutive home games in the league for the first time since the 2007 season.
• Including the CONCACAF Champions League defeat to Puerto Rico on July 27, LA is now winless in their last four games at The Home Depot Center, going 0-3-1 in that time. The Galaxy’s last home win came on July 4 against Seattle.
• Tonight’s game was the Galaxy’s first home game in all competitions since the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Third Round win over AC St. Louis, including the friendly against Real Madrid, that did not see at least four goals scored.
• Prior to tonight, LA had only been shutout six times on the season, with only one of those coming at The Home Depot Center.
• This was just the Galaxy’s second loss by more than a single goal this season. They also lost 2-0 at New England on July 10.
• The Wizards shutout the Galaxy in each of their meetings this season. They join Toronto FC as the only two teams not to allow a goal against LA this season.
• Tonight’s win for the Wizards was their first over the Galaxy since September 2008 and their first in Carson since October 2004.
• The attendance for today’s game was 20,112.
• The Galaxy are back in action next Saturday, September 4 when they travel to Chicago to face the Chicago Fire at Toyota Park. That game kicks off at 1 p.m. (PT) and can be seen live on Fox Sports West starting with Galaxy Live at 12:30 p.m. and on TeleFutura at 1 p.m.
• For more about today’s game, please visit www.lagalaxy.com.