On Sunday, international stars Steven Gerrard, Robbie Keane, Andrea Pirlo, David Villa and Frank Lampard could possibly be all on the pitch at the same time. However, this will not be an All-Star game for some charitable cause. In fact, it will be an actual league clash, and fans will be in for a treat as the two most marketable teams in the MLS, LA Galaxy and NYCFC will meet for the first time at the StubHub Center in a game that is certainly guaranteed to provide its fair share of entertainment.
However, although this is the debut meeting between the two sides, NYCFC coach Jason Kreis is quite familiar with LA Galaxy, having faced them on 17 occasions and holding a record of seven wins, six losses, and four draws. So far, it has been a series of ups and downs for the club, who are featuring in the MLS for the first time in their history. As things stand, NYCFC will be heading into this game having won two, lost two, and drawn one out of their last five games, including coming from behind twice to salvage a 2-2 draw against Columbus Crew courtesy of a brace from Ghanaian attacker Kwadwo Poku.
The team are presently in seventh place in the Eastern Conference and in 16th overall with 28 points from their first 25 games. In terms of available personnel, Kreis has no key players absent due to injury, although star striker Villa is one yellow card away from suspension.
Meanwhile, as NYCFC continue to navigate their way through their first season, veteran side LA Galaxy are in first in the Western Conference and in second overall with 43 points from 26 matches. Bruce Arena's men have won their last three matches on the trot, with a recent 3-1 victory over FC Dallas. Interestingly, although they have the second-highest number of wins, with 12 victories, their record on the road has been quite poor. Their success against FC Dallas was only their second win on the road all season and more important, came after another against Colorado Rapids on August 1st.
Like his opposing man on the bench, Arena also has a pretty full-strength line-up available for selection, with only Bosnian midfielder Baggio Husidic having to avoid receiving a yellow card and a subsequent suspension.
One aspect of this game that has got fans buzzing is the prospect of having two English icons back on the pitch. Liverpool and Chelsea followers surely will remember that not too long ago, Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard were lining up for the Reds and the Blues and sharing a dressing room with the English national team.
Reunion: English stars Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard will face off for the first time since both swapped the EPL for MLS
Yet, despite their close friendship off the pitch, there will be no comradeship between the star duo now that they have both landed in America. And although he is arguably one of the league's biggest names, Gerrard believes the match should be about all 22 men on the pitch as opposed to a Gerrard v. Lampard duel.
"I'm sure Frank agrees it's slightly embarrassing to have all the focus on you when it's Los Angeles Galaxy versus New York," the veteran midfielder noted prior to the big game.
"It's about the game and the three points. But we understand it — we've played together for so many years. [But] when that whistle goes and we're competing for 90 minutes against each other, it's war."
Key Stats
- LA Galaxy have the most prolific attack in the league, with a total of 44 goals scored so far.
- By contrast, NYCFC has one of the weaker defenses, with 39 goals conceded, which places them third on the worst defenses from the 20 teams featuring this season.
- NYCFC fans will hope Kreis starts Kwadwo Poku in this match, as the team is unbeaten in the five occasions (four wins, one draw) he was in the starting XI. The 23-year-old Ghanaian has been involved in seven games (three goals and four assists) in his last four matches.
- On the opposite side of the pitch, LA Galaxy fans will be counting on Robbie Keane, who has scored four goals in the team's last three games, 13 in the league and 18 across all competitions.
In the first-ever meeting between two of the most popular sides in the league, will it be NYCFC or LA Galaxy to come out on top?
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Match details, result and original broadcast info
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