Barcelona - LA Galaxy

FINAL BARCELONA 2, LA 1

In general tonight’s match good and had everything I expected out of Barcelona. They passed very well with their youngsters providing pace in the attack. Barcelona were able to dismantle most of LA’s attacks tonight. The Galaxy had trouble going forward with a lack of diversity in their attack, allowing the Barcelona defence the break them down almost effortlessly. The first goal of the match was due to a great passing interchange between Pedro and Messi, not the classiest of finishes but it counts all the same. David Beckham’s equalizer came at a vital moment just before the half. Donovan did very well to draw the foul, and who didn’t expect the England international to bend the ball into the back of the net from such a prime position. At half Barcelona substituted almost their entire team. In the second half we saw better play with Xavi entering the match and dictating the game with his sagacious passing that allowed for more flowing and forward play from the Catalans. Barça’s second and game-winning goal was started by great team passing and finished by Jeffren Suarez who had a great first touch to break through the defence and open an angle for his slotted finish. The fans at the Rose Bowl were great tonight, over 93,000 showed up to set the record for attendance in the United States since the 1994 World Cup. Barcelona will face the Seattle Sounders on Thursday as match two of three in America.

FULL TIME– Barcelona 2, LA Galaxy 1

89th: Donovan creates a few half-chances in the last few minutes but the finish is lacking from his forwards.

88th: Barcelona have once again reclaimed their dominant role and they slow the tempo of the match and focus on retaining possession to see out the victory.

86th: Henry tries to play a one-two with Gudjohnsen but the Iceland international’s return pass is to heavy.

81st: Jeffren gets onto a pass from Puyol, his first touch is brilliant taking him into space from a shot which he drives low, but Saunders does well to save it.

79th: Berhalter gets onto a Beckham corner but heads it well over the bar.

76th: Henry has started to take on the Galaxy defence, he’s has the better of DeLaGarza since coming on.

73rd: Sánchez tries a curling right-footed shot from 25 yards but its wide of the far post.

72nd: Barcelona has been able to dismantle any seemingly threatening Galaxy attack so far in the second half.

Goal! 66th: Barcelona 2, Galaxy 1 Sergi Busquets slips a no-look pass through the Galaxy defence. Jeffren Suarez latches onto the ball and finishes it calmly past Saunders and reinstating Barça’s dominance.

65th: Donovan explodes upfield, he dribbles toward the left side of the goal and strikes the ball but Valdés saves it with his foot, Puyol clears.

60th: Beckham hits a low, curling, cross-field ball aimed toward Donovan but Valdés it quick off his line to quell the danger.

56th: Barcelona win a free-kick just outside the Galaxy box. Xavi strikes the ball with pace but it was rising the whole time, just over the crossbar.

52nd: Thierry Henry cuts past defenders of the left flank, then cuts the ball inside to Xavi but he cannot control the pass as Galaxy players converge on him at the top of their box.

50th: Abidal handles the ball off a kick up field by Saunders. Nothing comes from the free-kick as it cannot clear the first defender.

48th: The game is rather unsettled at the moment as Barcelona are fielding almost a completely new side.

45th: The players have retaken the pitch and the second-half has begun.

Half Time- 1-1

Barcelona have changed every player on the pitch besides Henrique.

Barcelona dominated possession with great team passing and slow measured buildup. They managed to get into the Galaxy box on many occasions with several good opportunities. Pedro’s goal was rather scrappy although the play leading up to it was great. Messi and Pedro and run rampant on the flanks cutting inside creating numerous chances. The Galaxy managed only a few good passing sequences. Landon Donovan was the Galaxy’s catalyst in the first-half, creating all of their chances. His cross-field dribbling and distribution has been on point tonight. Donovan managed to win a free-kick late on setting the stage for Beckham to level the score with a brilliant set-piece. I hope to see more of the same in the second forty-five. I predict more goals will come tonight.

Goal! 45th: Barcelona 1, Galaxy 1. Beckham takes the free-kick from the top of the Barcelona box. He strikes it with his trademark freekick that flies over the wall and into the top left corner. A great strike, will this silence the criticism?

44th: Donovan dribbles through Barça players at the top of the box drawing a free-kick and a yellow for Toure.

41st: Messi gets the ball on the right flank,  he cuts inside and tries to curl the ball into the far corner with his left foot but Saunder saves it brilliantly at full extension.

40th: Pedro cuts inside from the left and gets off a curling shot but Sauders controls the shot comfortable. Pedro has been the most active player in the game so far.

39th: Keita lets the pass run across him and strikes the ball and the top of the area. He doesn’t strike it cleanly and with little power, Saunders gets down to make the save.

38th: A great passing sequence from Barça ends with a through ball for Bojan his pokes it past the flailing Saunders but a Galaxy defender clear it off the line.

36th: Barcelona win a free-kick in the midfield. Dani Alves strikes it from 35 yards, it soars high and wide.

34th: Messi gets the ball in the final third, he tries to chip it over the defence but it lands in the arms of Saunders. The fans cheer nonetheless.

32nd: Kirovski gets under Yaya Toure as they challenge for a header, Toure lands awkwardly but retakes the pitch after treatment.

30th: Substitution: Marquez out, Henrique in.

28th: Donovan surges throught the centre of the park, gets a open yard and has a strike from 25 yards which deflects out for a coner but just nearly slips in. Dunivant rises to a Beckham cross but cannot keep his header down.

26th: Maxwell has looked very good thus far with his new squad, he’s fitting in well with the fluidity of the Barcelona attack.

22nd: Great midfield battling from Yaya and Keita allows Barça to swiftly regain possession and startup a wonderful passing sequence, which comes to nothing as Bojan is caught offsides. He is eager to get in behind LA’s defence.

18th: Marquez plays a brilliant ball over the top to Keita who hesitates on the ball, just enough time for DeLaGarza to recover and block the Malian’s shot.

16th: Barcelona again controlling the ball and spreading it around the pitch. The atmosphere here is great, the wave is circling the Rose Bowl.

GOAL! 11th: Barcelona 1, Galaxy 0  Pedro charges into the box and manages to get off a shot. Saunders saves it, then Messi gets on the ball but Saunders saves his effort. Pedro scrambles to the rebound and slots the ball between Galaxy defenders and into the back of the net. Great passing to create that chance.

7th: Galaxy is having trouble getting into rhythm. Beckham is being booed with every touch.

4th: Lewis whips in a corner which Gonzalez heads wide.

1st: And we’re off!

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Pregame-

Lineups:

Barcelona-

Bojan    Pedro

Messi         Toure     Keita    Dos Santos

Maxwell    Muniesa    Marquez    Alves

Pinto

Galaxy-

Lewis     Kirovski     Donovan

Miglioranzi  Beckham Birchall

Dunivant Sanneh Gonzalez DeLaGarza

Saunders

Preview:

Barcelona have traveled to California in the United States to take on Landon Donovan and David Beckham’s LA Galaxy. The Catalans have brought their starts to the Rose Bowl for their pre-season friendly. The Galaxy are in the middle of the MLS season, contrarily many of the Barça stars are not match fit as they have only played a few matches this pre-season. Barcelona’s newest signing Zlatan Ibrahimovic will miss tonight’s game as he is recovering from a hand injury, inflicted during a friendly last week against Chelsea with his old side Inter Milan. The Galaxy look to carry their good run of form that started with a 2-2 draw in another friendly with AC Milan.